Sabrina Bahsoon has a PhD in confidence.
What started as a simple dance video filmed in 0.5 on the London Underground has turned into a no-f*cks-given movement that goes far beyond ‘Tube Girl’ herself.
But when you’re a law graduate one minute, and the next you’ve racked up over 2 billion views on your TikTok and are walking the runways at London Fashion Week, what’s a 23-year-old internet sensation to do next?
Unless your TikTok algorithm is the complete opposite to ours, Cosmo ME’s Confidence Issue cover star needs no introduction. Enter Sabrina Bahsoon aka “Tube Girl”.
Top & skirt: Louisa Ballou at Ounass
Shoes: So Much Trouble
Tube Girl: Sabrina Bahsoon on her viral success, killer confidence and not slowing down
Cosmo ME: You post a video to TikTok and suddenly you’re a viral sensation. How did you navigate this?
Sabrina: It was overwhelming. And I’m not gonna lie, I used to post just once a month before, but now I need to show up every day, it isn’t just something you get used to alongside all the outside noise.
Cosmo ME: But we can’t just call it overnight success, because you had been posting on TikTok before…
Sabrina: I started posting before I went to university. During my gap year, while I was in lockdown, I had two videos go viral, and I knew I could do it again. Everyone thinks you’re cringey before it’s cool. I think that my videos were definitely sent into group chats before blowing up.
All jewellery by Pandora. Exact pieces mentioned below*
Top: Paco Rabanne
Skirt: Elisabetta Franchi
All jewellery by Pandora. Exact pieces mentioned below*
Dress & leggings: Diesel
Shoes: Giuseppe Zanotti
Cosmo ME:How did you find the confidence to start filming yourself in such a public space like the London Underground?
Sabrina: London is so big – people see a bunch of crazy stuff every day. Obviously, they’re not gonna care about me and I will get off in the next station. And they probably won’t even remember me tomorrow.
All jewellery by Pandora. Exact pieces mentioned below*
Dress: Moschino
Top: Elisabetta Franchi
Cosmo ME: The Tube Girl trend has become so much more than just a persona you are, it’s become a real movement of confidence for many on TikTok and other platforms. Would you agree?
Sabrina: My biggest achievement in all of this is the fact that, especially young girls, are no longer in that mindset of social media where [you are] so anxious, so depressed. That was the era for so long, but not anymore. I’m so happy that people are realising that you don’t have to let other people’s perception of you affect how you act every day, because it’s so tiring and you’re not going to be happy.
Cosmo ME: What’s one of the biggest lessons you’ve learnt through your social media journey?
Sabrina: If you really don’t want to do something, you should say no, I think that’s the biggest lesson I’ve learnt. If anyone is looking at me from the outside, I don’t want them to think that I have it figured out, because I still am.
All jewellery by Pandora. Exact pieces mentioned below*
Dress & leggings: Diesel
Top & skirt: Maram
Trousers: Off-White at Ounass
Cosmo ME: Did you ever envision this is how it would work out for you?
Sabrina: I’m 100 per cent a manifester. I literally manifest every single thing. I believe they work so much more powerfully, when you already act like the person you want to be. It wasn’t that I wanted to be famous, but I wanted to be creative.
Cosmo ME: What does it feel like to be a Cosmo cover girl?
Sabrina: It is such a surreal feeling because I used to go to my stationery shop in Malaysia next to my grandma’s house to buy Cosmo magazine. So, it’s an ode to the little girl in me. I’m just so grateful that this is my job now.
Dress: Genny
Shoes: Giuseppe Zanotti
Tights: Stylist’s own
Cosmo ME: What’s next for you?
Sabrina: I am still figuring out my purpose. The fact that I’ve been able to grow this into something is just… wow, it’s crazy. Because a lot of people do go viral, but not everyone has the opportunity to do the things I’m doing now. I now get to work with brands on a bigger capacity, and collaborate with artists to promote their music using the #TubeGirl trend, which is so fun.
