Wikipedia

Cassandra Bankson

Cassandra Bankson (born November 11, 1992) is an American model, medical aesthetician, and online social media personality from San Francisco, California.[1] She has been featured on Good Morning America,[2] Today,[3] The Doctors, and The Anderson Cooper Show, among other international[4] television shows. She has been featured in magazines[1][5] and websites including Vogue, Seventeen, Glamour, Forbes, People,[6] In Touch Weekly, Us Weekly, Cosmopolitan,[7] POPSUGAR,[8] First for Women, and the cover of Reveal Magazine[9][10] and newspapers USA Today,[11] The New York Post, and Pleasanton Weekly.[12][13]

Cassandra Bankson
Born (1992-11-11) November 11, 1992 (age 32)
San Francisco, California, U.S.
Occupation(s)Model, online personality, esthetician

Early life

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Bankson was born to Jennifer and Richard Bankson in San Francisco, California.[citation needed] She grew up in the affluent suburbs of the San Francisco bay area and was raised in a predominantly Christian household. At age eight, Bankson developed a rather innocuous strain of Acne vulgaris, which later transformed into an aggressive strain of acne conglobata by the time she was fourteen. Eventually her severe skin condition had progressed to the extent that it engulfed her entire face and most of her body. Bankson's parents tried tirelessly to treat their daughter's acne by taking her to 16 different specialists across the United States and western Europe, which proved unsuccessful[citation needed]. Bankson was bullied relentlessly for her severe acne and eventually pulled out of school as a result[citation needed]. She later studied with a private tutor to complete her education. Along with her skin condition, she also has uterus didelphys, a condition wherein she possesses two vaginas, two uteruses, and two cervixes.[14]

Career

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Modeling

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Bankson had been working with local professional photographers and model coach Charleston Pierce[15] when she decided to submit professional shots to modeling agencies in San Francisco.[citation needed]

Bankson attended auditions for America's Next Top Model in Blackhawk and Los Angeles, but did not make it to the televised stages. Bankson has modeled for companies including Citizens of Humanity,[16] HP, Davidson and Licht, Farouk Hair Systems, "Guess By Marciano" CHI (with Miss America Contestants and Abel Salazar), Biosilk, Prada, Bebe,[17] along with appearing in other catalogs, magazines, local TV programmes, and runway shows. In April and May 2012, Bankson took part in appearances throughout Sephora stores in partnership with Hourglass Cosmetics.[18][19][20]

On September 13, 2012, Bankson walked at the Boy Meets Girl runway show at New York Fashion Week.[21]

YouTube

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In 2010, Bankson began making videos on the YouTube channel "Diamondsandheels14" on topics such as makeup, fashion, and lifestyle. She has since re-branded to "Cassandra Bankson" with a focus on skincare that is both Cruelty Free and Vegan.[22]

The channel's most popular video, titled "Foundation Routine For Flawless Skin Acne Coverage", showing Bankson's bare skin and her secrets to cover her severe acne, gained international attention including that of Right This Minute, Good Morning America, "Anderson", The Today Show, The Insider, MSN, Fox News, and the front page of AOL, Yahoo, and MSN. After posting the video, she didn't look at the comments for four months, afraid of being bullied online.[23] She posted the video hoping it would help "just one person".[2][24][25] The video has since gained well over 21 million views.[26] Bankson "made it her mission" to help others with makeup, confidence, acne, and skin conditions online.[25][27] Her daily videos have also received international press and media attention[4][28][29][30] She is a 'vlogger',[31][32] and has also posted videos for men who suffer with acne.[33] As of May, 2021, her YouTube channel has over 1.47 million subscribers and 178 million video views.[34] Along with YouTube, Bankson has a large following on other social media sites such as TikTok,[35] Instagram,[36] Facebook,[37] Twitter,[38] and Pinterest.[39] As of May 2021, she has over 230 thousand followers on Tiktok[35] and 115 thousand followers on Instagram.[36]

Bankson's story and her popular YouTube video were featured in an episode of Investigation Discovery's Karma's A B*tch.[citation needed]

Career milestones

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Bankson is an Amazon affiliate and hosts weekly livestreams on the platform.[40]

On February 18, 2021, Cassandra was a special guest on the #AskINKEYAskathon, a 4-hour virtual event hosted by skincare brand The Inkey List. This event was dedicated to educating and empowering attendees and answering their skincare questions.[41]

In June 2021, Cassandra served as a brand ambassador for The INKEY List in honor of Acne Awareness Month and led social media discussions about skincare, hosted a Q& A with brand founders, created original video content advising a select group of subscribers on their skincare journeys, and more.

