99-Year-Old Becomes Oldest Crowd Surfer Ever in Texas

A 99-year-old grandmother just became the world's oldest crowd surfer, and her joyful reaction proves you're never too old to make history.

Pauline Kana, born in August 1926, crowd surfed at a Bradley Gilbert country concert in Bellville, Texas, earning herself an official Guinness World Record. Her grandson Ross Smith, who has nearly 25 million TikTok followers, captured the whole moment.

The crowd of 20,000 people passed Kana through on a special platform while chanting "Granny! Granny!" After the concert, Gilbert introduced her achievement, and Kana received her official Guinness Award on stage.

"I did it!" Kana exclaimed with pride. "I'm the greatest of all time!"

Kana became internet famous as "Gangster Granny" through Smith's videos, which started going viral back in 2013. The first video showed Ross blocking a basketball shot from his grandmother on Vine.

Smith still gets emotional thinking about the moment. "I still have chills listening to that Granny chant," he said. "What an iconic and funny moment."

Why This Inspires

Kana's story reminds us that life's best chapters can come at any age. She grew up in a generation without TV or internet, only radio, yet she embraced social media fame with grace and humor.

"To go from obscurity offline to this place where people seem to know my name has been a whirlwind in the very best way," Kana told PressPass in 2022. She said she's not interested in fame itself but loves connecting with people across the world and hearing their stories.

The relationship between Kana and her grandson shows the beautiful bond that can exist across generations. Their willingness to try new adventures together has brought joy to millions of viewers worldwide.

At 99, Kana chose adventure over caution and celebration over comfort, setting a world record that will inspire people of all ages to keep living boldly.