Original subtitles

MY NAME IS STEVE SCHIRRIPA,

AND I WANT TO TALK TO YOU ABOUT REVENGE.

YOU GET CHEATED ON...

LIED TO.

YOU'VE BEEN PLAYED.

YOU WANT TO GET EVEN.

Lodrick: YOU REALLY FEEL VIOLATED.

WHERE IS MY MONEY? YOU KNOW, WHERE IS MY MONEY?

THIS WOMAN STOLE MY IDENTITY.

YOU WOULD HEAR, "I BET YOUR PARENTS REGRET HAVING YOU,"

"WASTE OF LIFE," "FREAK OF NATURE."

YOU DON'T FEEL SAFE.

I THINK BULLIES ARE JUST THE SCUM OF THE EARTH.

BECAUSE WHAT GOES AROUND DOES COME AROUND.

IT'S CALLED "KARMA," AND THERE'S A SAYING...

--Captions by VITAC-- www.vitac.com

CAPTIONS PAID FOR BY DISCOVERY COMMUNICATIONS

YOU KNOW, YOU KIND OF CASUALLY HEAR ABOUT IT,

LIKE YOU HEAR ABOUT ANY CRIME ON THE NEWS OR WHATEVER,

BUT I NEVER REALLY THOUGHT IT WOULD EVER HAPPEN TO ME.

Schirripa: MEET KAREN LODRICK.

SHE'S SMART, SHE'S A GO-GETTER.

BUT WILL THAT PROTECT HER FROM A CUNNING IDENTITY THIEF?

NOT A CHANCE.

O'Farrell: ANYONE CAN GET THEIR IDENTITY STOLEN.

IT DOESN'T MATTER HOW RICH YOU ARE.

IT DOESN'T MATTER HOW SMART YOU ARE.

IN THE U.S., THERE ARE ABOUT A MILLION VICTIMS A MONTH.

Schirripa: ONE OF THEM WAS KAREN LODRICK,

AND THIS IS THE STORY OF HOW SHE FOUGHT BACK.

KAREN LIVES IN A BEAUTIFUL TOWN --

SAN FRANCISCO.

IT ATTRACTS THE YOUNG AND INGENIOUS...

AND THE PARASITES AND LOWLIFES WHO VIEW THEM AS PREY.

YOU SEE THIS WOMAN?

SHE KNOWS HOW TO STEAL YOUR IDENTITY AND TAKE YOUR MONEY,

AND YOU WON'T EVEN KNOW IT'S GONE TILL IT'S TOO LATE.

I WAS ON A TRIP, AND THEN WHEN I CAME HOME,

I HAD A FEW MESSAGES ON MY ANSWERING MACHINE.

[ BEEP ]

IT WAS FROM MY BANK, SAYING THAT THERE WERE

THESE MAJOR WITHDRAWALS FROM MY ATM.

Schirripa: KAREN HASN'T BEEN ANYWHERE NEAR AN ATM,

BUT SOMEONE HAS.

THEY SAID, "WELL, IT LOOKS LIKE SOMEONE GOT YOUR CREDIT CARD."

Schirripa: WHAT'S ACTUALLY HAPPENED IS THAT SOMEONE HAS MANAGED

TO GET A NEW CARD ISSUED IN KAREN'S NAME.

Lodrick: SAID, "YOU NEED TO GO DOWN,

YOU NEED TO CLOSE YOUR BANK ACCOUNT,"

SO I CLOSE EVERYTHING DOWN.

Schirripa: SO, KAREN HEADS DOWN TO HER BRANCH

AND GETS THE SHOCK OF HER LIFE.

Lodrick: SHE TURNED THE SCREEN AROUND...

...$8,000 WAS JUST, LIKE, WIPED.

YOU REALLY FEEL VIOLATED.

WHERE IS MY MONEY? YOU KNOW, WHERE IS MY MONEY?

Schirripa: ALL OF KAREN LODRICK'S SAVINGS HAVE VANISHED --

HER ENTIRE BANK ACCOUNT.

HOW DID IT HAPPEN?

BEFORE HER IDENTITY GOT STOLEN, SOMEONE SWIPED HER MAIL.

