99-year-old ‘Gangster Granny’ breaks world record after crowd-surfing at rock concert

Pauline Kana has spent years building an internet following with her grandson, Ross Smith, through comedy videos and unconventional adventures. But their latest stunt involved a much bigger audience: roughly 20,000 concertgoers who helped the 99-year-old grandmother make Guinness World Records history.

Kana, better known online as “Gangster Granny,” became the oldest person to crowd-surf after being carried above the audience during country-rock musician Brantley Gilbert’s performance in Bellville, Texas, on May 2. She was 99 years and 274 days old at the time, according to Guinness World Records.

The record attempt was part of a bucket-list project the grandmother and grandson had been working on for months. Kana later explained that she had wanted to break a world record, and the pair eventually settled on crowd-surfing because it would be an unusual experience they could share with a large audience.

‘I felt as if I was flying’

Kana was strapped into a stretcher and lifted above the audience as concertgoers passed her toward the stage. The original plan was to have her carried in a straight line from the back of the crowd to the front, but the pair encountered an unexpected problem: much of the audience was seated, leaving gaps between people.

They moved the attempt to the mosh pit instead, where Kana traveled in a U-shaped route across the crowd. She said she needed to remain above the audience for at least 10 seconds to qualify for the record, but the experience lasted considerably longer.

“I was held up for more than three minutes – nearly an entire song,” Kana told The Guardian. She also described the sensation of being carried above the crowd: “I was launched out and I felt as if I was flying.”

The audience chanted “Granny, Granny” as she made her way through the crowd. When she finally returned to the stage, Kana said the moment gave her chills. She later celebrated the achievement in a video with her Guinness World Records certificate, declaring, “I did it! I’m the greatest of all time!”

Who is ‘Gangster Granny’?

Kana’s online fame began in 2013, when Smith filmed his grandmother blocking his basketball shot while he was home from college. He posted the clip online, and its reception inspired the pair to make more videos together.

Their content has since grown into a substantial social media following, with Smith’s accounts attracting millions of followers. The videos feature Kana participating in comedic skits, interacting with celebrities, and taking on increasingly unexpected challenges.

Kana has since turned 100, even celebrating her 100th Halloween. “I hope our videos make people realise that it’s never too late to live your best life,” she wrote. “If you want to do something new, do it now.”

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