99-Year-Old 'Gangster Granny' Becomes Oldest Crowd Surfer

A 99-year-old woman just showed thousands of concertgoers what it means to truly live without limits.

Pauline Kana, born in August 1926, became the oldest person ever to crowd surf when she rode through a sea of fans at a Bradley Gilbert concert in Bellville, Texas earlier this month. Guinness World Records officially recognized her incredible achievement.

Kana didn't arrive at this moment by accident. She's been delighting millions online as "Gangster Granny" alongside her grandson Ross Smith, who has nearly 25 million TikTok followers.

Their viral journey started in 2013 when Ross filmed himself blocking a basketball shot from his grandmother on Vine. That simple moment sparked a partnership that has brought joy to people around the world for over a decade.

At the Austin County Fairgrounds concert, Gilbert introduced Kana to the crowd of 20,000 people. She was passed through the audience on a platform as fans chanted "Granny! Granny!" in a moment that gave even her grandson chills.

"I did it!" Kana exclaimed after receiving her Guinness Award. "I'm the greatest of all time!"

Sunny's Take

What makes Pauline's story so special isn't just the record itself. It's her attitude toward this unexpected chapter of her life.

"My generation didn't have TV or the internet, only radio," she told PressPass in 2022. "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 says she's not interested in fame for its own sake. What she loves is the opportunity to connect with people across the world and share stories.

She grew up in a world without television, lived through nearly a century of changes, and now finds herself going viral on platforms that didn't exist even 15 years ago. Yet she embraces it all with grace and humor.

"I could never have expected or even wished for this chapter of life, but I wouldn't change it for the world," she said.

At 99, Pauline Kana is living proof that it's never too late to try something new, break a record, or bring smiles to millions of faces.