ARMED WITH KAREN'S PERSONAL AND FINANCIAL INFORMATION,

ALL THE CROOK HAD TO DO WAS CALL THE BANK AND SAY,

"I'M KAREN. I LOST MY CARDS. I NEED NEW ONES."

AND SINCE THE THIEF HAS ALL OF KAREN'S INFO,

THE NIGHTMARE DOESN'T STOP

EVEN AFTER SHE KNOWS SHE'S BEING ROBBED BLIND.

IMAGINE A THIEF YOU CAN'T EVEN SEE

WHO JUST KEEPS ON MUGGING YOU.

I WOULD CLOSE DOWN AN ACCOUNT AND OPEN A NEW ONE.

THEY WOULD FIND THAT ONE AND GET IN IT.

ONCE THOSE CRIMINALS GET YOUR INFORMATION,

I MEAN, THEY CAN JUST GO TO TOWN.

I WAS COMPLETELY PARANOID.

I WAS ALWAYS LOOKING OVER MY SHOULDER.

I WAS ALWAYS WONDERING WHEN IT WAS GONNA STRIKE AGAIN.

Schirripa: THIS LIVING HELL GOES ON FOR MONTHS.

FINALLY, THANKS TO A SECURITY CAMERA,

THERE'S A GLIMMER OF HOPE.

KAREN'S BANK CALLS HER IN TO SHOW HER A PHOTO.

AN ATM CAMERA HAS CAUGHT A WOMAN USING HER CASH CARD.

Lodrick: IT WAS VERY DARK...

BUT YOU SEE THIS BIG, FUZZY COAT.

Schirripa: THE FACE IS A LITTLE BLURRY...

BUT THAT COAT'S UNFORGETTABLE.

THEN I THOUGHT, "YOU KNOW WHAT? I'M GONNA SEE THAT COAT AGAIN.

I'M GONNA WATCH OUT FOR THAT COAT."

Schirripa: KAREN IS FED UP WITH BEING A VICTIM.

SHE'S GONNA FIGHT BACK.

SO SHE TAKES THE EVIDENCE TO THE POLICE.

Lodrick: I SHOWED THE POLICE, AND THEY WERE LIKE,

"YOU KNOW...UM... "WE'RE NOT GONNA DO ANYTHING.

WE DON'T HAVE THE RESOURCES."

Schirripa: THE POLICE TAKE A REPORT,

BUT THAT'S ALL THEY DO.

NO WAY IS THAT ENOUGH FOR KAREN.

SHE NEEDS THIS NIGHTMARE TO END.

SHE WANTS HER LIFE BACK.

SO SHE TRANSFORMS HERSELF INTO A DETECTIVE.

SHE COMBS THROUGH THE EVIDENCE

AND SEES THAT THE CREDIT CARD'S BEEN USED A LOT

IN HER NEIGHBORHOOD.

GUMSHOE KAREN POUNDS THE PAVEMENT.

Lodrick: I WOULD ASK THE GUY, "HAVE YOU SEEN THIS PERSON?"

NOBODY ELSE WAS GONNA DO IT.

Schirripa: KARMA DOES SEEM TO COME A LITTLE QUICKER

WHEN VICTIMS DO THE GRUNT WORK.

NOT KNOWING REAL KAREN IS HOT ON HER TRAIL,

FAKE KAREN SLIPS UP.

Lodrick: I GOT A PHONE CALL.

IT WAS A BANK MANAGER, AND HE'S LIKE,

"ARE YOU GONNA COME PICK UP YOUR DRIVER'S LICENSE?"

I OPENED UP MY WALLET, AND I GO,

"NO, I HAVE MY DRIVER'S LICENSE."

I SAID, "OH, MY GOD.

THAT'S THE WOMAN WHO STOLE MY IDENTITY."

HE GOES, "YOU KNOW, YOU CAME IN,

"OR WHAT I THOUGHT WAS YOU -- CAME IN,

"YOU WANTED TO CLOSE OUT YOUR OLD ACCOUNT,

"TAKE THE MONEY THAT WAS THERE,

"AND TRANSFER IT TO A NEW ACCOUNT,

AND YOU LEFT YOUR DRIVER'S LICENSE."

