As the daughter of Michael Jackson, Paris Jackson has been famous since the day she was born.

Though her life was kept relatively private during her childhood, the 19-year-old has recently stepped out into the spotlight in a big way. In the last year, she has signed with a major modeling agency, booked roles in a film and television series, and made appearances at awards shows and celebrity events. So, what has caused this sudden embrace of the public eye?

Paris sat down with Teen Vogue for their cover story, and shared what motivated her to get out there and be noticed. She said:

“I honestly used to have no motivation whatsoever to be in the public eye; it scared me. I’ve seen what it can do to people, [and] plenty get hurt. But after a long time of thinking, I started to really see the kind of impact I already have on people, how I was born with a platform, and I didn’t want to waste it.”

She added:

“…there are so many people who work their entire lives to create a platform and mine was just handed to me….Why not use it for something important? So many people right now are so focused on what kind of shoes this person has, the designer purse they carry, what car they drive, [or] whether they wear the same outfit more than once. I want to use my platform for something other than that. I want to actually make a difference. So everything that I’m doing—the acting, the modeling—it’s all just to grow my platform so I can use my voice for things that matter.”

Right now, Paris has put her focus on raising awareness about the current crisis in Venezuela. She said:

 “What’s happening in Venezuela has been heavy on my mind recently, mostly because of [sic] how the citizens are really, really struggling right now. Do you know how much most of them get paid, like, hourly? It’s outrageous, not to mention [many of them] can barely afford food, and when they can, there’s hardly any food for them to buy.”

The star has some advice for those who would like to help. She said:

“We have to stay educated, stay informed, and use our voices. Change can’t happen with ignorance. If we stay quiet, it’s easier for the Man to ignore us. We have to push the government to listen. I think right now social media is a good place to start, to create a movement.”