A few weeks ago while I was aimlessly scrolling through the explore page on my Instagram account, a specific photo caught my attention. It was a selfie of a very elderly women with gray, short hair and a gigantic smile that gleamed with health and radiance. In the picture she was wearing a pink tank top with spaghetti straps. On the front of the tank top it read "Hot Line Bling", which is the name of one of Drake’s most popular songs currently being played on the radio (if you have been living under a rock). She was also wearing bright multicolored fuzzy earnings. They reminded me of a pair that would have been popular in the 90’s. What shocked me the most was that this elderly women’s Instagram selfie had over 896,000 likes! I absolutely had to find out more about who this women was! I did some intense Internet stalking and a few Wikipedia searches and eventually found out that this 87-year-old was actually an American Internet personality who goes by the name of Baddie Winkle.
1. She has friends from all age groups and all walks of life.
Some very famous celebrities like Miley Cyrus, Drew Barrymore, Nicole Richie and Gwen Stefanie have posed next to Baddie Winkle. She always includes a heartwarming caption along with these pictures, which to me proves that she has the means to create genuine relationships with these celebs. It’s a proven fact that making friends with people of all ages, keeps you young and keeps you wise.
2. She doesn’t let her age dictate what she is able to experience.
She can be seen onstage with EDM DJ’s who perform at gigantic Electric Music Festivals. She has posed while walking down the red carpets of major Award’s Shows including the MTV Video Music Awards and The Carpet for the third Season Premiere of Orange is the New Black. She even has appeared at college frat parties, where she maybe played a game or two of beer pong. She never lets her old age stop her from doing big things and checking experiences off of her bucket list.
3. She follows her own rules when it comes to beauty and style.
She pushes the envelope with her clothing pieces. She supports the legalization of marijuana and is not shy when it comes to showing that. She believes in utilizing political fashion to make bold statements. Her makeup is flawless. She isn’t afraid to rock a bright pink lip or add a swipe of glitter eyeliner to her look. She is often seen wearing trendy 90’s chokers along with her signature black framed reading glasses. To top it all off, she was featured in LA-based brand Dimepiece’s latest fashion campaign.
4. She is proof that you can’t shouldn’t trust stereotypes.
Her hobbies might not include quilting, crochet, knitting or sewing, and that’s okay. She maybe hasn’t ever joined a bowling league or baked a day in her life, but that doesn’t take away from the fact that she should be a role model to all of us. Stereotypes are rarely actual representations of anyone.
By just scrolling through her Instagram account it is easy to see that she lives every moment of her life to the fullest. She doesn’t sweat the small stuff, she’s lived long enough to understand that life is continuos. The best part is that she does not let her age act as a barrier, she lives her life for herself. She even embraces and respects our millennial ideas. I hope that I can age as gracefully as she has.