SO, I WAS JUST LIKE, "OH, MY GOD!

DO NOT GIVE THAT DRIVER'S LICENSE BACK."

I SAID, "I'M GONNA COME DOWN FIRST THING TOMORROW,"

'CAUSE IT WAS AFTER HOURS.

Schirripa: SHE HAS TO WAIT OUT THE LONGEST NIGHT OF HER LIFE.

Lodrick: I FIGURED THE BANK WOULD OPEN AT 9:00.

IT DOESN'T OPEN TILL 10:00, SO I'M LIKE, "OKAY, WHAT DO I DO?"

Schirripa: WHAT DOES ANY CITY DWELLER DO WITH TIME TO KILL?

Lodrick: I ORDER A LATTE.

AND THEN I NOTICED THIS WOMAN

WITH THE FUZZY COAT OVER HER ARM.

SO, SHE'S STANDING WITHIN INCHES OF ME.

MY INSIGHT WENT, "COULD IT BE? COULD THAT BE HER?"

FOR SIX MONTHS, KAREN LODRICK'S BEEN LIVING A NIGHTMARE,

BATTLING TO RECLAIM HER IDENTITY

FROM THE LOWLIFE WHO'S LOOTED HER BANK ACCOUNT.

AND ALL OF A SUDDEN,

THANKS TO THE EXPENSIVE COAT THAT KAREN FIGURES SHE PAID FOR,

SHE'S FOUND HER THIEF WAITING ON A LATTE.

IT'S KARMA -- SAN FRANCISCO-STYLE.

Schirripa: IN SAN FRANCISCO,

KAREN LODRICK HAS HAD HER BANK ACCOUNT RANSACKED

BY AN IDENTITY THIEF -- A VAMPIRE WHO SUCKED IT DRY.

WITH NO HELP FROM THE COPS,

KAREN'S HUNTED THE THIEF DOWN HERSELF,

AND NOW SHE'S GOT HER CORNERED IN THE LATTE LINE.

BUT THERE'S A PROBLEM.

YOU SEE, KAREN'S TINY.

HER OPPONENT IS BIG AND LOOKS PRETTY TOUGH.

DETECTIVE KAREN NEEDS SOME BACKUP.

THIS WOMAN TOOK LAW INTO HER OWN HANDS.

WOULD YOU DO SOMETHING LIKE THAT?

NO.

SO, YOU DON'T WANT TO TAKE ANY CHANCES.

NO.

YOU'RE CONFRONTATIONAL? YOU'D GET IN HER FACE?

YES. I WOULD HAVE.

YOU'LL DO WHAT YOU HAVE TO DO.

SOMEONE STEALS YOUR LIFE SAVINGS -- ABSOLUTELY.

DO WHAT YOU HAVE TO DO.

KAREN LODRICK CALLS 911,

BUT THE THIEF'S GOT A SIXTH SENSE.

SHE'S OUT OF THERE.

KAREN'S NOT DRESSED FOR A CHASE, BUT SHE GOES AFTER HER.

Lodrick: I CAN'T LET HER OUT OF MY SIGHT.

SHE HAD CROSSED THE PARKING LOT

AND WENT THROUGH THESE BUSHES, AND I COULDN'T SEE HER ANYMORE.

SO I HURRIED UP, SCURRIED UP TO THAT CORNER,

AND THEN I SAW HER.

SHE WAS PROBABLY ABOUT A HALF A BLOCK AWAY.

O'Farrell: THE SCARIEST THING IS HER CATCHING HER.

THEY ALWAYS SAY THE WORST THING ABOUT A CHASE IS WHEN IT STOPS.

THEN WHAT?

Lodrick: SHE'S CONSTANTLY LOOKING BACK AT ME,

I'M ON THE PHONE...

AND THEY'RE LIKE, "WELL, WHERE ARE YOU?"

AND I GUESS, IN MY STATE OF ADRENALINE,

I'M LIKE, "I HAVE NO IDEA."

Schirripa: BUT WHEN SHE TURNS THE CORNER,

KAREN HAS AN IDEA WHERE SHE IS --

IN A BLIND ALLEY,

FACE-TO-FACE WITH HER IDENTITY THIEF.

