Victoria Mamatova's Palm Desert Teenage Dream

Victoria Mamatova is one ambitious 17 year old. She maintains a very disciplined academic and fitness regimen as a senior at Beverly Hills High School.

"I want to study business management and maybe become a news reporter on TV," Victoria said, explaining that she already secured a gig doing live announcing on Beverly High's TV channel for the football games.

The next Jillian Barbieri or Pam Oliver? Hardly. Victoria is all about getting good grades and pursuing a college education and then graduate school.

"My parent's are pretty strict about studies," said Victoria, who is of Russian and Indonesian descent.

Victoria was selected to model in Teen Vougue magazine's "Generation Next" Oct. 15 show at the Avalon theatre in Los Angeles, featuring the Oneil surf and swimwear clothing line.

"I love doing modeling, but it's only a side thing for now," Victoria said. "I really want to get out of Los Angeles a couple years as I know I will probably be back here for work after college."

With that objective in mind, Victoria has been eyeing the as her way of "leaving home" for college but staying close to Los Angeles and her family (who lives in Beverly Hills) by enrolling at College of the Desert in the Fall of 2012.

"I love Palm Desert so much," Victoria said. "I have been going to Palm Desert with my family since I was a kid! It's my home away from home."

I remind Victoria that at age 17 she still is a kid.

"Are you serious? For modeling 17 or 18 is when you need to break out. I just don't want to spend too much time on modeling. I want something more stable and long term," she shoots back.

The rest of Victoria's day will consist of playing tennis in the afternoon and doing her homework at night.

"I may even run a couple miles with a friend from the tennis team later tonight. I am trying to get in my best shape ever for tennis team," she said.

Victoria said she discussed going to College of the Desert with her parents as a way of them letting her 'go way to college' at least the first two years.

"They don't want me far away," she said, adding, "I need to be close to my family and in Palm Desert I know they'll be coming to visit a lot. We love it here." 

Victoria cites family dinners at Roy's Hawaiian restaurant and early 7 a.m. desert morning runs as her two favorite things to do while in town.

"I am planning to run the Half Marathon there (Rock and Roll Half Marathon) next year," she said. "I love challenging myself and I've never run farther than about 5 miles so far ... but I'll be ready," Victoria said. I know she will be.