Fashion 18 Magazine: The Degrassi Special (Spring 2006)
Source: Fashion 18 (Online & Print Archives)
Photography: Paul Alexander
Styling: Tammy Eckenswiller
In Spring 2006, the cast of Degrassi: The Next Generation took over Fashion 18. The issue hit newsstands on March 5, 2006, featuring Cassie Steele and Miriam McDonald on the cover. While the print magazine showcased the girls in “Prom Style” dresses, the online coverage provided exclusive “Girl Talk” interviews and outtakes that didnโt make the newsstand cut.
Below is the complete archive of the interviews for Cassie Steele, Stacey Farber, Lauren Collins, Sarah Barrable-Tishauer, and Miriam McDonald.
Cassie Steele (Manny Santos)
โGirl Talk: Spring Cover Girlโ

The Context:
The ultra-cool girls of Degrassi agreed to glam it up for us in the spring seasonโs hottest look: the dress. While they ogled the dozens of shoes, tables of jewellery, and racks of cute dresses at the photo shoot, we cornered each of them for some fun girl talk.
Showed Up Wearing:
Aldo stiletto boots; Leviโs jeans; dark brown belt with sparkly buckle; a hoodie; dark brown T-shirt sporting Toxic logo; hair worn up in a loose, feminine bun.
Spring/Summer Plans:
โGoing somewhere hot for spring breakโmaybe Hawaii.โ
Fave Music of the Moment:
The Jesus and Mary Chain, the Doors, the Gorillaz.
Her Idea of a Romantic Date:
โSpending the day doing an activityโlike in the winter itโd be skatingโthen going to any restaurant and stuffing your face, then having hot chocolate, then falling asleep together on the couch watching TV.โ
Still Dreams Of:
โA feature film scene. I want to start doing movies and more acting. Iโm always looking for something bigger. Keep your fingers crossed that a Degrassi movie is just down the line.โ
Books Recently Read:
Memoirs of a Geisha and A Million Little Pieces.
About Sports:
Likes shinny hockey in the winter, pickup football and swimming in the summer. Sheโs casually athletic.
Spotlight Dope:
โGetting your hair and makeup done for youโyou just look better than you usually do. You feel pampered.โ
Spotlight Downer:
โEarly call timesโthey suck.โ
Stacey Farber (Ellie Nash)
โGirl of Styleโ

The Context:
The fashionable Stacey Farber showed up ready to chat.
Showed Up Wearing:
Her grandmotherโs vintage pumps (โI have lots of my grannieโs vintage clothes and shoesโ); Tsubi black jeans with ankle zippers (โTheyโre Australian but we need them in Canadaโyou canโt get them hereโ); Polo Sport blue pinstripe menโs shirt; Urban Outfitters black vest; two bangles from her mom and one from a store in California; her momโs 1980s pin; Tallulah Babaton jacket from Aritzia.
Spring/Summer Plans:
โThis is the first summer I donโt have plans. For spring break the whole family is going to Vegas for my mom Rachelโs โ20thโ birthday. Iโve heard stores there are open until midnightโI canโt gamble, but I can shop!โ
Fave Music:
I Am Me by Ashlee Simpson, The Best of Michael Jackson, Monkey Business by the Black Eyed Peas, Gwen Stefani.
Her Idea of a Romantic Date:
โIt sounds clichรฉ but dinner and a movie. Itโs relaxing and entertainingโand when you leave the movie it gives you stuff to talk about.โ
About Sports:
โIโm the least athletic person in the world. I wish I could be disciplined enough to go to the gym. I love to watch lacrosse (sheโs a Toronto Rock fan)โitโs fast and they also play music during the game.โ
Spotlight Dope:
โI love the free travelโwe (select Degrassi cast) do these mall tours across Canada and the U.S. (Hawaii and Orlando, Florida are favourite spots).โ
Spotlight Downer:
โReading the horrible things people write about you on the Internet. Though there are also nice things written too.โ
Lauren Collins (Paige Michalchuk)
โGirl Chat: The 411 on Lauren Collinsโ