O'Farrell: TAKING JUSTICE INTO YOUR OWN HANDS

IS ONLY GOOD IF IT WORKS.

Schirripa: LUCKILY, A KAREN-ON-KAREN SMACKDOWN

IS NOT THE THIEF'S PLAN.

Lodrick: SHE TRIED TO GET ON A STREETCAR.

SO, I RAN UP TO THE STREETCAR

AND I SAID, "PLEASE DON'T DRIVE AWAY."

I SAID, "THAT WOMAN -- I THINK SHE STOLE MY IDENTITY.

"I GOT 911 ON THE PHONE.

THE POLICE ARE COMING. PLEASE DO NOT DRIVE AWAY."

AND SHE GOT OFF THE TROLLEY AGAIN.

AND I GO, "IF YOU'RE INNOCENT, JUST WAIT."

SHE'S LIKE, "I CAN'T. I'M ON PAROLE."

I STARTED RUNNING AFTER HER, AND THEN SHE DITCHED SOMETHING.

IT WAS A PRADA WALLET.

Schirripa: A $500 ACCESSORY.

BUT WHAT'S INSIDE IS WORTH FAR MORE.

I OPENED UP THE WALLET, AND THERE'S THIS LITTLE CARD

THAT COULD FIT IN THE PALM OF YOUR HAND

THAT HAD MY SOCIAL SECURITY NUMBER, MY NAME, MY ADDRESS.

Schirripa: IT'S A CHEAT SHEET THAT THE THIEF'S BEEN USING

TO PASS HERSELF OFF AS KAREN.

AND THAT'S JUST THE BEGINNING.

Lodrick: AND THERE WAS FAKE CHECKS THAT WERE IN MY NAME.

[ Voice breaking ] I MEAN, THAT'S WHEN I FINALLY REALIZED

IT WASN'T JUST, YOU KNOW, ME RUNNING AFTER SOMEBODY.

IT WAS HER.

Schirripa: THE WALLET IS THE SMOKING GUN...

[ SIRENS WAILING ]

...BUT WHERE'S THE THIEF?

FINALLY, A COP SHOWS UP.

I GO, "SHE'S GONE! SHE'S GONE! OH, MY GOD!"

Schirripa: KAREN SHOWS THE COP WHERE SHE SAW FAKE KAREN HEADING.

HE WENT AROUND THIS CAR.

SHE WAS CROUCHED DOWN, SMOKING A CIGARETTE.

AND HE PULLED HER OUT.

I WAS JUST SO ELATED, I STARTED LAUGHING,

AND I WENT, "YOU IDIOT! YOU SHOULD HAVE RAN."

[ LAUGHS ]

IT WAS HITTING ME, LIKE, "OH, MY GOD.

"YOU CHASED A CRIMINAL.

[ Laughing ] WHAT WERE YOU THINKING?"

Schirripa: SHE WASN'T THINKING.

HER TANK WAS RUNNING ON ADRENALINE AND OUTRAGE.

I JUST WANTED SOME JUSTICE, RIGHT?

I JUST WANTED MY LIFE BACK.

KAREN WAS NOT GOING TO BE A TYPICAL VICTIM EVER.

Schirripa: AND WHAT DOES KAREN THINK ABOUT KARMA?

IS SHE A BELIEVER?

THAT WALLET GOT HER CONVICTED, AND I THINK SHE COULD HAVE

DITCHED THAT AT ANY TIME WHEN I WASN'T LOOKING.

AND THE FACT THAT WE WERE WAITING FOR THE BANK TO OPEN

AT THE SAME TIME?

EVERYTHING SEEMED TO LAND INTO PLACE.

KARMA CAME THROUGH.

KAREN LODRICK IS JUST THE KIND OF GUTSY WOMAN

THAT KARMA NEEDS TO BRING A LOWLIFE TO JUSTICE,

AND FAKE KAREN -- OH, EXCUSE ME.

MARIA NELSON --

SHE JUST PLAYED RIGHT INTO KARMA'S HANDS

WHEN SHE SPLURGED ON THAT WACKY COAT.

FAKE KAREN WENT TO JAIL.

KAREN'S BANK RESTORED HER LOST MONEY.