She has been named a “rising woman of power” by Forbes[42] has had frequent guest appearances on The Today Show and has been featured as a 10-year beauty expert on Good Morning America[citation needed]. She has also been dubbed a top TikTok skincare influencer by Cosmopolitan magazine[35] and appeared on a podcast with Dr. Anthony Yuon discussing TikTok skincare trends.

In 2021, Cassandra sat down with notable women in business including Randi Zuckerberg and Melissa Rivers, where she discussed topics ranging from entrepreneurship to mental health struggles.[36]

Humanitarian work

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Bankson has taken her role as an advocate for human rights to the next level as a brand ambassador for Food For Life Global, a charity that provides school children with ethically sourced and nutritionally balanced meals in conjunction with hunger relief programs.[43] She has also partnered with Prabh Aasra (Universal Disabled CareTaker Social Welfare Society)[citation needed], a home in Punjab with a core mission to give unconditional opportunity, treatment/rehabilitation and shelter to those that are struggling with different forms of illness as well as orphaned and abandoned children.

Personal life

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Bankson is a vegan.[44]

On April 30, 2018, she came out as a lesbian on her YouTube channel.[45] In her coming out story, she mentions "an obligation to be fully authentic."[46]

References

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  1. ^ a b "Inspiring Confidence - Inspirational Stories About Mothers and Daughters". Good Housekeeping. April 17, 2012. Retrieved August 12, 2012.
  2. ^ a b "Cassandra Bankson's Makeup Tips: Tricks to Cover Up Severe Acne Go Viral | Video". ABC News. December 6, 2011. Retrieved January 27, 2015.
  3. ^ "YouTube makeup guru talks beauty and confidence". Today. April 18, 2012. Archived from the original on April 22, 2012. Retrieved June 23, 2020.
  4. ^ a b "Teenage role model". Today.ninemsn.com.au. June 23, 2012. Archived from the original on September 6, 2013. Retrieved August 12, 2012.
  5. ^ "Good Housekeeping". Good Housekeeping. April 17, 2012. Retrieved September 15, 2012.
  6. ^ "According to Experts, These Insect Repellents and Bug Bite Soothers Really Work". PEOPLE.com. Retrieved July 29, 2021.
  7. ^ Capon, Laura (June 8, 2021). "A Skinfluencer's Top Tips for Managing Acne". Cosmopolitan. Retrieved July 29, 2021.
  8. ^ Harrington, Jessica (June 22, 2021). "How Cassandra Bankson Became "Your Acne Big Sister" With Over 1.5M YouTube Followers". POPSUGAR Beauty. Retrieved July 29, 2021.
  9. ^ "REVEAL Magazine & Summer Evenings OOTD :) (Pre- Recorded Video)". YouTube. June 18, 2012. Retrieved September 15, 2012.
  10. ^ "REVEAL Magazine & OOTD :) (Pre- Recorded Video)". Gettingridofacnemarks.com. June 18, 2012. Archived from the original on October 17, 2012. Retrieved August 12, 2012.
  11. ^ Ryu, Jenna. "Does dairy cause acne? Debunking all the lies we've been told about our skin". USA TODAY. Retrieved July 29, 2021.
  12. ^ "DiamondsAndHeels14 SUBSCRIBE if you like being HAPPY!!!!!". YouTube. Retrieved September 15, 2012.
  13. ^ "DiamondsAndHeels14 SUBSCRIBE if you like being HAPPY!!!!!". YouTube. Retrieved August 12, 2012.
  14. ^ "YouTube Star Cassandra Bankson Reveals She Has Two Vaginas". People.com. April 30, 2015. Archived from the original on May 26, 2016.
  15. ^ "Fashion Show Producer, Model Coach, Actor, Event Host in San Francisco & Beyond". Charleston Pierce. Retrieved August 12, 2012.
  16. ^ "citizensofhumanity.com". citizensofhumanity.com. Retrieved September 15, 2012.
  17. ^ "bebe.com". bebe.com. Retrieved September 15, 2012.
