Pauline Kana
Pauline Kana | |
|---|---|
| Born | Pauline Ann Bodnar August 1, 1926 Columbus, Ohio, U.S. |
| Occupations |
|
| Years active | 2012–present |
| Spouse |
Edward James Kana
(m. 1955; died 1988) |
| Awards | Guinness World Record |
Pauline Ann Kana (born August 1, 1926) is an American social media personality, widely known as "Gangster Granny" for her comedic videos with her grandson Ross Smith.[1] She became famous in her 90s and 100s for defying stereotypes of aging, appearing in humorous skits, attending pop culture events, and even setting a Guinness World Record as the oldest person to crowd surf.[2]
Early life
Kana was born in Ohio on August 1, 1926. She grew up during the Great Depression and worked in a factory building bombs during World War II. Later, she married and spent most of her life working in factories, stores, and a bakery. Despite a modest working-class background, she became a symbol of resilience and humor in her later years.[3]
Career
Kana's fame began when her grandson, Ross Smith, started filming short comedy videos with her around 2012. Their clips, often featuring her in outrageous or playful scenarios, quickly went viral across platforms like Instagram, TikTok, and YouTube. She became known for her bold personality, often flipping off the camera, wearing humorous outfits, and interacting with celebrities.In May 2026, she crowd-surfed at a Brantley Gilbert concert in Texas, earning a Guinness World Record as the oldest person ever to crowd surf.[4] She has tens of millions of followers across social media, making her one of the most recognizable elderly internet personalities.[5]
On TikTok, Kana's account has more than 26,000 followers and over 1.3 million likes. On Instagram, she regularly appears in Ross Smith's posts, many of which reach millions of views. On YouTube, Ross Smith's channel has over 2 million subscribers, with videos featuring Kana among the most watched.[6]
Kana's viral fame brought her into contact with global stars. The most prominent example is her connection with Lionel Messi. She attended multiple matches featuring Messi, including Argentina's World Cup game against Austria in Dallas in June 2026, where she was filmed cheering him on as he broke the all‑time World Cup goalscoring record. She held up playful signs such as "Messi, will you marry me?" and "I'm 100 years old and I'm a Messi fan", which went viral worldwide.[7]
Personal life
Kana is a colon cancer survivor, having undergone treatment at age 96. She has lived with her grandson in Columbus, Ohio, but remains independent and active, climbing stairs and moving about without assistance. Her longevity and vitality have been widely celebrated, with media outlets highlighting her as proof that age does not limit joy or creativity.[8]
Kana was married to Edward James Kana in 1955[9] until his death in 1988, and had children, including a daughter, Diana Kana. She is grandmother to Mike Smith and great‑grandmother to Ross Smith, with whom she became widely known through viral comedy videos.[10]
References
- ↑ "Ball is life for this 90-year-old badass grandma". Archived from the original on May 19, 2026. Retrieved August 23, 2026.
- ↑ "Guinness World Record granny crowd surfing at 99 years old". BBC Newsround. June 5, 2026. Archived from the original on June 6, 2026. Retrieved August 23, 2026.
- ↑ Pawlowski, A. (August 3, 2026). "Woman, 100, Recently Became the Oldest Person Ever to Crowd Surf. Her 6 Simple Tips for a Long Life". TODAY.com. Archived from the original on August 22, 2026. Retrieved August 23, 2026.
- ↑ Srivastava, Naina (June 23, 2026). "'Gangster Granny' sets record as world's oldest crowdsurfer during Texas concert". Houston Chronicle. Archived from the original on June 30, 2026. Retrieved August 23, 2026.
- ↑ LA, Press Pass (November 8, 2022). "Meet TikTok's Coolest Grandma: The "Gangster Granny" Who Just Celebrated Her 96th Birthday". Press Pass LA. Archived from the original on September 6, 2025. Retrieved August 23, 2026.
- ↑ Weiner, Yitzi (November 12, 2022). "Social Media Stars Making a Social Impact: Why & How Granny 'Gangster Granny' Is Helping To Change..." Authority Magazine. Archived from the original on December 1, 2022. Retrieved August 23, 2026.
- ↑ "Meet Pauline Kana, the 100-Year-Old Lionel Messi Fan Who Once Asked Argentina Captain to Marry Her". Ground News. June 22, 2026. Retrieved August 23, 2026.
- ↑ "100-year-old grandmother shares six tips for living longer". The Independent. August 3, 2026. Archived from the original on August 9, 2026. Retrieved August 23, 2026.
- ↑ "Join Ancestry®". www.ancestry.com. Retrieved August 23, 2026.
- ↑ Castillo, Michelle (May 27, 2018). "This 91-year-old grandma became a viral comedy hit with her grandson, who learned 'how awesome old people are'". CNBC. Archived from the original on December 11, 2023. Retrieved August 23, 2026.