ONTD, Your Midsummer Anthem is Here!

Ya know that girl in pink standing next to Rebecca Black in the "Friday" video? The one who does that little jig to herself for a hot sec around 1:10? Well, we recently caught up with her, and there is WAY more to this girl than her "Friday" debut.

With over 200,000,000 views and counting, "Friday" was the most watched YouTube video of 2011. And with that exposure, Benni became an instant target for online bullying. She was dubbed "That girl in pink that can’t dance" and had GIFs made of her. But Benni didn’t let the cruel words (and images) get to her. Instead, she launched into action.

First, Benni organized a flashmob at her local mall to raise money for American Red Cross Japan Earthquake Relief. Then, she created a virtual walkathon for Cystic Fibrosis Foundation, where kids from 14 different countries tuned in to join her fundraising efforts. Oh and she casually started her own non-profit called That Girl in Pink which works to prevent teen suicide, and authored a book called “That Girl in Pink’s Internet Survival Guide.” Now, Benni gives anti-bullying presentations, inspiring kids nationwide to take action and prevent bullying. She even has a sweet Urban Dictionary entry.

Did we mention she’s only 15? On top of giving back so much, Benni is also a singer. Yup, Rebecca Black wasn't the only shining star counting down to Friday in that car. We're  stoked to premiere the music video for Benni's latest song, "Gotta Get Out." The song has a YOLO-vibe to it.

"A lot of kids feel like they're trapped at home," noted Benni. "I want to tell those kids that it's okay to chase your dreams, no matter how far-fetched they may seem. You really can be what you want to be! That's the message of my non-profit, too: Never give up hope! There is always something to look forward to."

And in typical Benni fashion she's donating proceeds of the single to Children of the Night, an org that rescues children from child prostitution. Purchase “Gotta Get Out,” on iTunes and watch the official video below!

MTV ACT: When you were first being cyber bullied, how did you decide to handle the negativity with total grace and humor?

BENNI: Well, I didn’t really “decide” to handle it any certain way. I just handled it in a way that was natural for me.  I grew up in a family that jokes around a lot. We look for the humor in everything. So, to survive in my family, you have to learn to laugh at yourself or you are going to spend a lot of time crying about what someone said. So, at a very young age, I learned to not take things personal. Just because someone jokes about you doesn’t mean they don’t like you. They may not even mean to hurt your feelings… maybe they were just trying to be funny. And, if someone really is trying to be mean, well that really says more about them than it does about me, so why should I take that personal?

MTV ACT: What inspired you to start your nonprofit, That Girl in Pink?

BENNI: I have some family history with teen suicide and I know, firsthand, the importance of having someone to talk to when things seem overwhelming. But everything really came together for me after the "Friday" video because there were all these kids contacting me telling me their stories and asking for advice. I realized I couldn’t just turn my back on them and I needed to do whatever I could to help them. I believe that we lose too many teens to suicide and that hope is the antidote for despair, so my mission is to never let someone give up hope.

MTV ACT: Can you share some stories of how people have been impacted by That Girl In Pink?

BENNI: Oh gosh! I have a few good stories! Someone emailed me after my anti-bullying presentation at their school and they said that on their way home from school they saw a young kid getting bullied. He said that he was about to just walk by, when he remembered what I said in my presentation. So, then he went over to the bully and stood up for the victim.

There was also a little girl who emailed me while she was crying in her bed because people were posting terrible things about her online. I was able to give her some advice on choosing her perspective and not giving others the power to make her feel bad about herself. She went to bed feeling good and with renewed confidence. It’s such a rewarding feeling to know that I’m helping in some way. It makes everything I’m doing so worthwhile.

MTV ACT: Are there things you’ve learned through this whole crazy journey that you didn’t totally appreciate before it started?

BENNI: Yes, definitely! I’ve learned to appreciate the relationship I have with my family. I’ve always been close to my parents and my brothers, and I’ve been able to talk to them about everything I’ve gone through. And I guess I never really looked at them and appreciated how supportive they are. But now, getting emails from kids around the world who say that they have no one to talk to has really put things in perspective. I’m very lucky that I have people I trust in my life. And now, realizing that not everyone has that, I am able to better understand what they are going through.