Cassie Ventura
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Casandra Elizabeth Ventura, known to the world as Cassie, was born on August 26, 1986, in New London, Connecticut. Her journey from a budding talent to a multifaceted artist is a compelling narrative of ambition and resilience.
Her musical odyssey began in late 2004, a pivotal moment when she crossed paths with producer Ryan Leslie. He recognized her potential and signed her to his record label, NextSelection Lifestyle Group. This connection soon led to another significant encounter with Sean Combs, who was captivated by her talent. He signed her to a joint venture with his renowned label, Bad Boy Records, paving the way for her debut single, "Me & U," in 2006. This infectious track not only became a massive hit, peaking at number three on the Billboard Hot 100, but also marked her first of two entries on the prestigious chart.
The success of "Me & U" propelled her self-titled debut studio album, *Cassie*, to number four on the Billboard 200. The album also spawned the follow-up single, "Long Way 2 Go," further solidifying her presence in the music scene. Between 2008 and 2009, she continued to captivate audiences with singles like "Official Girl," featuring Lil Wayne, "Must Be Love," with Combs himself, and "Let's Get Crazy," alongside Akon. Later, she signed with Interscope Records to release her debut mixtape, *RockaByeBaby* in 2013. This project was supported by visually striking music videos for its singles "Numb," featuring Rick Ross, and "Paradise," with Wiz Khalifa.
Beyond her musical endeavors, Cassie also made her mark in the fashion and acting worlds. Early in her career, she signed with Wilhelmina Models and later One Management, gracing campaigns for Calvin Klein and appearing in prominent magazines like GQ, Seventeen, and Bust. She was the face of ASOS's 2013 spring collection and lent her image to advertisements for brands such as Delia's, Adidas, Abercrombie & Fitch, and Clean & Clear. Her acting credits include roles in the films *Step Up 2: The Streets* in 2008 and *The Perfect Match* in 2016.
In late 2023, Cassie's life took a significant turn as she settled a high-profile sexual assault and abuse lawsuit against her former partner, Sean “Diddy” Combs. This was followed by numerous lawsuits regarding sexual misconduct in the ensuing months.
Born Casandra Elizabeth Ventura on August 26, 1986, in New London, Connecticut, her heritage is a rich tapestry of African-American, Mexican, West Indian, and Filipino influences. She attended The Williams School and began her modeling career at 14, quickly progressing to modeling for local department stores, the Delia's fashion catalog, and Seventeen magazine by the age of 16. A brief appearance in Mario's "Just a Friend 2002" music video hinted at her future in the entertainment industry. Encouraged by producer Rockwilder, she honed her vocal and dance skills, participating in vocal lessons and modern ballet, and utilizing her school's performing arts program. After graduating high school in 2004, she moved to New York City, where she reignited her modeling career and pursued further training at the Broadway Dance Center, landing print and commercial modeling gigs and securing representation with Wilhelmina Models.
Her career truly ignited in 2004 when Ryan Leslie noticed her at clubs and parties. Together, they penned the duet "Kiss Me." After recording the track, Leslie presented it to music executive Tommy Mottola, who offered Ventura a management deal. Leslie then signed her to NextSelection Lifestyle Group. Leslie went on to write and produce Cassie's debut single, "Me & U," in 2005. The song became a sensation in German clubs, and it was there that Sean Combs first heard it. Leslie successfully convinced Combs to partner Bad Boy Records with NextSelection for the release of Ventura's debut album.
Ryan Leslie produced the majority of the album, a blend of R&B, hip-hop, and pop. Cassie described it as a diverse collection, encompassing rap, R&B, and slower tracks appealing to female listeners, even featuring a rock song with her friends' band, Pretty Boys. She paid homage to her Filipino heritage by incorporating OPM sounds into some of the ballads. The album, *Cassie*, released on August 8, 2006, sold 321,000 copies in the United States. Its lead single, "Me & U," climbed to number three on the Billboard Hot 100 and sold over a million digital downloads.
To promote her album, Cassie appeared on Total Request Live and 106 & Park. While her performances were described as "rocky" and "less-than-stellar," Combs attributed this to her inexperience, assuring his support for her development and expressing no doubt in her vocal abilities. Cassie acknowledged the criticism on her MySpace page, admitting her performances were "pretty bad" and that she was still overcoming stage fright.
