Listen to Rihanna Radio only on iHeartRadio

(WENN) - Rihanna has come to the defense of a young girl suspended from her school because she dyed her hair red like the pop star.

RiRi was stunned to hear the plight of 15-year-old Terri Bancroft, who was banned from her Welsh school after staging a Rihanna-style make-over.

The singer, who often dyes her hair red, tweeted her support for the teenager.

She wrote:

U are my hero Terry Bancroft!!!!! The color of your hair doesn't change who u are, you are an A- grade student #1love twitter.com/rihanna/status…

— Rihanna (@rihanna) May 4, 2012

Bancroft admits she didn't expect to get a message from the pop star, telling Britain's Daily Express, "I was surprised. I'm not sure how Rihanna found out about me. My friends have been making jokes about how I'm her idol. It was weird because she is so famous and she knew that I existed. It was really nice for her to show her support and it meant the world to me. I am a big Rihanna fan and I love all her songs."

Bancroft has now dyed her hair black and been allowed to return to Blessed Edward Jones RC School in Rhyl, North Wales.

Photo Copyright Getty Images