BUT SOMETIMES A BANK ISN'T SO CUSTOMER-FRIENDLY.

SO HOW DO YOU GET REVENGE ON AN INSTITUTION?

WELL, I HEARD A STORY ABOUT A GUY

WHO WENT FOR A REAL STINKER OF A PAYBACK.

BANKS CAUSE PROBLEMS FOR CUSTOMERS

IN ALL KINDS OF WAYS -- HIDDEN FEES, LOST PAYMENTS.

BUT IF THEY IGNORE YOUR COMPLAINTS,

LIKE THEY DID WITH THIS GUY, WHAT DO YOU DO?

WELL, HE BOUGHT A NICE BIG FISH.

I THINK IT WAS A SALMON.

HE RENTED A SAFE DEPOSIT BOX...

PUT THE FISH IN THE BOX...

THEN HE TOOK A NICE LONG VACATION.

THE FISH DID WHAT DEAD FISH DO.

AND THE REVENGE?

WELL, IT DIDN'T SMELL SWEET -- THAT'S FOR SURE.

[ COUGHING ] Woman: OHH!

SO, IF YOU'RE CLEVER ABOUT IT,

YOU COULD GET EVEN WITH THE BIGGEST INSTITUTIONS.

BUT WHAT IF IT ISN'T YOUR BANK ACCOUNT THAT'S ATTACKED?

WHAT IF IT'S SOMETHING EVEN MORE PERSONAL,

LIKE THE WAY YOU LOOK?

WHAT'S BEING TAKEN FROM YOU IS WORSE THAN MONEY.

IT'S YOUR SELF-ESTEEM -- EVERY DAY, FOR YEARS ON END.

LISTEN, YOU CAN ONLY TAKE IT FOR SO LONG.

Bankson: "WHY DID YOU WAKE UP TODAY?

"WHY DO YOU THINK THAT YOU DESERVE TO BE HERE?

PIZZA FACE."

[ SCHOOL BELL RINGS ]

WE ALL KNOW SCHOOL CAN BE A TORTURE.

I MEAN, FORGET THE HOMEWORK.

I'M TALKING ABOUT HOW MEAN KIDS CAN BE.

I WAS NEVER A TEENAGE GIRL, BUT I HAVE TWO DAUGHTERS.

I'VE SEEN HOW SOME KIDS PUSH OTHERS DOWN

TO TRY AND RAISE THEMSELVES UP.

LET ME TELL YOU ABOUT A GIRL

WHO SAW THE UGLIEST SIDE OF TEENAGE CRUELTY

AND WHAT SHE DID ABOUT IT.

WHEN I FIRST GOT ACNE, IT WAS IN THE THIRD GRADE

AND IT WAS THIS BIG, HONKIN' PIMPLE ON MY NOSE

AND I REMEMBER 'CAUSE A GIRL CAME UP TO ME

AND SHE SAID, "WHAT IS THAT?"

Schirripa: IN A SAN FRANCISCO SUBURB,

YOUNG CASSANDRA BANKSON IS WORRIED

ABOUT WHAT SHE SEES IN THE MIRROR.

I WENT HOME, I ASKED MOM,

SHE SAID, "OH, HONEY, IT'S A PIMPLE.

IT'LL BE FINE. IT'LL GO AWAY."

Schirripa: BUT IT DIDN'T. IT GOT MUCH WORSE.

BUT IF NATURE WAS CRUEL, HER CLASSMATES WERE VICIOUS.

Bankson: WHEN THE BULLYING GOT REALLY BAD,

YOU WOULD GO TO SCHOOL AND YOU WOULD HEAR,

"I BET YOUR PARENTS REGRET HAVING YOU."

THEY WROTE ME NOTES, AND THEY WROTE ON MY LOCKER --

"ACNE FACE," "PIZZA FACE,"

"WASTE OF LIFE," "FREAK OF NATURE."

Schirripa: IT DOESN'T TAKE MUCH

TO UNDERMINE A YOUNG GIRL'S SELF-ESTEEM,

BUT WHAT CASSANDRA GOT WAS FAR BEYOND TEASING.

IT WAS SAVAGE AND UNRELENTING.

IT REALLY MAKES YOU DOUBT YOUR SELF-WORTH.