The Context:
Lauren Collins is keeping busy.
Showed Up Wearing:
Brown leather pumps from Value Village; stocking leg warmers (โMy secret to wearing pumps in winterโ); Fidelity jeans; H&M black tank top; Hanes white boybeater; Diesel jacket; necklace from Sugar; hair worn natural (she has extensions).
Spring/Summer Plans:
โHope to go to L.A. for a while to see what itโs like, take up temporary residence.โ Sheโll probably stay there after heading down in March for the film premiere of Take the Lead, starring Antonio Banderas, in which she has a role.
Fave Music of the Moment:
The Starz, Tegan and Sara, Broken Social Scene, Feist.
Her Idea of a Romantic Date:
โTalking with the person. Nothing schmaltzy or sucky-suckyโjust hanging out and being normal.โ
Book Recently Read:
โJust reread The Great GatsbyโI love it. Every time you reread a book you take something different from it.โ
Spotlight Dope:
โThat I just walk in and there are hundreds of dresses and a table with shoes to play withโitโs so much fun! Itโs also fun pretending to be other people. And the travellingโthereโs so much to be thankful for.โ
Spotlight Downer:
โThe actual filming process isnโt very glamorous. You wake up at five in the morning. Spend 14 hours on set, often filming outside in the freezing cold or boiling heat. There are a lot of things people donโt realize about this job.โ
Sarah Barrable-Tishauer (Liberty Van Zandt)
โDegrassiโs Darlingโ

The Context:
Sarah Barrable-Tishauer is a regular fashion pro it would seem. The actress showed up to our FASHION18 photo shoot lugging a suitcase full of shoes because she knew it would be challenging to get shoes to fit her larger-than-average-size feet.
Showed Up Wearing:
Diesel jeans; glittery tank top; Swatch watch (โI have four and Iโm collectingโ); a necklace worn as a bracelet bought at a summer fair in northern Ontario; a ring purchased in Hong Kong; a vintage jacket; a head scarf bought in Venice, Italy; shoes from Sears (โMy Minnie Mouse shoesโ).
Spring/Summer Plans:
For spring break sheโs โprobably going with Mom to Londonโmy mom is British. Itโs such a vibrant city. Or maybe Madrid. I like metropolitan cities. You can walk everywhere, see things, connect with people.โ
Fave Music:
Arcade Fire, Madonna, Coldplay, the Starz.
Her Idea of a Romantic Date:
โDefinitely a night at the theatreโฆ Then after, you can have a good discussion.โ
About Sports:
โI was always an artsy-fartsy person,โ she laughs.
Spotlight Dope:
โDoing stuff like this fashion shoot: itโs fun to get an opportunity like this, to be pampered and choose clothesโฆ And, as an actor, nothing is better than being on a good TV show.โ
Spotlight Downer:
โWhen youโre in the public eye thereโs a certain responsibility to always look great and not allow yourself to have a bad dayโฆ And also to not do anything stupid in public because youโre a role model.โ
Miriam McDonald (Emma Nelson)
โDegrassiโs Miriam McDonaldโ

The Context:
Hereโs the scoop on this monthโs F18 cover girl, Miriam McDonald.
Showed Up Wearing:
Tan Frye Harness boots; True Religion jeans; T-shirt with Rolling Stones logo; paint-splotched powder blue Grail hoodie with skull detail; gold angel wing earrings (โI love theseโI live in themโ) and necklace, both Urban Outfitters; hair worn down and natural.
Spring/Summer Plans:
Hopes to hit L.A. for spring break to hang with some friends: โIt would be the first time Iโd be there for fun.โ
Fave Music of the Moment:
Madonnaโs Confessions on a Dancefloor, Red Hot Chili Peppers, Alanis Morissette. She also likes Dave Matthews Band and Shakira. โCassie and I are crazy about Shakiraโweโll dance around while weโre doing our hair and makeup and drive everyone crazy.โ
Her Idea of a Romantic Date:
โIn a perfect world a romantic date would be a really nice dinner, a walk on a beach, going to listen to some really good live music then going dancingโthe ideal setting would be Hawaii.โ
Still Dreams Of:
โThere are three things I still want to try: surfing, drumming and travelling.โ
On Sports:
โI like tennis, but Iโve danced all my lifeโballet, tap and jazz. I want to try tango or salsa next.โ
Why She Loves Acting:
โItโs an outlet where you can exude charisma and confidence without coming off as cocky.โ
Spotlight Dope:
โHaving the opportunity to inspire people or spark something inside people if they see a performance and it inspires them. Also the opportunities to do things like thisโfashion photo shootsโand travel.โ
Spotlight Downer:
โIt forces you to keep a guard up sometimesโฆ You also become self-conscious about your public antics to avoid gossip.โ
View the Full Collections
- Magazine Scans: View Album
- Full Outtakes: View Album
Sources:
- Fashion 18 โ Cassie Steele Interview
- Fashion 18 โ Stacey Farber Interview
- Fashion 18 โ Lauren Collins Interview
- Fashion 18 โ Sarah Barrable-Tishauer Interview
- Fashion 18 โ Miriam McDonald Interview
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