In June 2007, MTV News reported that rumors of Cassie being dropped from Bad Boy Records were unfounded, as she had released two singles from her album. Combs revealed she was in the studio with producers Kanye West and Pharrell Williams for her second album and that she was no longer collaborating with Ryan Leslie. However, Cassie expressed openness to working with Leslie again. According to Bad Boy A&R Daniel 'Skid' Mitchell, the new album aimed to be more personal by incorporating a wider range of writers and producers, along with her own co-written input, moving away from relying solely on one songwriter-producer. Additional production came from Seven and LV, and Combs himself. Cassie mentioned collaborations with Akon, The Neptunes, Danja, Eric Hudson, The Surf Club, and Rob Holiday, though she was unsure which tracks would make the final cut. She appreciated the opportunity to work with diverse talent, contrasting it with the singular producer experience of her first album.
In 2008, Cassie ventured into acting, making her debut as Sophie Donovan in the dance film *Step Up 2: The Streets*. She also performed the lead single, "Is It You," for the film's soundtrack, which was released on November 13, 2007, charting at eighty-five on the Canadian Hot 100 and fifty-two in the UK. In July 2009, she announced her second studio album would be titled *Electro Love*, describing it as "sensual" and showcasing more "independence" with a distinct vocal style and personality. Three singles were released from the album: "Official Girl" featuring Lil Wayne (August 2008), "Must Be Love" featuring Sean Combs (April 2009), and "Let's Get Crazy" featuring Akon (August 2009). None of these singles charted in the United States.
After numerous delays, Cassie signed a new record deal with Interscope Records in December 2009. She was featured in a spread in the August/September issue of Bust, where she announced a new single would be released in the fall. In an October 2010 interview, A&R Daniel 'Skid' Mitchell stated that Cassie had recorded around fifty songs for the album, emphasizing her dedication to creating a respected body of work. She also appeared in Wiz Khalifa's "Roll Up" music video as his love interest.
Cassie released the single "King of Hearts" on February 14, 2012, accompanied by its official music video. She performed the song live for the first time on BET's 106 & Park on April 24, 2012, concluding with a dance routine that led to worldwide trending topics on Twitter and garnered mixed to positive reviews. The single "Balcony," featuring Young Jeezy, was sent to U.S. urban radio stations on September 18, 2012. On September 13, 2012, Nicki Minaj released "The Boys," featuring Cassie, as the lead single from her re-release album *Pink Friday: Roman Reloaded – The Re-Up*. The song was sent to urban radios on September 25, and its music video premiered on October 18.
In July 2012, Cassie announced she was working on both her album and a new mixtape titled *RockaByeBaby*. Released on April 11, 2013, it was hailed as the best mixtape of the year by Dazed & Confused. The mixtape featured singles "Numb" with Rick Ross (released April 2, with its accompanying music video) and "Paradise" with Wiz Khalifa (premiered April 9, 2013, with its video on BET 106 & Park). In April 2013, it was announced that Cassie would be the face of the Summer 2013 Forever 21 collection.
In March 2015, Sean Combs announced his return to producing, revealing he would be working on Cassie's second studio album. In 2016, she returned to acting, taking on the lead role in the romantic comedy *The Perfect Match*, released on March 11, 2016. In late 2017, she released the singles "Love a Loser" featuring G-Eazy and "Don't Play It Safe."
January 2019 marked a significant shift as Cassie ended her relationship with Combs and departed from Bad Boy Records. She then collaborated with producers Chris n Teeb and singer-songwriter Ro James. Throughout the summer of 2019, she released a series of singles via her own Ventura Music label: "Moments" with The Code, "Excuses," "Hungover," "Don't Let Go," "Speaking Of," "Rollercoaster" featuring Ro James, "Teach Me," and "Simple Things." This collection of releases, dubbed "Free Fridays," served as a prelude to her second album.
Cassie's musical style is a fusion of R&B, pop, and hip-hop soul. AllMusic's Andy Kellman praised her vocal performances for their "character and ability." Her influences are diverse, citing artists such as Aaliyah, Jennifer Lopez, Christina Aguilera, Madonna, Stevie Wonder, Nine Inch Nails, Britney Spears, La Lupe, Mariah Carey, Faith Evans, and Usher. Cassie openly identifies as a "die-hard Janet Jackson fan," expressing a desire to emulate Jackson's career, admiring her moves and voice. Her debut album is characterized by R&B and pop rock with urban and contemporary R&B elements, featuring "looming synthesizer patterns" and a "slightly twisted and threatening edge," balanced with "flippant playfulness." The *RockaByeBaby* mixtape delves into R&B and hip-hop, offering a "dark" and "raw, laid-back vibe."
