Acne-Plagued Teen Lands Spot on Fashion Week Runway

Acne-Plagued Teen Lands Spot on Fashion Week Runway - Cassandra Bankson, the teen whose makeup routine to cover up her acne-plagued skin made her into a YouTube sensation, started the next chapter of her life, landing a spot on the runway during New York Fashion Week.

A confident Bankson walked the runway at the Stacey Igel's "Boy Meets Girl" show in New York City Wednesday night, proudly putting a past of being bullied for her acne-ridden skin behind her.

"I'm a small town girl who sits in her living room and films videos all day and now…I'm in New YorkFashion Week," Bankson said backstage. "It's still a dream. I am so thankful."
The 19-year-old first achieved Internet stardom after posting makeup tutorials on YouTube with her concealing tips, revealing how she covered her acne-ridden skin before heading out to face the world. In the videos, Bankson talks to her 45 million viewers, first in full makeup, but then strips off the layers of foundation, concealer and powder to reveal pimples and blemishes.


"I had no idea so many people faced similar problems," she said. "My videos and definitely my 'GMA' appearance allowed me to connect with them."

Bankson appeared on "Good Morning America" back in December 2011 and told co-anchor Robin Roberts about the bullies who tormented her and how she dreaded leaving her house. Instead she would stay in, researching makeup techniques and practicing on herself. To get out of the misery she felt in high school, she also devoted herself to her studies and managed to graduate two years early.

"I was a total recluse. I didn't want to talk to or see anyone because of my skin," Bankson said. Now, she said those same bullies that tormented her in school and are friending her on Facebook.

Today, Bankson says her skin condition is 70 percent improved. She continues to pay regular visits to the dermatologist.

The young California native, now in her second year of college, says her journey has made want to pursue a career in dermatology so she can continue to help others with acne and other skin conditions. Until then, she plans to keep modeling. In addition to last night's runway show, through Explore Modeling, she has already shot ads with Bebe and Range Rover.

Although she's modeling, Bankson's message continues to be one of inner-beauty.

"Models shouldn't be modeling perfection because there is no such thing," she said. "We should be modeling our imperfections." ( ABC News Blogs )


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13 Things Your Landscaper Won't Tell You

13 Things Your Landscaper Won't Tell You - "GMA" is teaming up with Reader's Digest on a special series of "13 Things Your - Won't Tell You." Add as much as 15 percent to your home's value with these expert landscaping tips.

13 Things Your Landscaper Won't Tell You (ABC News)

1. Ditch the mower bag. Those grass clippings will become food for earthworms and microbes that will help make your lawn green and healthy.

2. Sure, the view from the street is important, but don't forget to look at your landscape from inside the house. If you have a room with a big window, make sure it looks good from there too.

3. Don't fill every inch of your space with plants and flowers. By next spring, you'll have a weeding and pruning nightmare.

4. That "pretty" red mulch you love? It has been found to contain arsenic and other harsh chemicals that can be harmful to children and pets and will contaminate your soil.

5. Hate bagging leaves? You don't have to. If there's just a light layer, go over them with your mower and leave them on your lawn. As they break down, they'll help limit weeds from popping up.

6. You can send a sample of your soil to a local agricultural agency to have it tested. Dig down six to seven inches deep and then gather two cups of dirt into sample bags. Mail them off to find out what nutrients you need.

7. If you find a flower you like, always buy more than one. Plant clumps of species in odd numbers, such as five or seven in one area, or repeat the groupings throughout your landscape for a unifying effect.

8. Do-it-yourself landscapers tend to make their planting beds too narrow and too close to the house. You want to extend your beds out at least one to two thirds of the house's height, if not more.

9. Laying weed fabric is generally a waste of money and time for the long term; weeds just grow on top of it. I once had a customer whose beds had seven layers of weed fabric, yet she still had weeds. I guess she kept thinking, If I put down just one more layer, the weeds will stop coming.

10. Most lawn fertilizers have about 30 percent nitrogen, which is way too much. Look for fertilizer with time-releasing water-insoluble nitrogen and use it only twice a year on a steady schedule, like on Memorial Day and after Labor Day. In general, well-irrigated and older lawns need less fertilizer.

11. Watch out for a gorgeous plant called purple loosestrife, or Lythrum salicaria, which a lot of nurseries still sell. Though it's inexpensive and has a lovely flower, it's an invasive species that will spread everywhere and choke out other plants.

12. To keep from overwatering your lawn, remember that one inch of water once a week is ideal, maybe once every five days in extreme heat, depending on your soil. Infrequent watering encourages roots to grow deeper to find groundwater, creating a stronger plant.

13. Looking at a color wheel is a great way to choose garden flowers. Colors that are opposite each other, like yellow and purple, look beautiful together. ( Good Morning America )

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