Schirripa: LUCKILY, SHE DOES HAVE A FEW FRIENDS,

AND THEY'RE WORRIED ABOUT HER.

THEY WOULD PICK ON HER FOR HER ACNE,

STARTED CALLING HER "DISGUSTING,"

AS IF IT WERE CONTAGIOUS.

I THINK BULLIES ARE JUST THE SCUM OF THE EARTH.

Schirripa: AND BULLIES FAR OUTNUMBER CASSANDRA'S FRIENDS.

I NOTICED THAT SHE WAS GETTING QUIETER IN SCHOOL.

I DIDN'T WANT TO ASSOCIATE WITH OTHERS.

Schirripa: AS MUCH AS CASSANDRA TRIES TO ESCAPE ALL THE HUMILIATION,

SHE CAN'T.

THE SCHOOL CAFETERIA BECOMES A PERSONAL HELL.

[ Voice breaking ] I REMEMBER BEGGING MY MATH TEACHER

TO GIVE ME LUNCH DETENTION.

AND IF I HAD THAT LUNCH DETENTION,

KIDS COULDN'T COME OVER TO ME -- TO MY CORNER --

AND THROW TRASH AT ME.

I KNOW I'M NOT WORTH ANYTHING,

AND I JUST KEPT SHUTTING DOWN MORE.

Schirripa: SHE TRIES DESPERATELY TO FIND SOMETHING -- ANYTHING --

THAT WILL CHANGE THE FACE SHE HATES TO SEE IN THE MIRROR.

I SAW SO MANY DOCTORS, AND SO MANY OF THEM SAID,

"HERE, CASSANDRA, HERE'S A PRESCRIPTION.

HERE'S A CREAM."

Schirripa: BUT THE SEVERE CYSTIC ACNE THAT CASSANDRA HAS

DOESN'T RESPOND TO ANYTHING SHE TRIES,

AND HER CLASSMATES' TORTURE CONTINUES FOR YEARS.

Bankson: "WHY DID YOU WAKE UP TODAY?"

"WHY DO YOU THINK THAT YOU DESERVE TO BE HERE?"

[ SCHOOL BELL RINGS ]

AT THE END OF LUNCH, I FELT THIS KIND OF, LIKE, SLAP...

...AND THIS WET, GOOEY WARMTH.

AND THERE'S A PIZZA ON THE FLOOR,

AND IT RUINED MY WHITE SHIRT.

"THE PIZZA FACE -- THAT'S WHAT YOU GET."

Schirripa: THROUGH ALL THE YEARS OF BULLYING,

CASSANDRA'S GRANDFATHER WAS HER CHAMPION.

IN HIS EYES, CASSANDRA WAS A BEAUTY,

BLESSED WITH BRAINS AND TALENT.

[ Voice breaking ] I LOST MY GRANDFATHER, WHO WAS ONE OF MY BEST FRIENDS,

AND SOME OF THE KIDS FOUND OUT AT SCHOOL.

THEY WERE SAYING THINGS -- "OH, YOUR GRANDFATHER'S DEAD.

AT LEAST HE DOESN'T HAVE TO LOOK AT YOU ANYMORE."

[ Crying ] AND MY GRANDPA'S, LIKE, MY BEST FRIEND,

AND LOSING HIM WAS JUST REALLY HARD FOR ME.

AND I JUST COULDN'T HANDLE IT ANYMORE.

[ SNIFFLES ]

Schirripa: COULD THE KIDS GET ANY NASTIER?

THEY COULD, AND THEY DID.

THE TAUNTS WENT FROM CRUEL TO TERRIFYING.

WHEN YOU ACTUALLY HEAR KIDS SAYING, "WHY DON'T YOU JUST DIE?

IF YOU DON'T, YOU KNOW, I CAN HELP YOU,"

YOU DON'T FEEL SAFE.

THERE'S A REASON MOST GROWN-UPS DON'T MISS HIGH SCHOOL --

MOST OF US WERE DESPERATE TO BE ACCEPTED.

I MEAN, WHAT BETTER WAY TO PROVE YOU'RE IN THE "IN" CROWD

THAN BY GANGING UP ON SOMEONE WHO'S WEAK

OR DIFFERENT OR UGLY?