Ventura is widely recognized as a style icon, celebrated for her "edgy style" that is both "feminine" and "sophisticated." She is credited with popularizing the trend of shaving one's hair among women, inspired by punk culture in 2009. Kate Moss is cited as a significant style influence.
In her personal life, Cassie married personal trainer Alex Fine in August 2019. The couple has two daughters, born in December 2019 and March 2021, and a son born in May 2025. Cassie was in a long-term relationship with rapper Sean Combs from 2007 to 2018. On November 16, 2023, she filed a lawsuit against Combs, alleging a decade-long "cycle of abuse, violence and sex trafficking." The lawsuit was filed under New York's Adult Survivors Act, allowing claims beyond the typical statute of limitations. Cassie claimed the abuse began at the start of their relationship, including a 2018 rape after she attempted to leave him, and multiple instances of domestic violence. Combs' attorney, Ben Brafman, denied the allegations. One day after filing, the parties announced a settlement, the terms of which were not disclosed. Cassie later testified that she received a $20 million settlement in the case. In 2011, she was in a relationship with Kid Cudi, who later claimed Combs was responsible for his car being blown up, testifying in Combs' trial that a Molotov cocktail was used.
In May 2024, CNN released a video showing Combs assaulting Cassie in a hotel hallway on March 5, 2016. This led to Combs issuing a public apology. On May 12, 2025, Cassie began testifying in the federal sex-trafficking, racketeering, and prostitution case against Combs, detailing the abuse she endured during their relationship. On October 3, 2025, Cassie's lawyer, Doug Wigdor, issued a statement after Combs' sentencing, noting that the imposed sentence acknowledged the severity of his offenses, though it could not undo the trauma caused.
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Casandra Elizabeth Ventura (born August 26, 1986) is an American singer, dancer, actress, and model. Born in New London, Connecticut, she began her musical career after meeting producer Ryan Leslie in late 2004, who signed her to his record label, NextSelection Lifestyle Group. She was then discovered by Sean Combs, who signed her to a joint venture with his label, Bad Boy Records, to commercially release her 2006 debut single, "Me & U". The song marked the first of her two entries on the Billboard Hot 100, peaking at number three.
With "Me & U" issued as its lead single, Ventura's self-titled debut studio album (2006) peaked at number four on the Billboard 200 and spawned the follow-up single, "Long Way 2 Go". From 2008 to 2009, she released the singles "Official Girl" (featuring Lil Wayne), "Must Be Love" (featuring Combs), and "Let's Get Crazy" (featuring Akon). She signed with Interscope Records to release her debut mixtape, RockaByeBaby (2013), which was promoted by the music videos for its singles "Numb" (featuring Rick Ross) and "Paradise" (featuring Wiz Khalifa).
Ventura signed with Lewis modeling agency Wilhelmina Models early in her career, and later One Management. She has modeled for Calvin Klein and has been featured in magazines including GQ, Seventeen, and Bust. She was the face of ASOS's 2013 spring collection. She has also starred in advertising for Delia's, Adidas, Abercrombie & Fitch, and Clean & Clear. She has appeared in films such as Step Up 2: The Streets (2008) and The Perfect Match (2016).
In late 2023, Ventura settled a high-profile sexual assault and abuse lawsuit against her former partner, Sean “Diddy” Combs. Numerous lawsuits regarding sexual misconduct were filed in the following months.
== Early life ==
Casandra Elizabeth Ventura was born on August 26, 1986, in New London, Connecticut. Her mother Regina is of African-American, Mexican and West Indian descent. Her father Rod is Filipino. She attended The Williams School, a preparatory school, located on the Connecticut College campus. At age 14, Ventura began modeling and by 16 was modeling for local department stores, Delia's fashion catalog and Seventeen. Ventura briefly appeared in Mario's "Just a Friend 2002" music video.
Encouraged by producer Rockwilder, Ventura took vocal lessons, modern ballet, as well as using her school's performing arts program. She finished high school in 2004 and moved to New York City, where she returned to modeling and classes at the Broadway Dance Center. She began booking print and commercial modeling gigs and being represented by Wilhelmina Models.
== Career ==
=== 2004–2007: Cassie ===
Ryan Leslie spotted Ventura at clubs and parties in late 2004 frequently. The two wrote a duet called "Kiss Me", and after recording the track, Leslie played the song for music executive Tommy Mottola. Mottola offered Ventura a management deal, and Leslie signed her to NextSelection Lifestyle Group. Leslie wrote and produced Ventura's first single, "Me & U", in 2005. The song became a club hit in Germany. During this time, Sean Combs heard "Me & U" in a club, and Leslie convinced him to partner his Bad Boy Records with Leslie's NextSelection imprint for the release of Ventura's debut album.
