Woman Interrupts Couple's Engagement Shoot to Give Bride a Message: 'Epitome of a Girl's Girl' (Exclusive)

"You just have one hair," the stranger told Malia Makaila

Malia Makaila and her fiancé, Jonathan Gandhi, found themselves in the heart of New York City on May 13, capturing engagement photos when, about 20 minutes into the shoot, Gandhi noticed someone approaching them.

According to Makaila, a girl walked over to them and quietly stood next to their photographer, Lesly, who was snapping photos. While Gandhi watched the woman observing them, Makaila remained focused on achieving the perfect shot.

It wasn’t until Makaila heard the woman comment, “You just have one hair,” that she turned her attention to her.

"I quickly realized she was addressing me and that I needed to fix my hair ASAP. I sensed her presence was supportive," the 29-year-old bride-to-be tells PEOPLE exclusively.

"She then approached and said, 'Just this one hair right here,' and proceeded to fix it," Makaila adds. "She then said, 'Sorry, I’m a hairdresser, and I’m just looking out for you.' "

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Shortly after, Makaila shared the video of the encounter on TikTok and Instagram, aiming to showcase a genuine moment that held personal significance for her.

To her surprise, the post went viral, amassing 7.3 million views and over 400 comments.

"She was super sweet and nice. I kept saying, 'Aw, thank you' repeatedly. I felt immense gratitude in that moment," Makaila says.

"In this city, there is so much happening at once and I am so happy this beautiful moment was captured on video," she adds.

Says Makaila of the hairstylist: "She is the epitome of a ‘girl’s girl.' "

Reflecting on the moment, Makaila recalls with a smile how lucky she is that the stranger went out of her way to ensure her hair looked good. Since sharing the video, Makaila managed to locate the hairstylist, whose name is Karly.

"I hope to connect with her in the coming weeks to express my gratitude and perhaps film a video commemorating the encounter," she says.

Since the couple isn't planning on tying the knot until July 2025, Makaila hasn't yet decided on her wedding hairstyle.

She says she has an affinity for a traditional updo, as well as her love for loose curls and a half-up, half-down look. But after this experience, she's taking into consideration what style would hold in place the best.

"I’m considering that if I opt for my hair down, I'll need to keep an eye out for any flyaways. I'll definitely need to enlist a skilled hairstylist to accompany me on the big day," she says.

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