Board Thread:Speculation House/@comment-76.110.43.186-20160608215416/@comment-25936766-20160614011007

SpiritedDreaming wrote:

Also, Summer sacrifices herself to save everyone but the Grimm don't kill her but forcefully create an evil split personality called Salem. And then everything we know of happens. Mmm....let's exclude all the bit of Cinder being a Rose, and focus on this. Or rather, a similar idea that I had elsewhere that I think I spoke with Mini.

Basically, "Salem" is the name of the Grimm, either the way Ozpin calls her or a self-given name, but she isn't some humanoid Grimm. She's a parasite. So basically, Summer was possessed by Salem. Any change in physical traits could've been done by Salem's possession, like the different hair color.

Now why the different, elegant hair-style and the clothes, fair question, but I apply some willing suspension of disbelief there.