Meet TikTok’s Coolest Grandma: The “Gangster Granny” Who Simply Celebrated Her 96th Birthday

Nov
7,
2022

Generally it takes a lifetime to seek out one’s calling. For Pauline “Granny” Kana, one half of the Ross and
Granny duo, it took practically 90 years to seek out hers.

“Granny,” spent the vast majority of her life as a household lady in a small Ohio city. She labored a collection of blue-collar jobs, from factories and mills to bakeries, and all the time put her household’s wants earlier than her personal. Nicely after turning into a retired lady, she discovered herself spending one of the best a part of her days along with her grandson, Ross Smith— a university soccer athlete on the College of Dayton and a Vine content material creator with a large following. Nonetheless, Ross wouldn’t actually go viral till the day he and Granny had been taking part in basketball collectively, the place he recorded himself blocking one among Granny’s photographs. The Vine clip took the web by storm in 2013 and the well-known on-line duo, Ross and Granny was born.

Quick-forward practically a decade later, Granny is now a beloved web sensation at 96 years of age. Recognized for movies of Granny residing the thug life, performing the newest web challenges, and doing an array of different absurd actions, the “Gangster Granny” and her son, Ross, have captured the hearts and eyes of followers throughout the globe. Collectively, they’ve amassed over 73 million social media followers and have proven the world that each comedy and social media haven’t any age boundaries. Regardless of having to beat current well being struggles, Granny remains to be energetic and exhibiting no indicators of slowing down anytime.

Over the course of her lifetime, Granny has witnessed the Nice Despair, World Warfare II, and each
different main world occasion that has taken place since. She’s a most cancers survivor who obtained love and assist from all around the world throughout her street to restoration. Granny lately celebrated her 96th birthday and she or he definitely has loads to be pleased with. By her smile, grit, humor, and jubilance, in addition to her willingness to associate with all of Ross’s video antics, she’s made a big impact on her thousands and thousands of followers and followers. We caught up with Granny to get a more in-depth look into how she’s grasped the success she’s attained on-line, her favourite facet of being a creator, and what she has deliberate for the longer term.

PPLA: What was your first thought when Ross began filming movies of you two? Notably the video concepts that get slightly outrageous and quirky.

GG: To start with, I used to be simply completely happy to be spending time with my grandson. We’d be exterior both taking part in basketball or doing one thing else and he’d be like “I’ve an thought” and begin filming. I all the time went together with it as a result of I used to be having enjoyable and it was making him so completely happy to do these little skits. I’ve most likely all the time been just a bit bit outrageous so working intently with my Ross these previous a number of years has definitely unlocked extra of the outrageous in me.

At first, I simply thought he was taking photographs of us and I didn’t even know what Vine or social media was.
We had been simply having a lot enjoyable spending time collectively and I had no thought it might make me well-known!

PPLA: Your followers and followers adore you! How does it really feel to be some of the well-known and beloved folks on social media at 96 years outdated?

GG: It is extremely surreal, however I really feel completely happy understanding that this time I’ve spent with my grandson creating foolish
movies has impressed and inspired folks to be type, to giggle, and to attach with their elders. I hear
from folks on a regular basis that inform me one among our movies helped them reconnect with their very own grandparents and I really like listening to these tales. It’s not simply elders however household, associates, family members, anybody who has been distant. It brings me happiness understanding that my associates and the followers are completely happy about watching our movies and following alongside on our journey.

It nonetheless feels so new to me. My technology didn’t have TV or the web, solely radio. To go from obscurity
offline to this place the place folks appear to know my identify has been a whirlwind in the easiest approach. I’m
not thinking about fame, however I do love that I now have the chance to attach with so many new folks all internationally and listen to their tales whereas sharing our personal. I may by no means have anticipated and even wished for this chapter of life, however I wouldn’t change it for the world. I credit score Ross for our success
as a result of all of the concepts had been his and I simply associate with what he says. My favourite a part of all of it is spending
time with him. I additionally love assembly and connecting with folks all over the place we go.

PPLA: Are you able to recall one among your favourite movies that you just’ve finished with Ross?

GG: We did a driving-in-bed video that was actually enjoyable! For that one, all I needed to do was lay down on a
mattress. All of us have these days the place we by no means need to depart mattress, so Ross determined to make me a mattress
that might drive round. He constructed a mattress body and mattress on high of a go kart and we strolled by the city— even getting Wendy’s drive-thru. I felt like a queen for the entire day!

PPLA: What has been probably the most thrilling second for you since turning into a social media sensation? Have you ever met any of your superstar heroes?

GG: I’ve met so many superb and gifted folks! I liked watching TV rising up so it makes me completely happy to know I used to be capable of meet these acquainted faces.

Maybe two of my favourite moments had been assembly Chuck Norris and Steve Harvey! Ross and I did a
video the place we had been coaching with Chuck and I had one of the best time. He taught me a bunch of his secret
weapons— though I nonetheless beat him at flip cup! I additionally beat Steve Harvey in beer pong on his personal present! I
bear in mind seeing him look so bewildered about it afterwards.

General, extra so than assembly well-known folks, I simply love how these adventures with Ross have allowed
me to satisfy so many new folks. These are all the time particular moments as a result of I get to listen to the tales of
how Ross and I’ve impacted their lives.

PPLA: With the social media model and empire you and Ross have constructed, you’ll be able to primarily go anyplace and do something you need. What’s in your future want checklist?

GG: I need to discover ways to drive! I imagine Ross goes to assist educate me quickly!