Much like her latest character, Abby Vargas on The L.A. Complex, Cassie is cute and brassy, the ultimate girl next door, with a rough, punky edge. Charming and oft-recognized as Manny Santos from her 10 seasons on cult Canadian series Degrassi: The Next Generation, Cassie makes her return to Canadian television. The Toronto actress, singer, songwriter, is now staring in the hot series The L.A. Complex broadcast on MuchMusic, and The CW in the spring. Big things are in store for this stylish starlet.

A: Congrats on your new series The L.A. Complex! I’ve seen the first season and it is AWESOME! Your character Abby is a struggling Canadian actor in L.A. can you tell me about your real-life experience as an actor? Was it anything as dramatic?

C: My personal experience was actually quite similar, and although our situations were different they were just as dramatic. Or I’m very dramatic.

C: Right now I’m working on my third album and I’m so excited to finish and have everyone hear it! I really love writing music, but my formula is a bit different from the usual “let’s collaborate!” sessions. I write the lyrics and melody with an idea of what the end product should sound like, and then I call up my good old friend Isaac Hasson to bring it to life. I usually have writers block, because I literally can only write about personal experiences… if I release a song about murder, stay away.

A: What are your Top 10 songs on your iPod?

C: Gosh, I’m really not sure… my screen is broken so I kind of just hope I land on something great. I really like this Seattle based band The Head and the Heart, also The Vaccines and The Horrors… I’m a big fan of English boys. And their music.

A: Really LOVE your unique and edge-y sense of style! What are your favourite places to shop?

C: My girlfriend has an amazing store Queen W. called “Jacflash“. She’s got a great eye and usually doesn’t order more than a couple to a size, so nearly no one else will have it!!! I love vintage shops like “Chosen” and “I miss you”, also anything online. I love online shopping.

Thanks Cassie!
And you can catch her on the L.A. Complex currently airing on MuchMusic every Tuesday at 9pm or online here.

A: Hi Melinda! It is so great to see you! Hope that you’ve been having a great break you start filming Degrassi Season 12.

M: Yes! Absolutely!

A: Recently, you told me that you started a new “raw” food diet! Raw gets a pretty bad rap, most people think it’s all about eating stocks of celery all day. What made you want to try it out?

M: Yeah I know! But since the New Year, I’ve put my sister and I on this new plan. We’ve always been healthy and active so this is just taking things to the next step for us. We live together now in Toronto and we grew up doing martial arts for most of our lives (16+years for me 18+for Melanie). I started ballet when I was 3, so that combined with karate always lead me to a healthy life style.

Eating healthy at home when I lived with my parents was important to them, my family owns a martial arts school in Ottawa (Where I was born and raised), and for as long as I can remember we’ve always been very health conscious especially since our father has diabetes. Going raw wasn’t hard because my diet previously wasn’t much different. My sister and friends call me a health sergeant because i’m always bringing up health facts or guilting them out of butter or fatty foods. I’ve always heard of this diet and met someone before the new year who lived 100% raw and I loved the facts and things she told me regarding the lifestyle. It was the little push I needed to commit, I was sold on the idea. Basically our new diet consists of any and every fruit and vegetable, lean meats and limited carbs. Sushi is a huge part of our diet which is amazing because it happens to be our favourite food.

A: What kind of foods to you make? Any favourite recipes?

M: Coming from a household where I was spoiled into never having to cook a thing ever, this is a fun way to explore my inner master chef. Luckily the stove/oven usage is limited when raw but necessary when cooking the meat unless it’s prepared like Japanese sashimi (raw fish).

Learning how to cook has made me happier because I know exactly what’s going into my body unlike when eating at restaurants. I’ve even become housewife and I prepare my sister’s breakfasts and lunch so she doesn’t have the urge to cheat. Quinoa -a grain, has been a large part of my diet. That must be boiled but its a rice/heavy carb substitute in meals. The point of the raw diet is that the nutrients in food are killed when heated up and cooked, so we avoid that as much as possible. Salads sound boring but the trick is to switch up the contents, adding new types of fruits/veggies, using different greens as the base, variety of meat, making your own dressings etc.. My favourite recipe is a Mango ginger soup that I make from scratch, it’s amazing if I say so myself :)

A: Do you have any favourite cooking sites? blogs?

