An In-depth Look into the Iconic Whale Tail of ‘Degrassi’ Alum Cassie Steele

Cassie Steele YouTube

Manny Santos' transformation in Degrassi began with a rhinestone blue thong, and the credit goes to her actress, Cassie Steele. In an exclusive interview with We, Steele, who was the youngest actor in the cast, expressed her desire to be taken seriously and appear more mature and sexy. She recalled wearing the whale tail to rehearsals one day, feeling incredibly cool and garnering attention. She thought she was successfully pulling off the look.

Steele asserts that discussions about her attire among the male cast members, handlers, and producers had an impact on the writers.

While it was incredibly embarrassing, she also found it exhilarating because Manny had never been in the spotlight until that episode. Before that, she was just the best friend. This newfound attention allowed her to establish her own individuality, which was both thrilling and mortifying. It evoked a mixture of both positive and negative emotions for her.

In the October 2003 episode titled "U Got the Look," Manny, played by Steele, confesses to her best friend Emma (Miriam McDonald) her desire to exude hotness rather than cuteness or adorableness. She dons a bedazzled blue whale tail along with low-rise jeans, a flowy crop top, and a matching hat.

Steele explains that she believes her character, Manny, was partially based on her as an actor. She clarifies that while not everything Manny did mirrored her own experiences, there were significant aspects such as Manny's aspirations to become an actor and her friendship with Emma. Steele further mentions her close bond with Miriam, who played Emma, during that time on the show. Additionally, she reveals that her friendship with Shenae, who portrayed Darcy, also influenced her on-screen relationship with Darcy.

To commemorate the 20th anniversary of the iconic episode, Steele has partnered with Tubi to reintroduce the outfit as an exclusive Halloween costume. "I've always had a sense that it was Manny's moment," she shares. "It truly had a profound impact on my life. What made it even more significant was knowing that it was inspired by my own actions on set. Although I didn't realize its iconic status at the time, I knew it was a major milestone and had made a significant impact."

Steele now witnesses fans donning a modified rendition of the attire each October, triggering her realization of its iconic status and the profound nostalgic effect it has on individuals.

Cassie Steele Alberto E. Rodriguez/Getty Images

Outside of Halloween, stars like Hailey Bieber and Dua Lipa have rocked the thong-dress trend.

Steele, who played the character Manny for nine seasons of Degrassi: The Next Generation and appeared in two TV movies, Degrassi Goes Hollywood and Degrassi Takes Manhattan, believes that the fun styles of the Y2K era may have served as inspiration. However, she acknowledges that the relation between the two is not as prominent due to the distinct differences in their execution. Currently, Steele is watching the show for the first time since its original airing, while also anticipating the release of her band Psychocandy's EP on Halloween.

"Oh my goodness, I could barely stand watching my mustache in the first season," she admits. "I attempted to watch it with my partner, but I just couldn't bear it. I didn't want to draw any attention to it, but that dark shadow under my nose was quite noticeable."

She expresses her anticipation for season 3, where she can witness the whale tail and Manny's notorious love triangle involving Craig (Jake Epstein) and Ashley (Melissa McIntyre).

"The Christmas episode featuring Craig, Ashley, and Manny is incredibly thrilling. Additionally, I'm eagerly looking forward to delving into the later seasons. Currently, I'm on season 2, and I believe that as the filming progresses, I may not be able to watch every single episode. Therefore, I'm particularly excited to explore the experiences of the other characters that I may have missed."