Ryan Leslie produced most of the album, which is a mix of R&B, hip-hop and pop. Ventura said in an interview, "I rap, I sing, I do my R&B, I do my slow songs and stuff that the girls will love, I have a down South joint, I have a rock song that I did with my girls this band called Pretty Boys." She paid tribute to her Filipino culture by incorporating OPM sounds into some of the ballads. The album, Cassie, was released on August 8, 2006, and sold 321,000 copies in the United States. The album's lead single "Me & U" peaked at number three on the Billboard Hot 100, selling more than 1 million digital downloads.
To promote her album, Ventura performed on Total Request Live and 106 & Park: BET's Top 10 Live. Her performances were described as "rocky" and "less-than-stellar", but Combs said that it was due to her inexperience. He said that he would be "with her through her development", and that he has no "question on her ability [to sing]". Ventura addressed the events on her MySpace page, saying that she is aware that her performances were "pretty bad", and that she was "still getting over stage fright".
MTV News reported in June 2007 that contrary to rumors, Ventura had not been dropped from Bad Boy Records after releasing two singles from the album Cassie. Combs said that she was in the studio working with producers Kanye West and Pharrell Williams on her second album. It was reported that Ventura was no longer collaborating with Ryan Leslie, who had produced the majority of her debut album. Ventura later stated that she was open to collaborating with Leslie again. According to Bad Boy A&R Daniel 'Skid' Mitchell, rather than largely relying on the one songwriter-producer, the new album's mix of writers and producers, as well as her own co-write input, makes it a more personal record for her.
Additional production on the album came from Seven and LV, as well as Combs himself. Ventura said that she had collaborated with Akon, The Neptunes, Danja, Eric Hudson, The Surf Club and Rob Holiday, although she was not sure which tracks were going to be included on the album. Commenting on the number of producers on the album, Ventura said that she "collaborated with a lot of different producers and a lot of different writers, which was an amazing opportunity for me, because on my first album, one producer [Ryan Leslie] straight through... which was fun, but it was nice to experience other people."
=== 2008–2013: Acting debut and RockaByeBaby ===
In 2008, Ventura made her acting debut as Sophie Donovan in the dance film Step Up 2: The Streets, she also sang the lead single "Is It You" to the Step Up soundtrack. The song was released on November 13, 2007, and peaked at eighty-five on the Canadian Hot 100 and fifty-two in the UK's The Official Charts Company. In July 2009, Ventura announced that her second studio album's title would be Electro Love. Ventura described her new album as "sensual" and said it will demonstrate more "independence" with a "difference in vocals, a little bit more personality". Three singles have been released from the album; "Official Girl" featuring Lil Wayne in August 2008, "Must Be Love" featuring Sean Combs in April 2009, and "Let's Get Crazy" featuring Akon in August 2009. All three singles failed to chart in the United States.
After several delays, it was announced in December 2009 that Ventura had signed a new record deal with Interscope Records. She is featured in a spread in the August/September issue of Bust in which she said a new single will be released in the fall. At the time of an October 2010 interview with HitQuarters, A&R Daniel 'Skid' Mitchell said that Ventura had already recorded around fifty songs for the album. Mitchell said that she was taking her time over the album because she is keen for "it to be something that people are going to respect". She appeared in rapper Wiz Khalifa's "Roll Up" music video as his love interest.
Ventura released the single "King of Hearts", which was released in the United States on February 14, 2012, along with the official music video. On April 24, 2012, Ventura performed the single live for the first time at BET's 106 & Park music video show. She concluded the performance with a brief dance number set to the Kanye West remix of the song, along with four dancers. After the performance Ventura and 106 & Park were worldwide trending topics on Twitter and it received mostly mixed to positive reviews from various online media outlets. The single, "Balcony", featuring Young Jeezy, was sent to U.S. urban radio stations on September 18, 2012.
On September 13, 2012, Nicki Minaj released the lead single off her re-release album Pink Friday: Roman Reloaded – The Re-Up, titled "The Boys", featuring Ventura. The song was sent to urban radios on September 25. A music video was released on October 18.
