Ashleigh Murray

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.

I hope I give a good performance; I hope it's enjoyable. If I'm a villain and you hate me, that means I'm doing my job. But I'm not the one to stand for anybody to call me out of my name for any reason.

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.

Everybody wants a seat at the table, but nobody wants to give up space.

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.

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.

I was just this little theater geek. I joined the drama program my freshman year. I read the morning announcements my sophomore year. I didn't have to eat in the cafeteria with everyone else because my drama teacher was cool. Everybody knew who I was, and that's all I ever wanted as a theater kid.

It's tough being a teenager, man!

My mother is gay. She was married to my dad up until I was 9. She was just like, 'I'm tired of this. I'm just going to be with who I want to be with.' So I've been raised by women, through my mom and also my aunt. My aunt is bi, and most of her partners have been women. I was always surrounded by a very strong tribe of people.

Sometimes people can be wary of standing up... but I don't have a problem doing that.

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.'

We all know what it's like to want to have that support from our family members and the people that we love, especially our parents.