Cassandra Bankson, Acne-Plagued Teen, Walks In New York Fashion Week (PHOTOS)

Cassandra Bankson has battled her severe acne all her life. Now, the 19-year-old is finally winning the struggle - at least by catwalking to show it who's boss.

Bankson, a native of Danville, California, who's risen to worldwide fame with her YouTube makeup tutorials, strutted down the runway in style on Thursday as part of designer Stacey Igel's "Boy Meets Girl" show. Igel says she was struck by Bankson's stunning looks and decided to cast her: "Cassandra's long hair fit the style of what we’re doing," she told the "Today" show. "Natural, carefree, she definitely had the vibe of what I was casting for the show."

"It feels like a dream to be here during Fashion Week,” Bankson told the New York Post before her big gig.

Since getting her first pimple at 9 and being diagnosed with cystic acne at 14, Bankson has made a name for herself by refusing to let her complexion get her down. Her YouTube videos, in which she demonstrates her amazing skill to cover up her severe acne using makeup, have netted 45 million views. She's been featured in numerous magazines and modeled for Sephora, Hourglass Cosmetics and CHI.

Get it, girl!

PHOTO:

See who got to sit front row for all the shows at 2012 New York Fashion Week!

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• Jessica Alba

  Ralph Lauren. September 13, 2012. Photo: Getty Images.

• Olivia Wilde

  Ralph Lauren. September 13, 2012. Photo: Getty Images.

• Ryan Lochte

  Ralph Lauren. September 13, 2012. Photo: Getty Images.

• Brad Goreski

  Ralph Lauren. September 13, 2012. Photo: Getty Images.

• Anna Wintour

  Ralph Lauren. September 13, 2012. Photo: Getty Images.

• Dylan Lauren

  Ralph Lauren. September 13, 2012. Photo: Getty Images.

• Emma Stone

  Calvin Klein. September 13, 2012. Photo: WireImage.

• Diane Kruger

  Calvin Klein. September 13, 2012. Photo: WireImage.

• Amy Adams

  Calvin Klein. September 13, 2012. Photo: Getty Images.

• Jade Frampton

  Brood by Serkan Sarier. September 13, 2012. Photo: Getty Images.

• Vera Wang

  Brood by Serkan Sarier. September 13, 2012. Photo: Getty Images.

• Santigold

  Gerlan Jeans. September 13, 2012. Photo: WireImage.

• Angela Simmons

  Gerlan. September 13, 2012. Photo: WireImage.

• Kelly Osbourne and Matthew Mosshart

  Gerlan Jeans. September 13, 2012. Photo: WireImage.

• Angela Simmons

  Cynthia Rowley. September 13, 2012. Photo: WireImage.

• Kim Kardashian and Kanye West

  Louise Goldin. September 12, 2012. Photo: Getty Images.

• Rachel Roy, Kim Kardashian, Kanye West

  Louise Goldin. September 12, 2012. Photo: Getty Images.

• Alia Penner, Tennessee Thomas, Alexa Chung and Sarah Sophie Flicker

  Anna Sui. September 12, 2012. Photo: Getty Images.

• Bruce Weber

  Anna Sui. September 12, 2012. Photo: WireImage.

• Alexa Chung

  Anna Sui. September 12, 2012. Photo: WireImage.

• Florence Welch

  Proenza Schouler. September 12, 2012. Photo: Getty Images.

• Julia Restoin-Roitfeld and Carine Roitfeld

  Proenza Schouler. September 12, 2012. Photo: Getty Images.

• Alexa Chung

  Proenza Schouler. September 12, 2012. Photo: Getty Images.

• Kate Bosworth

  Proenza Schouler. September 12, 2012. Photo: Getty Images.

• Stefano Tonchi and Jessica Chastain

  Proenza Schouler. September 12, 2012. Photo: Getty Images.

• Gia Coppola

  Proenza Schouler. September 12, 2012. Photo: Getty Images.

• Kirsten Dunst

  Proenza Schouler. September 12, 2012. Photo: Getty Images.

• Rachel Roy

  Marchesa. September 12, 2012. Photo: Getty Images.

• Stacy Keibler

  Marchesa. September 12, 2012. Photo: Getty Images.

• Michelle Trachtenberg

  Marchesa. September 12, 2012. Photo: Getty Images.

• Kim Kardashian

  Marchesa. September 12, 2012. Photo: Getty Images.

• Kelly Osbourne

  Marchesa. September 12, 2012. Photo: Getty Images.

• Tyra Banks

  Marchesa. September 12, 2012. Photo: Getty Images.

• Sarah Hyland

  Marchesa. September 12, 2012. Photo: Getty Images.

• Tyra Banks, Kim Kardashian, Kanye West, Stacy Keibler

  Marchesa. September 12, 2012. Photo: Getty Images.