CASSANDRA BANKSON'S CLASSMATES HAD NO MERCY.

SHE'LL HAVE HER REVENGE,

AND, OH... IT WILL BE SWEET.

Schirripa: IN CALIFORNIA, CASSANDRA BANKSON

IS GROWING UP WITH TERRIBLE, PERSISTENT ACNE.

TO HER CLASSMATES, SHE'S AN UGLY FREAK, A MONSTER.

WHAT'S WORST OF ALL,

THEY'VE CONVINCED HER THAT SHE'S WORTHLESS.

SO, HOW DO YOU FIGHT BACK WHEN YOU'VE COME TO BELIEVE

THAT YOUR ENEMY IS YOUR OWN FACE?

WHAT WOULD YOU DO IF YOUR DAUGHTER

WAS BEING HORRIBLY BULLIED?

I WOULD ADDRESS IT IN A HEARTBEAT.

WOULD YOU GO TO THE SCHOOL AND GET IN THE GIRL'S FACE?

ABSOLUTELY.

ANYBODY EVER BULLY YOU?

YEAH, YEAH. FIFTH GRADE -- I WAS BULLIED.

YEAH? YEAH.

AND WHAT DID YOU DO? YOU JUST LET IT GO?

I ACTUALLY BEAT A KID UP.

IN THOSE DAYS, YOU WEREN'T WAITING FOR KARMA.

CASSANDRA BANKSON IS DETERMINED

TO CHANGE WHAT SHE SEES IN THE MIRROR,

AND HAVING A FRIEND IN HER CORNER

MAKES ALL THE DIFFERENCE.

I STARTED PHOTOGRAPHING HER

RIGHT AS THE ACNE WAS GETTING TO ITS PEAK.

Schirripa: CASSANDRA EXPERIMENTS WITH MAKEUP

AND POSES FOR HER FRIEND'S CAMERA,

AWAY FROM THE SAVAGE JUDGMENT OF THE OTHER CLASSMATES.

Raykiewicz: AND WHEN SHE WOULD PHOTOGRAPH,

THIS WHOLE NEW PERSON WOULD COME OUT,

DESPITE THE ACNE ON HER FACE.

Bankson: AND FOR THE FIRST TIME, I SAW MYSELF WITHOUT ACNE.

THAT WAS A MOMENT WHERE I ACTUALLY FELT BEAUTIFUL.

IN THAT PHOTO,

IT WASN'T THE GIRL THAT I SEE IN THE MIRROR,

AND I THINK THAT KIND OF SPARKED SOMETHING IN ME.

Schirripa: CASSANDRA KINDLED THAT SPARK AND IGNITED A MODELING CAREER.

A FACE SHE THOUGHT ONLY HER GRANDPA LOVED --

TURNS OUT, THE CAMERAS LOVE IT, TOO.

CASSANDRA'S EXPERIMENTS WITH MAKEUP PAY OFF.

SHE PERFECTS A WAY TO MAKE HER SKIN SEEM FLAWLESS.

HOW FLAWLESS?

Bankson: I WAS ABLE TO EARN MONEY,

I WAS ABLE TO BOOK SHOWS AND GIGS,

BUT I WAS STILL HIDING UNDERNEATH MY MAKEUP.

Dhaliwal: WHEN I SAW CASSANDRA THE FIRST TIME,

SHE LOOKED STUNNING, GORGEOUS --

VERY HAPPY PERSON WITH A POSITIVE ENERGY.

Schirripa: BUT THAT HAPPY EXTERIOR IS A MASK,

JUST LIKE THE LAYERS OF MAKEUP.

EVERY TIME I WOULD SEE HER,

SHE WOULD HAVE TONS OF MAKEUP ON.

I TOOK HER TO THE BATHROOM, MADE HER WASH HER FACE.

SHE TOOK HER MAKEUP OFF, AND SHE HAD TEARS IN HER EYES.

Bankson: WHEN HE SAW ME WITHOUT MY MAKEUP,

HE SAYS, "I DON'T LOVE YOU BECAUSE YOU'RE A MODEL.

"I DON'T LOVE YOU BECAUSE OF YOUR SKIN.