*Jewellery in photo 2
Rings: Pandora ME Blue Pave Ring, Sparkling Wave Ring, Sparkling Row Eternity Ring, Sparkling Row Eternity Ring, Pandora ME Stones & Enamel Ring by Pandora
Bracelets: Sparkling Halo Tennis Bracelet, Sparkling Pavé Tennis Bracele, t
Pandora Moments Studded Chain Bracelet, Pandora Moments Sliding Magnetic Clasp Snake Chain Bracelet by Pandora
Charms: Sea Aqua Blue Eternity Circle Dangle Charm, Handwritten Love Charm, Disney Cinderella Murano Glass Charm, Openable & Engravable, Love Locket Dangle Charm, White Eternity Circle Dangle Charm, Blue Mini Murano Glass Charm, Entwined Infinite Hearts Charm, Blue Murano Glass Butterfly Dangle Charm, Key Dangle Charm by Pandora
Necklace: Pandora ME Slim Treated Freshwater Cultured Pearl Necklace
*Jewellery in picture 3 and 5
Necklace: Pandora Moments Heart Clasp Snake Chain Necklace by Pandora
Bracelet: Pandora Moments Rose in Bloom Clasp Snake Chain Bracelet by Pandora
Charms: Entwined Infinite Hearts Charm, Pink Family Tree & Heart Dangle Charm, Two-tone Wrapped Heart Charm, Pink Mini Murano Glass Charm, Pandora ME Keyhole Heart Mini Dangle Charm, Encircled Pink Murano Glass Charm, Pandora ME Keyhole Heart Mini Dangle Charm,Clear Eternity Circle Dangle Charm, White Mini Murano Glass Charm, Red Heart & Arrow Murano Glass Dangle Charm, Openable & Engravable Love Locket Dangle Charm, Cherry Blossom Dangle Charm, Forever & Always Splittable Dangle Charm, Splittable Heart & Key Dangle Charm, Opalescent Pink Charm, Pandora ME Cupid Mini Dangle Charm by Pandora
Rings: Polished Wave Ring, Sparkling Wave Ring, Pandora ME Stones & Enamel Ring, Row of Hearts Eternity Ring, Sparkling Overlapping Band Ring, Sparkling Intertwined Wave Ring by Pandora
Necklace: Pandora Moments Heart Clasp Snake Chain Necklace by Pandora
Bracelet: Pandora Moments Rose in Bloom Clasp Snake Chain Bracelet by Pandora
*Jewellery in picture 4
Necklace: Pandora ME Slim Treated Freshwater Cultured Pearl Necklace by Pandora
Bracelet Pandora Moments Sliding Magnetic Clasp Snake Chain Bracelet, Lab-grown Diamond Engravable Mum Double Dangle Charm, Forever & Always Splittable Dangle Charm, Forever & Always Splittable Dangle Charm by Pandora
Rings: Double Band Heart Ring and Treated Freshwater Cultured Pearls & Pavé Open Ring by Pandora
Earrings: Treated Freshwater Cultured Pearl Hoop Earrings by Pandora.
EDITOR-IN-CHIEF: @millimidwood
PHOTOGRAPHER: Lara Zankoul @larazankoul
STYLIST: Seher Khan @seherkhanp
HAIR STYLIST: Lindie Benade @lindiebenadehair
MAKE UP: Sophie Leach @sophieleachmua using Pat McGrathreal.
WORDS BY: Olivia Morris @liviamorris
SENIOR PRODUCER: Steff Hawker @steff.producer
SENIOR CONTENT PRODUCER: Twinkle Stanly @twinklestanly
STYLING ASSISTANT: Florence Webber @florence_isabellaa
PRODUCTION ASSISTANT: Rania Algethami @rania_a.g
PRODUCTION ASSISTANT: Megan Tomos @megantomos