• Gia Coppola and Derek Blasberg

  Marchesa. September 12, 2012. Photo: Getty Images.

• Kelly Osbourne, Jenna Dewan, Michelle Trachtenberg, Rachel Roy

  Marchesa. September 12, 2012. Photo: Getty Images.

• Tinsley Mortimer

  Marchesa. September 12, 2012. Photo: Getty Images.

• Kelly Osbourne, Jenna Dewan, Michelle Trachtenberg

  Marchesa. September 12, 2012. Photo: Getty Images.

• Michelle Trachtenberg

  Marchesa. September 12, 2012. Photo: WireImage.

• Abigail Spencer

  Marchesa. September 12, 2012. Photo: WireImage.

• Jessica Stam

  Marchesa. September 12, 2012. Photo: FilmMagic.

• Jenna Dewan

  Marchesa. September 12, 2012. Photo: Getty Images.

• Rachel Zoe

  Reed Krakoff. September 12, 2012. Photo: Getty Images.

• Julianne Moore

  Reed Krakoff. September 12, 2012. Photo: WireImage.

• Vanessa Traina

  Reed Krakoff. September 12, 2012. Photo: Getty Images.

• Ann Dexter-Jones

  Reed Krakoff. September 12, 2012. Photo: Getty Images.

• Alexa Ray Joel

  Whitney Eve. September 12, 2012. Photo: WireImage.

• Whitney Port and Kelly Bensimon

  Whitney Eve. September 12, 2012. Photo: WireImage.

• Jessica Hart

  Whitney Eve. September 12, 2012. Photo: Getty Images.

• Rosario Dawson

  Boy Meets Girl By Stacy Igel. September 12, 2012. Photo: Getty Images.

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Comments

[flippflopp1129]

11:06 PM on 09/16/2012

Yay! Good for her. I struggle with acne, although pretty light, it still has a huge effect on me. I love watching her youtube videos. She is such an inspiration, and has such a wonderful personality. Huge amount of courage to do what she does, really happy for her!

[pslcitizen]

07:35 PM on 09/16/2012

Okay, now that we're being less vain, where are the plus sized & shorter models?

[MunjedsLover]

04:58 PM on 09/15/2012

Now if she is paid for the catwalk she can get some professional help for that skin.

[Seaglass]

12:02 PM on 09/17/2012

Think she hasn't tried?!

[AlleyKing]

01:01 PM on 09/15/2012

I remember watching this girl's video several months ago. Some things of advice for those who have acne: Get your hormone levels checked. Women especially will get adult onset acne when they develop glandular or endocrine problems that they dont even know they have; If you have animals, rule out demodex. Some people are more sensitive to these little creatures that live on our pets, while most of the population arent affected at all. Good thing is once you get the pets treated, the problem usually goes away; Also, get your immune system checked out. If you develop frequent and unrelenting cystic bacterial infections, abscesses or viral outbreaks it could be your body's warning sign that its immune system is being heavily taxed by something that wont allow it to get the upper hand. This could also trigger an autoimmune response if it persists for too long.

[El Trife]

12:50 PM on 09/15/2012

She's a cutie :)

[GoldenSnowflake]

12:08 PM on 09/15/2012

I discovered her recently on YouTube, and it's amazing to see that her courage and frankness with her fans/viewers has paid off. She deserves the recognition for sure.

[Hollyjack52]

11:21 AM on 09/15/2012

She conveys both beauty and a positive personality... I wish her the best success!

[lorine616]

10:58 AM on 09/15/2012

Good for her..Now I am going to watch some more of her videos..!

[KellyRo30403720]

10:43 AM on 09/15/2012

Get it girl :)

[Henssis1]

10:40 AM on 09/15/2012

She is beautiful...

[Agoraks]

10:29 AM on 09/15/2012

Looking good, feeling good, working hard and making tons of cash..despite some life bumps...well fellas thats what the economy should look like..

[bullseyepromo]

10:27 AM on 09/15/2012

What a lovely young lady. Too bad a dermatologist has not been able to come up with a regimen to help her cystic acne improve at a faster pace. She has a great spirit- wish her well.

[lvng]

10:04 AM on 09/15/2012

Good for her and thank god it wasn't one of the Jenner brats!

[El Trife]

12:52 PM on 09/15/2012

Lol I think this one looks better than those brats!

[blondncrazy23]

09:49 AM on 09/15/2012

I wish she could get something for it like ProActiv or something like that. She is so gorgeous!

[MissIndependent1962]

09:44 AM on 09/15/2012

she is inspirational to everyone because while she admits being horribly insecure about her acne (who wouldn't be?) she found a way to share her battle with same with everyone. That's a HUGE success! She is a beautiful girl and her makeup apparently bolsters her self-confidence. Good for her.