ASHLEIGH MURRAY

I know that I'm a role model for a lot of people, and I'd like to be. I know that there are people who probably don't agree with how I think or how I see myself and my place in this world. That's OK.

I definitely stood out when I was in high school.

I love going to karaoke with friends if I'm having a really tough time.

We are not all the same. If you care that much, if you're that invested in us as artists and the changes that we're trying to make and the work that we're putting out there, then at least give us the same decency and respect to know that I am not Yara Shahidi and never will I be.

I'm very hard on myself as an artist to begin with, so I personally don't even think I have the proper chops to sell a record, but people think differently.

Usually, when people are asked, 'Would you ever do high school again?' a good 99 percent of them say, 'Oh God, no. I would never do that again.' I would absolutely go back to high school.

Society is so quick to encourage women to see each other as competition, but I think it's important we celebrate and embrace the pieces of our identity we share with others.

My hair was curly, and everyone else's was straight or in micro braids. I didn't have a lot of money, so I shopped at thrift stores. And I'm petite - I never looked shapely. I remember thinking, 'Will I ever have that stereotypical round, full butt that people think most black women have? I had to find another way to feel good about myself.

I didn't have to look like Jughead to have him be my favorite character.

I've never had the passion of wanting to be the next Monica or Beyonce or anything like that.

I did musicals. It's funny, because I can hide behind a character and a voice, but when I have to bring myself and my own voice to it, it's very nerve-wracking.

Cooking puts me at ease; it gives me control over what's happening, and I know that the finished product is gonna be good, so I'm gonna be satisfied. That's kind of how I keep myself grounded.

Believe in yourself and know that you're strong enough to get through just about anything.

It doesn't matter what background you come from; it doesn't matter what your circumstances are - you can survive.

Cole Sprouse is the quirkiest, kindest guy.

First and foremost, Luke Perry was my very first celebrity crush ever in life. I still cannot believe that we're friends.

I was always more of a Lydia Deeds than a Disney Princess, so anything offbeat like that, I would love to be a part of.

I didn't really feel like I knew who I was until I was 24.

I'm a huge 'Dragon Ball Z' fan, so when they were trying to make a live-action movie, I was, like, 'No!'

I grew up saying, 'I want to be famous,' but that was just the words that you used. As I got older, I understood that what I really meant was, 'I want to be successful.'

Growing up, I never felt like I was very pretty, because I didn't look like anyone else, and the boys weren't lining up to get with me. I internalized that and thought there was something wrong with me.

Sometimes all you're looking for is an apology.

I would be remiss not to take advantage of this platform that I have, because I don't want any other woman or girl feeling like the way that I felt: that I didn't belong, that I would never succeed in the medium that I'm choosing to pursue because my hair isn't straight or my skin isn't light or my eyes aren't bright.

Everybody knows, when you have a band, there's always going to be a hierarchy, and there's always going to be some issue where ego gets involved and causes some kind of shake-up.

Whatever it is that you want to achieve, you absolutely can do it - you just have to apply yourself. Don't break the law... Buckle down and make the right choices.