Cassie

Singer and model Cassie broke onto the scene with the 2006 R&B chart-topper “Me & U.” • The Connecticut native started modeling at 14 years, and by 16, she’d appeared in Mario’s “Just a Friend 2002” music video.

She began taking vocal lessons and ballet and moved to New York City to model.

• Singer and producer Ryan Leslie discovered Cassie dancing in a club and wrote her a song called “Kiss Me,” which led to her signing a management deal with music executive Tommy Mottola.