Internet personality Helen Van Winkle has died age 97, weeks after celebrating her birthday.
Her great-granddaughter posted to the Baddie Winkle account, which has over 3,000,000 followers, that ‘an era ended’.
Just six weeks before she had posted a series of photos for her birthday celebrations, captioned ‘I Turned 97 on Friday, I <3 my Pajamas 👑 💐.’
In true Baddie fashion, her death announcement featured a picture of the star with a top that read ‘Bad Mother F**ker’, holding a flower.
She was smiling, wearing a platinum blonde wig and bedazzles glasses, while rocking a bold red lip.
The picture had ‘July 18, 1928 – September 4, 2025’ written above Van Winkle, confirming the devastating news.
‘Yesterday, an era ended and a star ascended,’ the caption began. ‘My great grandmother Helen Ruth Elam Vanwinkle danced her way to heaven.’
The post continued: ‘She was joy, rebellion, and tenderness wrapped in one. The crown is eternal, & her love on many realms will live forever.
‘This isn’t a goodbye, this is a See ya later my superstar.’
Fans shared their condolences, praising the ‘inspirational’ star for bringing ‘joy’ to all her followers.
‘Been following for 10 years, you will be missed but NEVER forgotten baddie winkle 🥺🌈🌈🌈🌈🌈,’ wrote Melissa Brooks.
Elphie Monster added: ‘Baddie really took it to the next level and beyond. She was unapologetically herself, and she brought us all so much joy and confidence. We’re gonna miss her so much, but that Baddie spirit is gonna live on forever. Go show them angels how we do it here on earth 💕💕✨✨.’
‘Noooooo!’ said Katie Dee. ‘Not our grandma! We love her! May she rest peacefully in baddie heaven 💕.’
Even the legendary Paris Hilton joined the well-wishers, writing: ‘She was iconic 🥹 sending love.’
Van Winkle amassed her huge following by being her authentic, colourful self online, proving growing older doesn’t mean you have to grow up.
She also got to take the stage at Coachella in 2019, performing High Horse with country singer Kacey Musgraves.
On her Instagram profile, Baddie’s profile picture was her crying holding money with her bio still reading her iconic tagline: ‘Stealing yo man Since 1928.’
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