I LOVE YOU BECAUSE OF YOU."

Schirripa: SORAB ENCOURAGES CASSANDRA

TO SHOW THE WORLD WHO SHE REALLY IS

AND OFFER HOPE TO OTHERS LIKE HER.

SO SHE SUCKS UP HER COURAGE AND MAKES A VIDEO

SHOWING HOW SHE CONCEALS HER ACNE.

HERE I AM WITH NO MAKEUP.

UH...THIS IS PROBABLY THE MOST NERVE-RACKING THING

THAT I COULD POSSIBLY DO

'CAUSE IT IS MY BIGGEST INSECURITY.

Schirripa: CASSANDRA SHOWS THE SECRETS OF BOTH OF HER FACES

TO THE WORLD.

[ EXHALES DEEPLY ]

AND VOILà -- I HAVE SOMEWHAT CLEAR-LOOKING SKIN.

SO, I POSTED THAT VIDEO.

AND FOR FOUR MONTHS, I DID NOT LOOK AT THE COMPUTER.

HOPEFULLY, IT'LL HELP SOMEONE.

Schirripa: CASSANDRA'S AFRAID TO EVEN LOOK AT THE RESPONSE TO HER VIDEO.

SHE KNOWS ONLINE TROLLS

CAN MAKE HER LOCAL BULLIES SOUND LIKE A SUPPORT GROUP.

FINALLY, SHE STEELS HERSELF AND LOADS THE COMMENTS PAGE.

THERE WAS LIKE A MILLION VIEWS,

AND I LOOKED AT IT AND I WAS LIKE, "OH, MY GOD."

AND IT WAS JUST OVERWHELMINGLY POSITIVE.

AND FOR THE FIRST TIME IN MY LIFE,

THAT WAS, LIKE, A MOMENT OF A NEW SIDE OF HUMANITY FOR ME.

PEOPLE WERE SAYING THAT I HELPED THEM.

PEOPLE WERE LOOKING AT ME WITH MY MAKEUP OFF

AND TELLING ME I WAS BEAUTIFUL.

Schirripa: TO THE TUNE OF, SO FAR, TENS OF MILLIONS OF HITS.

FROM THAT FIRST BRAVE VIDEO,

CASSANDRA'S CAREER REALLY TAKES OFF.

A FEATURE FOR TEEN VOGUE,

THE FASHION WEEK RUNWAY IN NEW YORK,

AND SHE'S PLANNING HER OWN BEAUTY BRAND.

AT THE AGE OF 20, CASSANDRA BANKSON

MAKES MORE THAN THE DOCTORS WHO COULDN'T HELP HER.

I'M SO PROUD OF CASSANDRA AND ALL THAT SHE'S DONE.

Schirripa: AND THOSE HATEFUL KIDS FROM THE CAFETERIA --

WELL, WHO'S GOT TIME FOR THOSE LOSERS?

WHEN IT COMES TO THE BULLIES --

YOU KNOW, THEY REQUEST YOU ON FACEBOOK.

AND I'M LIKE, "OH, MY GOSH," YOU KNOW,

"THIS GIRL THAT USED TO SAY THIS STUFF TO ME --

SHE WANTS TO BE FRIENDS WITH ME NOW?"

"HI. HOW ARE YOU? YOU WANT TO GET COFFEE?"

I DON'T RESPOND. I DON'T WANT TO BE INVOLVED WITH THAT.

SOME OF THE OTHER BULLIES --

I DON'T THINK THEY WENT VERY FAR IN LIFE,

AND I DON'T THINK THEY'RE GOING VERY FAR IN LIFE.

Schirripa: SO, DID CASSANDRA GET REVENGE?

SHE DIDN'T DO ANYTHING TO PUNISH THE PEOPLE

WHO TREATED HER LIKE GARBAGE,

BUT SOMETIMES REVENGE ISN'T ALL ABOUT SINKING TO THEIR LEVEL.

IT'S ABOUT RISING WAY ABOVE IT.

SUCCESS IS THE SWEETEST REVENGE OF ALL.

OF COURSE, CASSANDRA DID HAVE KARMA ON HER SIDE.

AND AS WE ALL KNOW, SHE CAN BE A REAL BITCH.