Casandra Elizabeth Ventura, professionally known as Cassie, is an American singer, dancer, actress, and model born on August 26, 1986, in New London, Connecticut. She began her career after meeting record producer Ryan Leslie in late 2004, who signed her to his label, NextSelection Lifestyle Group. This led to her discovery by Sean "Diddy" Combs, who partnered with Leslie to release her debut single "Me & U" under Bad Boy Records in 2006. The song became a massive hit, peaking at number three on the Billboard Hot 100 chart, and propelled her to fame as an R&B singer. Cassie's self-titled debut album, released in August 2006, peaked at number four on the Billboard 200 chart. She continued her music career with singles like "Official Girl" featuring Lil Wayne and "Must Be Love" featuring Diddy. In addition to her music, Cassie has had a successful modeling career, signing with agencies like Wilhelmina Models and One Management. She has appeared in prominent magazines such as *GQ* and modeled for brands like Calvin Klein. In the acting sphere, Cassie made her film debut in the dance movie *Step Up 2: The Streets* in 2008, where she played the role of Sophie Donovan. More recently, Cassie has been in the spotlight for her involvement in a high-profile lawsuit against Sean Combs. In November 2023, she filed a lawsuit alleging a decade-long abusive relationship, which included allegations of sexual assault and domestic violence. The lawsuit was settled the following day for an undisclosed amount. Cassie is also a key witness in Combs' ongoing criminal trial, which began in May 2023. Her testimony has brought significant attention to her personal story and her role in the case. Despite stepping back from the music scene, Cassie remains a figure of interest due to her past achievements and current legal involvement.