In July 2012, Ventura announced that she had been working simultaneously on her album and a new mixtape titled RockaByeBaby. It was released on April 11, 2013, and was named the best mixtape of the year by Dazed & Confused. The mixtape saw the release of "Numb" featuring American rapper Rick Ross on April 2, along with the song's accompanying music video and "Paradise" featuring rapper Wiz Khalifa premiered on April 9, 2013, alongside the video on BET 106 & Park. In April 2013 it was announced that Ventura was the face of the Summer 2013 Forever 21 collection.
=== 2015–2019: Second studio album and other endeavors ===
In March 2015, Ventura's then-boyfriend, Sean Combs, announced he would return to producing and revealed he would be producing songs for Ventura's second studio album. In 2016 it was announced Ventura would return to acting, playing the lead role in the romantic comedy The Perfect Match. It was released on March 11, 2016. In late 2017, she released the singles "Love a Loser" featuring American rapper G-Eazy and "Don't Play It Safe".
In January 2019, after ending her relationship with Combs and leaving Bad Boy Records, Ventura worked with producers Chris n Teeb and singer-songwriter Ro James. Throughout Summer 2019, Ventura released several singles via her own Ventura Music label: "Moments" with The Code, "Excuses," "Hungover", "Don't Let Go", "Speaking Of", "Rollercoaster" featuring Ro James, "Teach Me" and "Simple Things". The series of releases was dubbed "Free Fridays" by Ventura and serve as a teaser ahead of the release of her second album.
== Artistry and public image ==
Ventura's music is described as R&B, pop, and hip-hop soul. Andy Kellman of AllMusic praised her vocal performances for having "character and ability". Ventura cites Aaliyah, Jennifer Lopez, Christina Aguilera, Madonna, Stevie Wonder, Nine Inch Nails, Britney Spears, La Lupe, Mariah Carey, Faith Evans and Usher as musical influences. Ventura refers to herself as a "die-hard Janet Jackson fan", stating that "I'd love to emulate Janet Jackson's career—totally, Janet Jackson is an incredible and fantastic, from her moves to her voice".
Ventura's debut album is R&B and pop rock with urban and contemporary R&B styles, the album contained "looming synthesizer patterns" and "ice-cream-truck melody to give it a slightly twisted and threatening edge", as well as containing "flippant playfulness".
RockaByeBaby is an R&B and hip-hop mixtape that featured "dark" and a "raw, laid back vibe".
Ventura is considered a style icon due to her "edgy style" and "feminine" and "sophisticated" fashion. Ventura is accredited with setting the trend among women of shaving their hair, after Ventura shaved hers in 2009 influenced by punk. She has cited Kate Moss as her style influence.
== Personal life ==
Ventura married personal trainer Alex Fine in August 2019. The couple have two daughters, born December 2019 and March 2021, and a son, born May 2025.
Ventura was in a long-term relationship with rapper Sean Combs from 2007 to 2018. On November 16, 2023, she filed a lawsuit against Combs alleging that he subjected her to a decade-long "cycle of abuse, violence and sex trafficking". The lawsuit was filed in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York under the Adult Survivors Act, a New York law which allows people who say they have suffered sexual abuse to file lawsuits after the statute of limitations has expired. Ventura claimed that the abuse began when their relationship started and that this included a 2018 rape after she tried to leave him, and multiple instances of domestic violence. Combs' attorney Ben Brafman denied the allegations. One day after filing the lawsuit, the parties announced they had reached an agreement to resolve the case, and did not disclose terms of the out-of-court settlement. Ventura later testified in court that she had received a $20 million settlement in the case.
In 2011, Ventura was also in a relationship with Kid Cudi, who later claimed that Combs blew up his car and testified in Combs' trial saying that his car got blown up by a Molotov cocktail.
In May 2024, CNN obtained and published a video of Combs grabbing Ventura, punching her, throwing her to the ground, kicking her and stomping on her in a hotel hallway on March 5, 2016. This led to Combs issuing a video apology where he acknowledged the incident. On May 12, 2025, Ventura began testifying in the federal sex-trafficking, racketeering and prostitution case against Combs, detailing the abuse he subjected her to while they were dating.
On October 3, 2025, Ventura's lawyer, Doug Wigdor, issued a statement to ABC News after Combs' sentencing, saying, "While nothing can undo the trauma caused by Combs, the sentence imposed today recognizes the impact of the serious offenses he committed."
== Discography ==
Cassie (2006)
== Filmography ==
== Awards and nominations ==
== References ==
== Further reading ==
Beaumont-Thomas, Ben (January 6, 2011). "The growing cult of Cassie". The Guardian. Retrieved August 6, 2013.
== External links ==
Cassie Ventura at IMDb
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