Meet the Grannies Taking Over TikTok, One Video at a Time
From fashion and cooking to parties and everyday advice, older women are building huge online audiences and proving that age is no barrier to internet fame.
Social media fame is often associated with young creators, viral dances and the latest trends. But a growing number of grandmothers are changing that picture, winning millions of followers by sharing their lives, personalities and passions online.
At 96, American content creator Lillian Droniak, popularly known as Grandma Droniak, has amassed 15 million followers. Her popularity has turned social media into a source of income, helping her pay for care home fees while supporting her great-grandchildren’s future.
Her story is part of a wider trend in which older women are finding new audiences on platforms such as TikTok and Instagram, connecting with younger generations in ways few might have expected.
Grandma Droniak Turns Her Personality Into a Business
Droniak’s journey into social media began in 2020, when her grandson started helping her post videos, initially as a way to keep her entertained.
The videos eventually attracted a massive following, opening doors to paid partnerships with food and beauty brands.
According to BBC News, the 96-year-old earns enough from sponsored content and brand deals to cover her monthly care home fees of $12,000. Some of the money also goes towards a college fund for her great-grandchildren.
Her popularity has also brought attention to her social life. In June, she went viral after saying her retirement home had threatened to evict her over parties. The home later confirmed the threat, but an agreement allowed her to continue partying under conditions that included not supplying alcoholic drinks.
For Droniak, the appeal of her content is simple: she wants younger people to see that growing old does not mean giving up on fun.
Her story challenges the idea that life becomes less exciting with age, showing that new opportunities can emerge even in one’s 90s.
From Colourful Fashion to Family Recipes
Droniak is not the only grandmother finding fame online. Across the United Kingdom and the United States, older women are attracting audiences through their distinctive interests and everyday experiences.
In Cardiff, 82-year-old Viv Truran has built a following of more than 800,000 people by sharing her colourful outfits, glasses and accessories.
Truran began posting on Instagram after losing her husband, following a neighbour’s suggestion that she film her outfits. What began as a simple activity has since developed into a daily routine and commercial opportunity.
She now produces two videos a day and works with selected brands and charities. However, she says she turns down partnerships that do not reflect her interests.
Her content has also resonated with younger women who have told her they fear getting older. By sharing her style and enthusiasm for life, she offers a different perspective on ageing.
Meanwhile, Grace Geramita, known online as Nonna Gracie, has found an audience through traditional Italian cooking.
The 83-year-old moved to the United States from Italy when she was 18. Her grandson encouraged her to begin filming recipes she had prepared for years, eventually helping her reach millions of followers.
Beyond the food, her videos celebrate family traditions and the importance of gathering around the table. Messages from viewers around the world have shown her how deeply such familiar experiences can resonate across cultures.
Why Younger People Are Following Online Grandmothers
The appeal of these creators extends beyond entertainment. Their videos offer a sense of familiarity, comfort and connection in a digital space often dominated by fast-moving trends.
Barbara Costello, a 77-year-old former teacher known for her Brunch with Babs accounts, shares cooking, cleaning and homemaking advice. Some followers see her as a virtual mother or grandmother, particularly those learning to live independently or missing older relatives.
Her experience highlights how social media can create relationships that go beyond views and likes. A practical cooking tip or a reassuring message can make a meaningful difference in someone’s everyday life.
Influencer marketing professionals have also taken notice. Older creators can attract loyal audiences whose trust has developed around a creator’s personality, experience and consistency.
For brands, this can make partnerships valuable, provided the products align with the creator’s values and the relationship with followers remains authentic.
Age Is No Barrier to a New Beginning
The rise of these grandmothers offers a reminder that reinvention does not have an age limit.
For some, social media has become a source of income. For others, it provides a creative outlet, new friendships and opportunities to share knowledge accumulated over decades.
Family support has also played a role, with younger relatives helping some creators navigate filming, editing and online platforms.
Their success challenges the assumption that older people have little place in the digital world. Instead, they are showing that fashion, food, humour and life experience can connect people across generations.
And while not everyone will attract millions of followers, these women are demonstrating that it is never too late to try something new, share a passion or discover an unexpected audience.
For these grandmothers, the next chapter of life is not happening quietly in the background. It is playing out on screens around the world.
Story Source – BBC
