She's been "stealing your man since 1928," has her own beauty collection at Sephora, 3 million followers on Instagram, and Rihanna and Miley Cyrus are her fans. Meet Helen Ruth Elam van Winkle, also known as Baddie Winkle - a 95-year-old Southerner Instagram icon who became an internet sensation back in 2014.
Before rising to fame, she led a pretty normal life in Waco, Kentucky. She had a small 6-acre farm, took care of her great-grandkids, kept her garden nice, and went to church every Sunday. Then, one day, her great-granddaughter snapped a picture of Grandma Helen in a pair of cut-off shorts and a tie-dye t-shirt. With some help from the same great-granddaughter, she set up her Instagram account on which she posted the picture. "I'm a bad b**ch; always been a rebel," Helen, who uses the username Baddie Winkle, says. "So we decided 'bad' — 'baddie.' And then my last name was van Winkle, so we put the Winkle on." Baddie Winkle's first post quickly went viral, and the number of her followers grew steadily over time.
Baddie Winkle took social media by storm with her bright, eccentric, and eclectic outfits and 'zero f**ks given' attitude. While her sense of style might not be everyone's cup of tea, we can surely all agree on one thing - the confidence of this woman is inspiring. So scroll down below to see some of the most-liked posts from Baddie Winkle, and vote for the ones that you like the most!
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I love you Baddie. Any time I feel like I'm too old at 60, I just think of you. Thank you for sharing your life and light with the world ❤️. I feel rejuvenated. You are just what the doctor ordered
The body is nice....but WTF about that stupid duck mouth. She's old enough to know better.
it literally says she has grandchildren. obviously you can’t read. and explain what gives you the idea that she has no self respect or self esteem?
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Who is Baddie Winkle?
Grandma Helen is Baddie Winkle and Baddie Winkle is Grandma Helen! But you might also know her by her full name, Helen Ruth Elam Van Winkle, or her Instagram handle, Baddiewinkle.
So, who is the notorious Grandma Helen? Helen was born in Hazard, Kentucky, a tiny home rule-class city with around 5,000 inhabitants as of 2020. Although not much is known about Baddie Winkle young days’ endeavors, we learned that Grandma Baddie was once married to Earl George Van Winkle and, sadly, has been a widow since 1983. Another thing we’ve learned about her is that she might very well be a vegan since she launched a vegan-formulated cosmetics line a couple of years ago.
What is Baddie Winkle Famous for?
Baddie Winkle became known as the oldest Instagram influencer when her career unexpectedly took off in 2014. Grandma Helen, then merely an 85-year-old, helped her great-granddaughter publish her photo to X (earlier known as Twitter), wearing a youthful outfit. Helen’s outfit caught the attention of the Internet, and a star was born.
However, Baddie Winkle isn’t just about fashionable outfits and entertaining photos! Baddie’s mission is to fight ageism with her eccentric looks and fun photoshoots, to teach people to look at their lives with humor and to counter the fashion industry’s false limitations and imagery with her own unadorned images. Oh, and she’s also actively promoting the legalization of medical marijuana!
And if you were wondering about the numbers Baddie Winkle's net worth has accumulated, it’s been speculated that she’s worth around $1 to $5 million. Way to go, Baddie Grandma!
She actually looks better in a dress than I think I do... she is my new target. I wish to enjoy myself as much as she does these photo-shoots. Go go cool lady!
more hush less war should be told to sum president. and i oop
That looks so mod throw back fabulous. My grandma would have loved the internet, Instagram, etc. She had lots of color and style in her wardrobe and always wore great red lipstick! Damn this makes me miss her so much in the best way.
Note: this post originally had 60 images. It’s been shortened to the top 30 images based on user votes.
Seriously! LOOK at her! Imma take up smoking and drinking right now XD
@heather johnson that was uncalled for. Salty much?
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This makes me miss my grandma in the best way. She wore vibrant colors, always wore red lipstick, and always dressed nice to leave the house. When I would visit, she would do up her pin curls and in warm evenings sit outside on the patio with friends from her hood and drink mixed drinks and have a social gathering. Like a cocktail hour or two. She was a fabulous woman, greatly missed. This lady is amazing.
I reckon my Grandma would have let me dress her up at age 90 too..she was never afraid of a bit of fun and seeing Baddie makes me miss my Nan. The world needs more people like this lady, so full of life and never afraid to have a laugh <3
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Every single photo of her is so full of joy of living and makes me smile. Thank you.
I've noticed when young and pretty women post things of this nature they get a lot of downvotes on this site, but because it's an older woman she gets praise. Just intriguing.
Young and pretty women are hypersexualized. This old lady is not as attractive any more, so viewers are not sexualizing her the same way and that magically makes her classier. The hypocrisy is palpable.
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Man she has about 100 times more life than me and I'm let's just say much much much younger /:(
goes to show that life can be whatever you want it to be, but you gotta have faith and the right mindset
This is awesome that she does that. She rocked all of it too!!!! ^v^
I mean this with absolutely no disrespect. Someone must of dug up Wayland Flowers and brought Madame to life. Very cool.
She's fantastic, but got my taste it's a pity that in some pictures she looks too cheap. I love Iris Apfel!
Granny rocks! But in some pictures her leg's seem to have a really unnatural apperance, almost photoshopped
i think she wears those transparent panty hose thats what makes her legs look smooth and young.
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When you're that age, you dont give a f**k what people think. You do you.
Load More Replies... Seriously! LOOK at her! Imma take up smoking and drinking right now XD
@heather johnson that was uncalled for. Salty much?
Load More Replies... This makes me miss my grandma in the best way. She wore vibrant colors, always wore red lipstick, and always dressed nice to leave the house. When I would visit, she would do up her pin curls and in warm evenings sit outside on the patio with friends from her hood and drink mixed drinks and have a social gathering. Like a cocktail hour or two. She was a fabulous woman, greatly missed. This lady is amazing.
I reckon my Grandma would have let me dress her up at age 90 too..she was never afraid of a bit of fun and seeing Baddie makes me miss my Nan. The world needs more people like this lady, so full of life and never afraid to have a laugh <3
Load More Replies... Every single photo of her is so full of joy of living and makes me smile. Thank you.
I've noticed when young and pretty women post things of this nature they get a lot of downvotes on this site, but because it's an older woman she gets praise. Just intriguing.
Young and pretty women are hypersexualized. This old lady is not as attractive any more, so viewers are not sexualizing her the same way and that magically makes her classier. The hypocrisy is palpable.
Load More Replies... Man she has about 100 times more life than me and I'm let's just say much much much younger /:(
goes to show that life can be whatever you want it to be, but you gotta have faith and the right mindset
This is awesome that she does that. She rocked all of it too!!!! ^v^
I mean this with absolutely no disrespect. Someone must of dug up Wayland Flowers and brought Madame to life. Very cool.
She's fantastic, but got my taste it's a pity that in some pictures she looks too cheap. I love Iris Apfel!
Granny rocks! But in some pictures her leg's seem to have a really unnatural apperance, almost photoshopped
i think she wears those transparent panty hose thats what makes her legs look smooth and young.
Load More Replies... When you're that age, you dont give a f**k what people think. You do you.
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