Tech

Baddie Winkle is the 87-year-old rising star of Instagram

Molly Mulshine

2015-09-30T19:20:00Z

After capturing the hearts of Instagrammers for almost two years, 87-year-old "Baddie Winkle" is starting to cross over into the mainstream.

That's why she made it to number 17 on our own Social 50 list, a definitive ranking of the best people to follow online right now.

Born Helen Von Winkle in 1928, Baddie Winkle is a grandmother from Tennessee. She's become Instagram-famous for her psychedelic, teen-influenced personal style and her seemingly carefree attitude.

She got her big break when she attended the Video Music Awards in Los Angeles earlier in September. Refinery29 also visited her at home for a touching video and profile published recently.

So what's the story behind this fun-loving granny? Read on to find out.

Baddie Winkle posted her first Instagram photo on April 10, 2014, with the caption "Peace and Love."

Peace and Love 🌺😏💜

A photo posted by @baddiewinkle on Apr 9, 2014 at 10:03pm PDTApr 9, 2014 at 10:03pm PDT

Her style is influenced by hip hop and she's said her outlook is influenced by her devotion to the church. Here she is dancing in her Sunday best.

white iverson 💗

A video posted by @baddiewinkle on Sep 23, 2015 at 10:38am PDTSep 23, 2015 at 10:38am PDT

Her life looks like a live-action Tumblr feed.

Trying to find my inner peace

A photo posted by @baddiewinkle on Apr 13, 2014 at 1:05pm PDTApr 13, 2014 at 1:05pm PDT

... Especially now that she's palling around with style icons like Nicole Richie. She appeared on Richie's show about a month ago.

You can now call @nicolerichie #NikkiFresh. Watch her on #CandidlyNicole on @vh1 tonight at 11/10c. #rideordie #ad

A photo posted by @baddiewinkle on Jul 29, 2015 at 7:04pm PDTJul 29, 2015 at 7:04pm PDT

But things weren't always this whimsical. Baddie Winkle was depressed for a long time after losing her husband and her son.

back in the day, still a babe

A photo posted by @baddiewinkle on Apr 22, 2014 at 4:55pm PDTApr 22, 2014 at 4:55pm PDT

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She has found solace in her new identity. "I cried all the time because I couldn’t come to terms with it, so I made myself over into Baddie Winkle," she said.

👅🍄🌈👽🌸🌙🔮💕

A photo posted by @baddiewinkle on Apr 22, 2014 at 9:09am PDTApr 22, 2014 at 9:09am PDT

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Her new aesthetic was born when she tried on her granddaughter's cutoffs and T-shirt to lay out in the sun. Kennedy, 19, loved the way her grandma looked in her clothes and posted a photo online.

keeping it real

A photo posted by @baddiewinkle on May 24, 2014 at 8:31am PDTMay 24, 2014 at 8:31am PDT

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She credits her granddaughter Kennedy with helping her pick out clothes.

DREAMING IN LA (outfit by @discountuniverse )

A photo posted by @baddiewinkle on Aug 29, 2015 at 12:25pm PDTAug 29, 2015 at 12:25pm PDT

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As her fame grew, she started gaining media attention and even became the face of an LA brand called Dimepiece.

☝🏼Never forget you can turn up at 86. Cover star @baddiewinkle in our one piece available here: http://goo.gl/fWn0WC #stateofwinkle #baddiewinkle

A photo posted by DIMEPIECE LA (@dimepiecela) on Jul 29, 2015 at 6:54pm PDTJul 29, 2015 at 6:54pm PDT

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It all culminated on Sunday, when she walked the red carpet at the VMAs.

87 and killing it at the VMAS in @discountuniverse and @marinafini earrings and necklace 👄

A photo posted by @baddiewinkle on Aug 31, 2015 at 5:12pm PDTAug 31, 2015 at 5:12pm PDT

That's definitely not the last we'll be seeing of Baddie Winkle, the internet's own Betty White.

being blonde in China town 🈲

A photo posted by @baddiewinkle on Feb 17, 2015 at 12:06pm PSTFeb 17, 2015 at 12:06pm PST

She's always been a rebel, she says, and her new alter ego enables her to take more risks and have more fun.

selfieee!!

A photo posted by @baddiewinkle on Aug 13, 2015 at 2:31pm PDTAug 13, 2015 at 2:31pm PDT

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"I'm not an old person," she says. "I've never been an old person. I just do my thing."

turning up this Father's Day because I don't need a man

A photo posted by @baddiewinkle on Jun 15, 2014 at 11:53am PDTJun 15, 2014 at 11:53am PDT

Source

Instagram

Baddie Winkle is the 87-year-old rising star of Instagram

Baddie Winkle posted her first Instagram photo on April 10, 2014, with the caption "Peace and Love."

Her style is influenced by hip hop and she's said her outlook is influenced by her devotion to the church. Here she is dancing in her Sunday best.

Her life looks like a live-action Tumblr feed.

... Especially now that she's palling around with style icons like Nicole Richie. She appeared on Richie's show about a month ago.

But things weren't always this whimsical. Baddie Winkle was depressed for a long time after losing her husband and her son.

She has found solace in her new identity. "I cried all the time because I couldn’t come to terms with it, so I made myself over into Baddie Winkle," she said.

Her new aesthetic was born when she tried on her granddaughter's cutoffs and T-shirt to lay out in the sun. Kennedy, 19, loved the way her grandma looked in her clothes and posted a photo online.

Her Instagram account grew followers quickly. Just a year after she signed up for the photo-sharing app, Miley Cyrus shared this image of herself performing with Baddie Winkle's head instead of her own.

She credits her granddaughter Kennedy with helping her pick out clothes.

As her fame grew, she started gaining media attention and even became the face of an LA brand called Dimepiece.

The budding model was also featured in a VMA promo.

It all culminated on Sunday, when she walked the red carpet at the VMAs.

That's definitely not the last we'll be seeing of Baddie Winkle, the internet's own Betty White.

She's always been a rebel, she says, and her new alter ego enables her to take more risks and have more fun.

"I'm not an old person," she says. "I've never been an old person. I just do my thing."