>> school sophomore we first told you about last week. whitney croft was named to her school's homecoming court as a prank. this weekend, she got a chance to stand up to her bullies. nbc's kevin tibbles has the story. good morning.
>> reporter: david, homecoming weekend in west branch , michigan drew a lot more attention this year than usual as the entire town threw its support behind sophomore whitney crop after a cruel prank by some of her fellow students. happiness from heart ache as unlikely heroine whitney crop is in high school .
>> i changed my mind and came out.
>> reporter: last week, whitney went public with her humiliating experience of finding out she had been voted on to the homecoming court as a cruel joke. but under the friday night lights, it was whitney 's turn to turn the tables.
>> i'm excited. i'm so happy. it's just so much right now for me.
>> reporter: days before her jubilant appearance, whitney became very emotional when i asked her how she was coping.
>> it's very hard to know that i'm -- i guess, like -- hmmm, how can i put this? sorry.
>> reporter: whitney told me she had been bullied over the years.
>> people had picked me -- bully on the me for my looks, how i did my hair, how i dressed, my heigh height. so i guess they thought that maybe someone different is not someone that is -- is an easy target.
>> reporter: this time she pushed through the bad time with help and support from her mom and much of the town. whitney prevailed. her homecoming dress was donated and she got her hair and makeup done for free. before the game , a local company made t-shirts in whitney 's favorite color, orange.
>> my sense is the bullies has got to stop.
>> reporter: even the opposing team made signs in support.
>> athletics are important and teaches a life lesson but this is a bigger life lesson.
>> reporter: whitney 's mom urged her to soak it in, persevere and most importantly, have fun.
>> these are for you.
>> aw!
>> reporter: at the end of a very special weekend, one that could have been filled with sadness, whitney has this advice for other kids who may be the target of bullies.
>> the kids that are bullying you, do not let them bring you down. stand up for what you believe in, and go with your heart and go with your gut. that's what i did, and look at me now. i'm just as happy as can be.
>> reporter: and this story has drawn a lot more attention outside the borders of west branch . a facebook page set up in whitney 's support has more than 120,000 likes. and her own facebook page, well, she has been overwhelmed with friend requests. dave?
>> good for her. kevin tibbles, thanks so much this morning.
Source: http://video.today.msnbc.msn.com/today/49238039/
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