Singer Cassie pulled a “partial Britney” – as the Daily News called it – shaving half her head over the weekend, and then posting the pictures on her Twitter.

“Yeah I did it,” the 22-year-old wrote on her Twitter page next to a photo of her partially shaved head. Coincidentally – or not – she just released a new single.

Cassie didn’t exactly explain why she pulled a partial-Britney, but wrote a series of messages on her page: “Sometimes in life, you need a change … Something deeper than what you thought you were capable of … Something that displays the ‘I don’t give a f—‘ attitude that was always present, but never showcased … & something that will shock your mother, but make her call you a ROCK STAR.”

Cassie later answered fans’ shocked responses with the message, “I woke up and felt like it!!! Yeeeahhh!!! LOL.” Uh … whoa.

The singer hasn’t had a hit since 2006’s “Me & U,” but is scheduled to release a new album, “Electro Love,” later this year. No word if she plans to grow her hair back before then.

[From the Daily News]

The difference is obviously dramatic. Before Cassie looked lovely and very womanly. Now she looks tough but still beautiful. Perhaps it’s the contrast between her bald head and her gorgeous, feminine face. I can’t explain why, but for some reason I actually like it. Some women look striking like this. Others (cough cough Britney) just look psychopathic.

What other reason could be behind Cassie’s change – aside from her upcoming CD? Well, she was recently spotted making out with Diddy – and as Celebitchy said to me, that could drive anyone to do something drastic.

Party king Diddy and gorgeous singer Cassie put on quite a show during a blowout bash at his Miami mansion on March 27! “They were making out all night,” says a source. “And they weren’t hididng it!” Together since November, Cassie, 22, and Diddy, 39, had kept their affair hush-hush. Why so open now? Because after a series of rocky relationships – with Jennifer Lopez as well as mom to three of his kids Kim Porter, from whom he split in July 2007 – it’s true love for the hip-hop playboy, insiders believe. “he’s a goner over her. he buys her expensive gifts, takes her on tips,” says a source. “he hasn’t seemed this happy in a long time!”

[From Star, April 20, 2009, print ed.]

The rumors of Diddy and Cassie have been going around for so long (way earlier than Star’s cited November date), that I think they must be true. It’s an odd pairing, except that he’s often been accused of hooking up with his young female stars. Though on her most recent Twitter update, Cassie wrote, “They ask why?? Lol… B/C I WOKE UP AND FELT LIKE IT!!! YEEEAHHH!!!” So… it might be as simple as that.

Here’s Cassie before and after. Her tattoo says “amour.” Images thanks her Twitter page.