Alexis Kestler
Hey friend! Have you seen the Tube Girl videos popping up on TikTok and wondered what it‘s all about? As a TikTok expert and avid fan of pop culture, let me break it all down for you in this comprehensive guide!
Let‘s Start With the Basics: What Does "Tube Girl" Mean on TikTok?
Tube Girl refers to a viral meme of girls and women filming themselves dancing energetically in subway cars and other public transport. The "Tube" part comes from the famous London Underground subway system, nicknamed "the Tube" thanks to the tubular tunnels.
So a Tube Girl is a girl joyfully dancing her heart out while riding the subway or bus. But the trend has expanded way beyond just the London Tube to include dances in subways worldwide!
The Tube Girl videos all embody a sense of confidence, freedom, and not caring what anyone else thinks. As a technology geek and TikTok enthusiast, I love how Tube Girl shows women proudly being their vibrant, silly selves!
The TikTok Star Who Kickstarted the Trend
The original viral Tube Girl TikTok came from user @sabrinabahsoon in February 2022. Sabrina is a Malaysia-born, London-based content creator with over 460k followers currently.
Her video shows her casually standing in a Tube car at first. Then when the song "Where Dem Girls At" drops, Sabrina starts enthusiastically dancing all around with flipping hair and fierce attitude!
The clip, captioned "Being the friend who lives on the other side of the city so you gotta hype yourself up during the commute," blew up with over 8.3 million views at the time of writing. And a major TikTok trend was born!
Sabrina‘s video struck a chord by being both comically over the top yet emanating an IDGAF energy. As a pop culture nerd, I think it aligned perfectly with 2022‘s mood!
TikTok Continues to Dominate As a Leading Social Platform
To understand why Tube Girl took off so widely, it helps to understand TikTok‘s growth. TikTok has absolutely exploded since launching internationally in 2017.
Some mind-blowing stats about TikTok‘s rise:
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Over 1 billion monthly active users as of September 2021 (SensorTower)
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TikTok was the most downloaded app globally in 2021 with nearly 640 million downloads (SensorTower)
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Users spend an average of 52 minutes per day on TikTok as of 2022 (Wallaroo Media)
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80% of TikTok users visit the app daily (Hootsuite)
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41% of TikTok users are aged 16-24 (Statista)
As you can see, TikTok has become a true leader in social media and internet culture. With so many young, highly engaged users, it‘s the perfect place for viral memes like Tube Girl to thrive!
The Songs That Define the Tube Girl Vibe
A key part of any TikTok trend is the music! The Tube Girl meme has some definite anthems that capture the carefree, confident energy. Let‘s look at some of the top tracks:
"Where Dem Girls At" by David Morales
This funky, energetic house song was the one used in Sabrina‘s original video. The lyrics repetitively asking "where them girls at?" sum up the rallying cry feeling of Tube Girl videos seeking out the fun, fearless ladies!
"Yummy x Righteous" TikTok Mashup
Mashing up Ayesha‘s pop track "Yummy" with Mo Beats‘ rap song "Righteous," this remix is made for memes. The lyrics are all about being in your bag and not caring what others think – perfect for Tube Girls!
"Greedy" by Tate McRae
Rising pop star Tate McRae‘s "Greedy" is a bold banger all about being yourself. Lines like "I get hangry so stay out my way" match the Tube Girl mood!
"Water" by Tyla
British rapper Tyla‘s track "Water" hypes up "good gyal" energy with the lyric "Don‘t disturb my inner peace." It‘s become a Tube Girl fave.
As you can see, sassy, empowering lyrics and an uptempo beat are key for Tube Girl songs!
Vibe Check: Analyzing Tube Girl Video Trends
As a devoted TikTok watcher, I‘ve picked up on some patterns in how Tube Girl videos tend to go:
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Starts with the woman looking focused or standing casually to blend in
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As the music drops, she breaks into energetic dancing and lip syncing
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Features lots of hair flipping, dips, and exaggerated arm moves
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Outfits tend to show off dance moves – crop tops, heels, sneakers
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Some add props like sunglasses or a friend to dance with
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Edits cut quickly around the train car for visual interest
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Captions often refer to "hype" or not caring what others think
The overall vibe is playful, silly, and most of all unapologetically confident no matter who‘s watching! That carefree attitude is what makes Tube Girl so inspiring to watch.
How Tube Girl Fits Into Other Viral Dance Trends
Tube Girl isn‘t the first public dance meme to go viral on TikTok. Looking at other trends, we can see some similarities:
The Git Up Challenge: This 2019 craze involved filming cowboy-style line dances in public places. Similar country dance vibe to Tube Girl‘s funky energy.
The Buss It Challenge: 2021 trend based on Erica Banks‘ rap song "Buss It" where girls transition from dressed down to glammed up. Also about fearlessly being your true self.
Subway Shuffle: 2022 trend sparked by user @gjyellowflash filming choreographed dances on subways in Seoul. Direct inspiration for transport-based Tube Girl videos.
Day in the Life: 2022 trend showing people‘s daily routines in a dance montage. Not public, but shares Tube Girl‘s spirit of fun and authenticity.
Tube Girl is part of a movement toward embracing your inner dorky dancer! As a pop culture buff, I think it‘s awesome to see this self-love mindset spreading joy on TikTok.
How the Pandemic Laid the Groundwork for Tube Girl
The COVID-19 pandemic strangely paved the way for trends like Tube Girl to thrive in 2025. How?
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TikTok usage surged during lockdowns as people battled boredom at home. The app became even more embedded in mainstream culture.
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Dancing and music trends took off as ways to stay upbeat amid distressing times. Tube Girl channels that cathartic release.
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Escapism peaked – after seriously stressful periods, people craved carefree joy. Tube Girl is the epitome of unbothered fun!
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We longed for human connection – even silly dancing with strangers helps restore that after intense isolation.
As a pop culture analyst, it‘s fascinating to see how Tube Girl resonated after the loneliness of COVID quarantines. The trend definitely cheers people up!
Recreating the Magic: How You Can Join the Tube Girl Hype
Want to try the Tube Girl trend yourself? Here are my top tips as a TikTok expert:
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Pick an upbeat, empowering song – consider the tracks mentioned earlier for inspo
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Wear an outfit you feel confident dancing in – crop tops and sneakers work great
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Film yourself looking focused at first then breaking into dances when the beat drops
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Have fun and don‘t worry about others‘ reactions – channel your inner Tube Girl!
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Get creative with your moves – add dramatic dips, hair flips, lyrical mime, etc.
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Ride solo or recruit a fellow Tube Girl to dance with
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Edit creatively – use cuts, text, effects to make your video pop
Most importantly, let loose and don‘t be afraid to be silly! Tube Girl is all about unleashing your carefree inner spirit.
In Summary: Tube Girl Encourages Fearless Self-Expression
So there you have it – the complete lowdown on the Tube Girl phenomenon! From its viral origins to the meme‘s deeper meaning, I hope this guide helped explain it all.
Ultimately, Tube Girl is about boldly being your quirky, fun self. The trend gives women courage to dance freely and not worry about judgement.
As a pop culture fanatic, I love how Sabrina Bahsoon‘s video inspired so many. Tube Girl videos spread pure joy and inspiration across TikTok. So cue up your fave song and get dancing like nobody‘s watching!
