Allia

Allia Bhandari is played by Melinda Shankar.

Allia is a new character and is in the advanced program for grade 9.

Allia picks up the nickname Backwoods Bhandari because of a rumor that she made out with Johnny DiMarco, who she had a crush on and who had sent her a flower. Johnny rejects her because she’s only in 9th grade.

In real life Melinda Shankar does ballet and karate. She’s been forced to give up the leotard and karate uniform when she moved from Ottowa to Toronto for the show. You can still see her occasssionally wearing martial arts shoes in paparazzi pictures. Her father runs a martial arts school.

Eventually Allia goes to the Sweetheart dance with Johnny and after he kisses her. They break up soon after when Johnny fails to defend her.