Baddie Winkle is flashy, feisty and in the midst of a bucket list adventure that鈥檚 taking her around the world.
鈥淚 never dreamed I鈥檇 get to do my bucket list,鈥� the octogenarian told CTVNews.ca via telephone from Las Vegas after completing a helicopter tour of the Grand Canyon, which even included a picnic with champagne. 鈥淚 never dreamed even that I would be on Instagram. I mean, that鈥檚 still a dream to me -- which I love.鈥�
With more than , and counting, the 89-year-old has taken the internet by storm with her colourful -- and often racy -- outfits and crass commentary.
鈥淚鈥檝e always been a baddie,鈥� the native Kentuckian said with a drawl.
Baddie鈥檚 already been to Niagara Falls, Ont. (鈥淚 love Canada!鈥� she exclaimed), mixed drinks in New York City and hung out with the NFL鈥檚 Dallas Cowboys. Also on the cards for her ten-stop bucket list adventure, which is being sponsored by Hotels.com and ends on Nov. 12, is shimmying to samba in Rio de Janeiro, drinking the night away in Dublin, taking in the Moulin Rouge in Paris, and (hopefully) nabbing herself a perfect prince in London鈥檚 Buckingham Palace -- and Baddie said he doesn鈥檛 even have to be a top tier royal like Harry or William.
鈥淎ny old prince will do,鈥� she laughed.
Baddie鈥檚 wild saga from a quiet, pastoral life in America鈥檚 heartland to the heights of social media stardom began less than four years ago, when she was still commonly known as Helen Van Winkle. Her great-granddaughter Kennedy Lewis, now 21, had snapped a photo of Baddie jokingly modelling her tie-dye shirt and cut-off denim shorts. When Lewis posted the photo of her great-grandmother wearing her clothes online, the likes and follows just started pouring in.
鈥淚t blew up,鈥� Lewis said. 鈥淚t鈥檚 been crazy!鈥�
Winkle now counts celebrities such as Miley Cyrus and Rihanna amongst her fans and followers, and she鈥檚 even inked lucrative deals to appear in ads and showcase products on her social media accounts.
鈥淚鈥檝e been very fortunate,鈥� she said.
Lewis, who acts as Baddie鈥檚 manager and millennial whisperer is joining her great-grandmother on her globe-trotting bucket list adventure.
鈥淪he鈥檚 a wonderful traveller -- she takes good care of me,鈥� Baddie said. But she added that Lewis can鈥檛 always keep up with her 鈥渕ore adventurous鈥� great-grandmother.
鈥淪he likes to lay by the pool and I like to do other things,鈥� Baddie said. 鈥淚 want to get up and go!鈥�
According to a study released by Hotels.com, a fifth of people under the age of 30 are inspired to travel based on their parents鈥� and grandparents鈥� past adventures. Forty per cent of millennials, moreover, would prefer to complete their bucket lists with their parents or grandparents over celebrities (11 per cent), siblings (28 per cent) or travelling solo (25 per cent). One in eight even confessed that that their grandmother is cooler and more well-travelled than they are.
On Instagram, Baddie makes no secret of her love for playing the field. Her Instagram tagline -- 鈥渟tealing your man since 1928鈥� -- even announces it to the world.
鈥淚鈥檝e been single for 30 years and I have dated a lot,鈥� she said. 鈥淚 love men, but they do take up a lot of your time.鈥�
Lewis says that she鈥檚 grown 鈥減retty used to鈥� Baddie鈥檚 man-eating ways.
鈥淪he flirts a lot,鈥� Lewis said with a laugh. 鈥淪he encourages me to go out with lots of men."
Often seen wearing cannabis leaf prints and accessories, Baddie is also vocal proponent for the nationwide legalization of medical marijuana, saying that she uses cannabis pills and oils to manager her arthritis.
鈥淚鈥檓 very much for medicinal marijuana,鈥� she said. 鈥淚t鈥檚 great -- it really is.鈥�
For those dreaming of social media stardom for themselves, Baddie鈥檚 advice is startlingly simple:
鈥淜eep dreaming and you never know what will happen tomorrow,鈥� she said. 鈥淛ust be unique and yourself.鈥�
