"Tube Girl has already become something more"
There’s a new sensation in town, and her name is Sabrina Bahsoon, although you might know her better as “Tube Girl”.
Sabrina has taken the internet by storm with her self-shot videos of high-energy dance routines filmed on the bustling London Underground.
In the blink of an eye, she’s garnered over 390,000 followers and 15 million likes on TikTok.
Sabrina’s audacious moves have sparked a viral trend, inspiring others to create their own interpretations, catapulting her into overnight stardom among her devoted fans.
Sabrina’s journey to becoming TikTok’s dancing queen and internet sensation unfolded in a matter of weeks.
But what’s the secret to her rapid rise to stardom? It all started with a simple “no”. Speaking to the BBC, Tube Girl revealed:
“I have to commute everywhere because I live quite far out from everyone.
“So on the way back home after a night out, I’d put my music on.
“And when you’re bumping your head, people don’t come up to you, people leave you alone a bit more.
“So I was feeling more safe and enjoying my journey a bit better.”
One day, Sabrina had a TikTok idea and asked a fellow passenger for help with filming. To her surprise, he flatly refused.
Undeterred, Sabrina decided to go it alone, determined to bring her vision to life.
That 11-second clip of Sabrina mouthing the lyrics to ‘Where Them Girls At’ while spinning the camera became an instant sensation.
Why the instant fame? Well, dancing fearlessly on public transport is not something you see every day.
“My social anxiety is scared of you” one comment playfully remarked on the footage.
But Sabrina wasn’t fazed; she continued creating more videos, even using Tube windows as makeshift wind machines, all while letting her energy loose on the Central Line.
@sabrinabahsoon Brb this is on repeat. #greedy @tate mcrae #tubegirl #tubegirleffect
Sabrina credits her background – raised in Malaysia and studying law at Durham University in the UK – for her laid-back demeanor:
“I’m like a Malaysian girl from day one. It’s my home.
“Growing up I have a lot of influence from just being from a hot country, a relaxed place.”
Given her easygoing attitude, Sabrina brushes off criticism of her videos as “cringe” or her routines as “embarrassing.”
She refuses to let negativity overshadow her passion as she states:
“Honestly, I don’t take it to heart at all.
“I think that it’s very common when girls are having fun, when they’re seen as enjoying themselves, and when they take pride in their value.
“You know, saying ‘oh, I’m beautiful, I’m a girl who’s confident’.
“A lot of the times people will try to humble you so you can never win.”
As Sabrina’s popularity has soared, brands have taken notice, with modelling contracts, a manager, and lucrative opportunities knocking on her door.
Yet, she insists her journey as Tube Girl was a natural evolution:
“I’m a very high-energy person, like in my friend group I’m the one that’s like ‘everybody get on the dance floor now’.
“I love dancing, I love music. To be honest the Tube itself is not the most glamorous place to spend your time.
“And because I spend so much time on it, music is my outlet.
“So honestly it’s just what I would do even if I wasn’t filming.”
Tube Girl has struck a chord with countless fans, as timelines brim with videos from other TikTokers, primarily but not exclusively female, putting their spin on the trend.
For Sabrina, it’s become a “movement” centred on self-confidence, injecting a dose of fun into the daily commute:
“When I see people imitating it I’m like ‘finally like people are getting it’.
“They’re enjoying their commute a little bit better. And I love to see people having fun so it’s honestly such a heart-warming thing for me.”
“I think honestly it is the best possible outcome that could have happened.
“All the love and support I’m getting, I just am so happy right now. I genuinely have no words.
“It’s all crazy and very new to me, so I’m just happy to be here, to be honest.”
@sabrinabahsoon Getting litty with my girlies have me acting silly on the tube ? #tubegirl
Whilst Sabrina’s siblings are super excited about her TikTok adventure, her parents remain unaware of her newfound fame:
“I think that they will be happy because I’m happy.
“Being a law graduate, somebody in academics for so long, especially for brown girls, we’re always told that we have such a traditional route to follow. And anything outside that is so crazy.
“But I think that they’ll be finally happy that okay, she’s doing something that she loves, and that she can make a living off of it.
“I think that the Tube Girl has already become something more than just dancing on the Tube.
“So I think it’s about confidence and it’s about being more comfortable with your authentic self.
“And it’s great that I could do it in the most fun, relaxed way.
“Everybody gets the Tube, everybody can go on the Tube and sing and dance. It’s super easy.”
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