FROM FILMING IN THAILAND TO RUNNING HIS OWN CLOTHING BRAND, GAVIN CASALEGNO HAS BEEN SURFING THROUGH LIFE BOTH LITERALLY AND FIGURATIVELY. BEST KNOWN AS JEREMIAH IN THE SUMMER I TURNED PRETTY, THE ACTOR REFLECTS ON CLOSING OUT THE BELOVED SERIES, THE COMPLEXITIES OF HIS CHARACTER, AND WHERE LIFE MIGHT TAKE HIM NEXT. OVER A LAID-BACK CHAT FROM THE BEACH, GAVIN OPENS UP ABOUT GRIEF, GROWTH, MARRIAGE, AND WHAT IT MEANS TO JUST GO WITH THE FLOW.

Left Full look **Loro Piana**
Right Top and pants **Prada**, watch **Omega**

Hi Gavin, how are you? How has your summer been?
I’m in the Hamptons, taking a load off before heading back to my project in Bangkok.

Tell us about Thailand. What are you working on there?
I'm filming a movie out there with an amazing cast and production. I’m just living my best life.

Was this your first time visiting the country?
No, I actually backpacked through Bangkok, Phuket, and Chiang Mai years ago with my then-girlfriend, now wife.

How do you feel about the release of the new season of The Summer I Turned Pretty?
Super excited. We worked so hard for years, and to be able to tell the story through to the end is amazing. Not everyone gets to do that, I’m really grateful.

Were you familiar with the books before being cast?
I wasn’t. I was more into Percy Jackson and The Lord of the Rings. But I’ve got friends who were obsessed with the books in school.

Left **N°21**
Right Full look **Loro Piana** & watch **Omega**

Season two ended on a heavy note. What did it teach you about Jeremiah?
We explored grief in a real way. Jenny [Han]'s writing gave us that depth. Grief is something beautiful in its own way; it changes people.

This season opens after a three-year time jump. How did that affect your approach?
The writer’s strike gave us time to grow in our own lives, and that translated to our characters. It was perfect timing to show their maturity.

Did you go to college yourself, and did that help you with Jeremiah’s experience?
I did online college during a previous project. It didn’t go well. I was balancing a full course load and 12-hour workdays. But I learned my limits. Filming the fraternity scenes kind of gave me a taste of the real thing.

You’ve been described as “everyone’s favourite golden retriever”. Do you relate to that?
Absolutely. Think tail-wagging, smiling, high energy, that’s literally Jeremiah. He’s a ray of sunshine. I take that as a compliment.

This season, we get more of Jeremiah’s emotional depth. What do you hope viewers take from it?
Jeremiah isn't perfect. And that’s the point. He’s flawed. This season really explores that. We even see Conrad in therapy. Everyone’s growing emotionally, and viewers get to see that process.

Left Top and pants **Fendi**, shoes **Tod’s**, watch **Omega**
Right Full look **Loro Piana**

There’s always been tension between Jeremiah and Conrad. How did you build that sibling dynamic with Chris Briney?
Chris and I are close, so that chemistry came naturally. He’s a great actor, and it made working opposite him super easy.

In the premiere episode, Jeremiah makes a major mistake. How did you handle that moment?
It’s inexcusable, sure, but also human. Mistakes shape who we are. Jeremiah would do anything for Belly, but he’s not perfect, and that’s a message worth showing.

How would you compare his high school vs. college relationships?
High school is about discovering who you are. In college, there’s more maturity. It’s less about discovery, more about familiarity and depth.

There’s a sweet karaoke scene in the first episode. What’s your vibe off-set with the cast?
We spent time at the beach, had dinners, and played volleyball. The karaoke scene captured that feeling of Belly and Jeremiah just being together, doing nothing but enjoying each other’s company.

You got married recently, congrats! Did that change how you viewed Jeremiah’s proposal?
Thank you! I wouldn’t call his proposal impulsive; it’s too negative a connotation. After four years, it makes sense that he’d feel ready. It came from a place of sincerity, even if it wasn’t the most romantic setting.

Left Jacket and top **Dior Men**, watch **Omega**
Right Top, pants and shoes **Prada**, watch **Omega**

What do you hope audiences take from this final season?
I hope it moved people. That it made them feel something. Growth isn’t linear; you fall and get back up. I hope viewers leave with hope and joy.

Looking ahead, what kind of projects are you hoping to do?
I love love stories, especially deep, unique ones. But I’m also a huge fan of action. I’d love to do an eight-week stunt training or be part of a wild, fun project. Maybe I’ll throw in some curveballs, too. We’ll see.

You have a brand, Kai Lo. How did that all start?
I wanted to make clothes that start conversations. “Depth over surface” is one of our themes, and it reflects things I’ve been learning about life. I just wanted to create something meaningful that’s also beachy and wearable.

Do you still surf?
Yes! I learned while filming The Summer I Turned Pretty. One of my best friends and I would surf every morning before set. It was a highlight of my summer. I’ll probably go again after this. I’m literally on the beach right now.

Final question: Team Bonrad or Team Jelly?
Team Jelly, hands down. No competition.

…

Discover the full story in our FW25 Issue - out next Fall25

& order your Gavin cover.

Interview by Gabrielle Valda Colas

Photography by Ritchie Jo Espenilla

Fashion by Jungle LIn

Casting by Imagemachine cs

Grooming by Mark Esparza