About a week ago, high school senior Aniyah Saint-Surin—better known now as “Red Bandana Girl”—was on Ticketmaster hunting for pit tickets to see her favorite artist, Billie Eilish, for the first time at the Miami stop on her Hit Me Hard and Soft tour. She managed to score a single front-row spot to watch her fave live, but thanks to an instinctive act of bravery during the concert (captured in grainy, bird’s-eye view footage where her red bandana shines bright), she also became a viral sensation.

Before Aniyah’s courageous moment, the scene was disturbing. During Billie’s barricade walk, when she greets fans in the pit, a man is seen attempting to grab her and drag her away. Obviously, chaos erupted instantly, but amid the havoc, a hero emerged: Aniyah, who chased the man down after he fled the pit to confront him and defend her idol’s honor.

In the hours after the clip hit the internet, Aniyah began receiving plenty of love for her actions, which were noted as particularly special amid ongoing concerns about artists' safety at live shows. At Billie's concerts, fans have even started showing up in their own red bandanas to show off their appreciation.

Aniyah has gained over 12,000 followers on Instagram and another 600,000 on TikTok, with countless supportive comments and fan edits lauding her bravery—and her readiness to hold a man much larger and older than her accountable. Aniyah says she’s naturally bold (“anxiety fears me”), and she’s enjoying the positive virality. In a sit-down with Cosmo, the Miami teen broke down what really happened, how much contact she’s had with Billie, and why she might just be built for all of this attention.

I wanted to get into Thursday night’s incident. I was watching your storytime video, and I know that man was causing problems before the moment we all saw. What was the energy you were getting from him before everything went down?

I've been waiting for someone to ask me that. So I get to the barricade, and it’s surreal, like Oh, my gosh. I’m seeing Billie for the first time. I went solo, and there’s this loud voice behind me...[his] words are slurring, and I’m already getting a vibe. The concert starts, and she sings “when the party's over,” a beautiful song, but a quiet song. He decides that’s his big moment to scream every time she finishes the lyric, and everybody's around me getting annoyed.

I didn't really hear anything from him for the rest of the show, until Billie started doing the barricade walk. I'm waiting, I have my hand out, and I’m like Oh my God, this is every Billie stan’s dream, I'm so excited. Our fingers touch, and suddenly Billie goes down. I didn’t know why, but I’m like No, Billie’s not supposed to be down against the barricade. This is all happening within three seconds, but I take her arm, trying to lift her up, and I feel somebody pull on me—so I turn around and it's the man who's causing problems.

That's so wild.

At that moment [in my mind] Billie’s not in the arena. The audience is not in the arena. It’s me and this man. Like, you just abused your power, grabbed on forcefully to another woman in front of me, and that woman happens to be my favorite artist. I turn around and rush him. It’s jail time for you. Like, where are my handcuffs?

I just felt so angry, because not only had I been stanning Billie for six years waiting for this moment, but you go ahead and assault her. I was yelling at him: What the F are you doing? Don't F with Billie. Security takes him away, they ask me to come to the back and tell them what happened, and in the corner of my eye, 10 feet away from me, as I'm talking to the police, he's sitting right in the chair. I go, That's him right there? The police were like Whoa, ma’am.

That was so brave of you, especially in such a tense situation.

Well, my mom was not happy. After the show, I called my mom, so mad. She's said no more solo concerts. My mom has crazy anxiety. And I get myself into situations that raise her blood pressure. I wouldn't say I'm confrontational, but I don't take disrespect.

When did you first see the video being circulated online?

It was an Instagram Reel. I thought I was the only one who had recorded [the incident], besides the people around me in the pit—they were so sweet. When I came back from security, they had all my stuff.

So when did you notice the videos were really taking off?

I went to sleep after the show, and I woke up to 2,000 followers. Like I just had 60 the night before.

And you had identified yourself in the comments, right?

Yes! I was like Oh my God, that's me, tea! I get to school the next day, and I’m sitting in my digital design class with my teacher, Ms. Rine. I open Twitter and see Finneas [Billie’s brother/collaborator] posted about me. I levitated out of my seat. I texted my friends, like, guys, I've made it, I’m in their family group chat!

red bandana girl
@Finneas/Instagram

That’s so awesome.

Like, they know the name Aniyah? And even this bandana that's been in the corner of my room rotting for years. Oh my goodness. I got it probably when I was in eighth grade! Also, I'm not gang-affiliated. It was just to tie my wig down, I swear!

Iconic.

Yes! Then I'm at my pep rally, the whole school’s celebrating, Seniors are booing the freshmen, you know. Then I see StubHub in the comments of one video, saying Find this girl. They gave me free tickets to another Billie show, and I was able to bring my brother and his girlfriend. During the show, I FaceTimed my group chat and faced the phone toward Billie, and she laughed at them. It was the cutest thing ever.

Do you think Billie recognized you?

Definitely! I was just so happy to even be there for the second time. There’s a lyric in “LUNCH” that’s like Baby, I think you were made for me. She sang it toward me, and I was gagged. And when she did her barricade walk, she smiled at me.

Have you been in contact with Billie’s team?

I did get a message from Billie's manager because she wanted to give me some merch, and that was so sweet. I love the team. They're all so nice.

a person holding a brown box with a male restroom symbol
Instagram/@aniyahyanelly
Merch Aniyah received from Billie.

What's the reaction to all of this been like at school?

Today was my first day back. Oh my gosh. Those kids are crazy. Middle schoolers are screaming, “Red Bandana Girl!” I'm the most social person ever. Anxiety fears me. But the first time I got called out, my heart was like [gasps]. My digital design teacher, Ms. Rian, has been the best to me throughout high school. And she's a Billie stan too. So we've been freaking out these last couple of days. She loves all that's happening to me. She's such a great supporter.

Has the attention online been intimidating at all?

Definitely, because you don't want to mess it up. Not to sound cocky, but I always knew I was gonna have a platform; it was all about how I was getting it. I have been posting for years. Me and my best friend Kara talk about getting famous all the time. And to finally see that happen, we're in disbelief. All of my friends, Toni, Bryana, Breyana, Jenin, and Angel!

What's it like seeing the fan edits of you?

I'm so thankful! I love it. You don’t know how much that means to me. And without Billie stans, I would not be here at all. So I love them so much, and I'm a Billie stan just like them.

And I love how you're using this attention to shed light on your nonprofit.

Yes, I started it with my co-founder, Kara Whyte, when I was 17; it’s called Pack with Passion. We created it to create meals and care for those in need. It’s something that I want to continue, and that will be at the forefront of my mind forever. And [in college] I want to major in event and entertainment management because I love live music. I love the entertainment industry. So I really see myself there.

Are there any online misconceptions or misunderstandings of the situation that you would want to clear the record about?

Yes! When people saw that my barricade spot was “taken,” it was just people that I’d met protecting my barricade spot. And also, for real, I did not touch that man. He just got a verbal peace of my mind.

Do you know what happened to him?

Hopefully, he was arrested… [Editor's note: The Miami Police Department shared that no criminal charges are pending]

Do you have any concert-going wisdom you'd like to share?

Don't be afraid to go alone! Also, be very situationally aware, don’t judge anybody—just be respectful and enjoy yourself.

What’s your name for the Red Bandana Girl stans?

I already called them my little dollies! They're dolls. And the Red Bandana fans are really just Billie stans supporting me.

If you had to share a message for Billie, what would it be?

I got your back, girl.

This interview has been condensed and edited for clarity.