Aside from being a Latina, my family immigrated from Puerto Rico and Yugoslavia so I know all about that. I wouldn’t be able to do what I do today if they didn’t come to America. Everybody has an immigration story.

The day that I got the phone call to tell me that I booked ‘Glee’ I was shooting ‘CSI Miami.’ I was playing this heroin addict…I’d been on a million auditions where I sang and looked exactly the same way and didn’t do anything different. And so for this to be the one that popped it was just like what happened? It was the perfect timing and the perfect role for me. It was like everything came together.

There are always going to be things you don’t like about yourself or reasons to compare yourself to others, but once you realize that you only get one you, it’s best to just love yourself.

Going to regular public high school and working and auditioning was really, really tough. I never really fit in and hit the stride that all the other kids were on. Instead of going out and hanging out with my friends at that age, I remember being in my bedroom and putting on like a Christina Aguilera tape and just like belting. And seeing if I could hit every single note just like her.

I can relate to girls with self esteem issues because growing up in this industry there is the side of you that is obsessed with perfection. You want to please everyone because if you don't, you won't get the job. There is always someone prettier, smarter, or a better actor that you. You start to nit-pick everything. That perfectionism kicks in and it can take over your life if you let it. You have to get comfortable with yourself. Then, if you get the job, it is an added bonus.

It's kind of cool—and it makes me feel like a badass. I get more girls than my boyfriend. They always tweet me about my booty.

I watch Pretty Little Liars with my best friend Telly. We go to each other's houses when it airs and we watch it.