  18. ^ Beth Hamilton says. "San Francisco Beauty Events: Hourglass Cosmetics at Sephora Powell Street May 19th 2012". Beauty Junkie in SF. Retrieved August 12, 2012.
  19. ^ "YouTube Makeup Guru Cassandra Bankson Partners With Hourglass Cosmetics, Sephora To Talk Acne - International Business Times". Ibtimes.com. April 19, 2012. Retrieved August 12, 2012.
  20. ^ Rubin, Julia (April 16, 2012). "Cassandra Bankson Interview". Styleite. Archived from the original on August 18, 2012. Retrieved August 12, 2012.
  21. ^ Misener, Jessica (September 13, 2012). "PHOTO: Acne-Plagued YouTube Star Walks The Catwalk". Huffington Post.
  22. ^ "Cassandra Bankson - YouTube". www.youtube.com. Retrieved May 21, 2021.
  23. ^ "YouTube makeup guru talks beauty and confidence - Video on TODAY.com". MSNBC. Archived from the original on April 22, 2012. Retrieved August 12, 2012.
  24. ^ "Teen's Anti- Acne Makeup Routine Goes Viral | Video - ABC News". Abcnews.go.com. December 6, 2011. Retrieved August 12, 2012.
  25. ^ a b "Flawless Foundation Routine". Americanhomesandgardens.com. May 20, 2012. Retrieved August 12, 2012.
  26. ^ "Acne Foundation Routine! Pimples, Scars, Cystic Acne, Blackheads & Oil! | Cassandra Bankson". YouTube. December 15, 2010. Retrieved October 15, 2015.
  27. ^ Style It Social. "Cassandra Bankson". Style It Social. Archived from the original on June 28, 2012. Retrieved August 12, 2012.
  28. ^ "Une Youtubeuse beauté passe sur m6 ! - DiamondsAndHeels14". YouTube. June 25, 2012. Retrieved August 12, 2012.
  29. ^ "Secret Diet Busters! Foods That Are Sabotaging Your Weight Loss Diamondsandheels14 Cassandra Bankson". YouTube. July 7, 2012. Retrieved September 15, 2012.
  30. ^ "SALE HAUL!!! Express Summer Fashion Haul!!! Shop On A Budget & Save!". YouTube. June 30, 2012. Retrieved September 15, 2012.
  31. ^ "Summer Clothing Haul!! Forever 21, Bebe, Nordstrom & More! Cassandra Bankson Diamondsandheels14". YouTube. June 17, 2012. Retrieved September 15, 2012.
  32. ^ "Beauty On A Budget! 7 Drugstore Makeup Products To Love! Diamondsandheels14". YouTube. June 23, 2012. Retrieved September 15, 2012.
  33. ^ "Shaving Over Acne WIthout Making It Worse! Does Shaving Cause Acne? Cassandra Bankson". YouTube. July 13, 2012. Retrieved September 15, 2012.
  34. ^ Bankson, Cassandra. "Cassandra Bankson". YouTube. Retrieved October 15, 2015.
  35. ^ a b c "Cassandra Bankson (@cassandrabankson) TikTok | Watch Cassandra Bankson's Newest TikTok Videos". TikTok. Retrieved May 21, 2021.
  36. ^ a b c "Login • Instagram". www.instagram.com. Retrieved May 25, 2021. {{cite web}}: Cite uses generic title (help)
  37. ^ "Cassandra Bankson". www.facebook.com. Retrieved May 21, 2021.
  38. ^ "Cassandra Bankson (@Cassbankson) op Twitter". Twitter.com. Archived from the original on May 21, 2021. Retrieved August 12, 2012.
  39. ^ "Cassandra Bankson (CassandraBankson) - Profile". Pinterest. Retrieved May 21, 2021.
  40. ^ "Cassandra Bankson - Skincare Expert's Amazon Page". www.amazon.com. Retrieved May 21, 2021.
  41. ^ "askATHON". The Inkey List USA. Archived from the original on May 21, 2021. Retrieved May 21, 2021.
  42. ^ Humphrey, Michael (October 11, 2012). "Cassandra Bankson: 5 Questions For YouTube's Rising Women Of Power". Forbes. Retrieved July 16, 2024.
  43. ^ "Executive Committee and Governing Board". Food for Life Global. Archived from the original on February 26, 2021. Retrieved July 29, 2021.
  44. ^ Shammas, John (April 30, 2015). "YouTube star Cassandra Bankson reveals she has TWO vaginas but insists: 'I don't let it bother me'". mirror.co.uk. Mirror. Retrieved May 6, 2017.
  45. ^ "SURPRISE!! I'm GAY! (Coming Out)". youtube.com. Retrieved May 8, 2017.
  46. ^ Castañon, Kelsey. "Cassandra Bankson Shares Why She Came Out To Her 800K YouTube Followers". www.refinery29.com. Retrieved May 21, 2021.
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