A New Kind of Heartthob
The mention of Gavin Casalegno’s name, these days, is immediately followed by the declaration of which team you subscribe to. Are you Team Jeremiah? Or Team Conrad?
Words by Dio Anthony
This is the most important question for fans of The Summer I Turned Pretty–a drama about a teenage girl torn between her love for two brothers. It’s the most talked about fictional love-triangle in recent years–and with only two seasons down, has solidified its place as another impossible love-story with high-risk-coming of age stakes. The choice is sometimes clear–yet with every passing episode, grows with complexity. What does it say about love? What does it say about who we are? 24-year-old fan-favorite Gavin steers away from these questions that fill the fictional world his character inhabits– and focuses on the bigger questions about his own life, and what they say about him.
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DIO: So I have to ask-what do you make of all the fuss online about your eyes? I think it's so funny. But you do have abnormally bright eyes. Was this something people brought to your attention before you were in the public eye in this capacity?
GAVIN: This makes me laugh. I mean, growing up people would mention it more often than not. I think what's behind the eyes is more important than in front.
DIO: On Instagram, I've noticed you're always posting things that shed light on your faith, which I think is so cool and not as common for public figures. Did you grow up going to church in Texas?
“I think what’s behind the eyes is more important than in front.”
GAVIN: Faith should be the most important thing in people's lives. It's definitely the most important of mine. I find joy being able to share my story and my personal love for Jesus. Just this week there was a group of 10 people that shared their journey with faith and how my posts have had an impact on their journey and in them.I grew up going to church and checking the box of going to church, but my relationship with Jesus felt more like talking to a wall. I didn't have a personal relationship with Him. But when I figured that out, and how to actually do life with Him, my whole life changed. I've been prioritizing my faith ever since I encountered Him.
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DIO: Growing up in Texas -what do you feel makes you a Texan?
GAVIN: My love for the outdoors, I'm tall, and I have my favorite BBQ joints in almost every city I've been to. I'm a BBQ snob. Also, I say y'all every other sentence. I also think my priorities are different. don't prioritize career, money or fame. It's all about family, faith and friends for me. I own three pairs of cowboy boots and three cowboy hats [laughs].
DIO: It's my understanding that you still live in Texas, yeah?
GAVIN: Yep! Born and raised! I really enjoy the stillness that the state of Texas has. There isn't a lot of hustle and bustle. And also, there's surprisingly an amazing amount of coffee shops and barbecue spots!
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DIO: Is it nice residing in a place where you can lead somewhat of a more "regular life" VS a city like LA where one industry consumes an entire town?
GAVIN: I definitely love being in a small town compared to LA. I travel quite often to LA and NYC.
DIO: I feel like your life has changed tremendously in the past few years. How would you describe that trajectory for yourself, and how has it changed the way you move through the world?
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GAVIN: My life definitely changed pretty quickly, and it wasn't always the easiest to catch up with. I'm a pretty outgoing person, but over the last three years, one thing I have realized is the importance of privacy.
DIO: Summertime has a way of being a very special season. Is there a summer in your life that particularly stands out to you?
GAVIN: Honestly backpacking around the world last summer was probably the most exciting and crazy thing I've ever done. Five countries in two months is a once in a lifetime excursion!
DIO: What were some highlights from your travels? What wisdom did you return with?
GAVIN: Europe and also some parts of Asia. I made lifelong memories. Two of my friends joined me in Rome, and we got to celebrate my birthday in Venice. I would say I learned that it's okay to not have answers to everything. Sometimes it's better to love someone by just listening. Also, I learned to hold plans very loosely, you never know when things will change. It helped encourage a go-with-the flow mindset.
DIO: What's your favorite part of your day?
GAVIN: The part where I have a volleyball or I am reading.
“I learned that it’s okay to not have answers to everything— sometimes it’s better to love someone by just listening”
DIO: Is there something you do everyday that's non-negotiable? Something you absolutely can't miss?
GAVIN: I wish I had so many better answers to this! But, I'll go through phases where I won't be able to sleep without working out, or reading, or learning a language, or an instrument. That usually lasts for about 2 weeks.
DIO: Lastly it's been an eventful year for you. What's one favorite memory from the past 10 months of your life?
GAVIN: There was a day in LA where I decided to meet a friend for ramen. He ended up bringing two more of his friends, and we spontaneously went to a ton of abandoned buildings and caves all afternoon and night. Then we got into a circle at the end of the night and played volleyball in an empty parking lot at 2am. It was an incredible day, with incredible people.
This interview has been edited and condensed.
Art Direction by Dio Anthony, Styling by Raz Martinez, Written by Dio Anthony, Grooming by Michael Chua, Market by Celine Azena