M: I Google Raw recipes almost every day but Goneraw.com is my favourite site because the variety keeps me loving the diet while getting to whip up fun meal ideas. Most people thing going raw means eating like a bunny but they’re wrong, check it out for yourself on that site!

A: OH! I’ll definitely check out the site. Since starting this diet, do you feel a difference in your health? Do you ever crave anything?

M: Since starting this diet I feel like I have more energy, and i’m more excited to prepare meals since it’s up to me to not be hungry or bored of food. My parent’s laughed when they found out that I was the one in the kitchen preparing our meals and didn’t believe me until my sister vouched for my kitchen skills! Unlike most diets, this one doesn’t limit eating in the slightest.

I think I’m actually eating more than I used to because everything I eat is unprocessed, limited to no preservatives and healthy so moderation isn’t as big of a factor as it would be if ordering from McDonalds. Luckily I don’t have a huge sweet tooth and I genuinely dislike greasy fried things. I do however, have a weakness for red velvet cake. If I ever have a craving, i’ll substitute a slice of cake for a mini Red velvet cupcake to compromise. Cravings can be the death of diets, If I ever really want something, i’ll just have it. It goes back to that rule of the more you restrict something the more you want it. As long as you don’t go overboard with the cravings, you’ll be fine.

A: You are so right. It’s all about balance and about sustainable habits.  Are there any food or health tips you’d like to leave us with?

M: The main food tip I can give is just having the right kind of food/snacks available at all times. I started walking around with pre made snacks in my purse to avoid having to go to the “whatever’s closest” if I want something to eat, unless I find a healthy restaurant or store. The day I do my groceries, I wash and cut up the fruits and veggies right away and put them in containers, make salads, and smoothies so that when I open my fridge I have ready made options so I don’t have the temptation for anything else.

* Side Note from Gloria: This girl can drank! She wrestled down shot after shot during her performance without flinching. Good on ya, lady.

Charlize Theron was stunning in a blush pink Dior couture gown featuring a plunging neckline and thigh-high slit. The dress had a little bit of a grecian goddess feel to it, and I loved how she played it up with her hairstyle and accessorized with a diamond headband.

Heidi Klum wore a simple Calvin Klein dress in a light peach shade, which she freshened up with some bright turquoise jewellery. The Project Runway star looked every bit of chic in the backless number and got me thinking that I need to start researching some more back exercises…

Jessica Alba looked elegant in a pale lilac embroidered Gucci gown, which complemented her always perfectly tanned skin (aw, the perks of living in a warmer climate year round).

Kate Beckinsale brought all the Hollywood glamour in a white, strapless Roberto Cavalli gown with delicate sequins and chiffon pleat detail at the bottom. The gown was beautiful and totally wedding-inspiration-worthy.

Which was your favorite?

It’s been a while since I’ve heard any news on my favorite reality celeb turned fashion designer (slash author), Lauren Conrad, but as always, the girl manages to jump back into the spotlight, and not for any drama in her life – instead, to showcase a new talent of hers. This one’s called “Paper Crown” – a chic new clothing line created ”for girls who like to play dress up in a grown-up world”.

Grown-up indeed. Gone are the days of the cutesy cotton mini-dresses that were a staple in the designer’s first venture, the Lauren Conrad Collection. Paper Crown has upped the ante with designs that are bolder, more tailored and sophisticated, but that still ring true to  LC’s sweet and feminine signature style. Key looks from the line include the body-skimming Lola Dress in Eclectic Blue (worn by the designer herself); the oh-so romantic Ella Gown in Floral Vine print – a flowy, tiered number reminiscent of LC’s beachy Laguna days; and the Ryder Blazer in Camel, with a silk blouse and leather shorts (very LC circa The Hills, season 5).

The designer celebrated the launch of her new line at Nordstrom in September during L.A.’s Fashion’s Night Out earlier in the month. No word yet on when it will be available in Canada. Please make it soon.