Overview

• Her great-granddaughter posted a tribute on Sept. 5 saying, “Yesterday, an era ended and a star ascended,” and listed Thursday as the date of death.
• No cause of death was disclosed in the family’s announcement.
• Van Winkle rose to fame in 2014 after a photo shared by her great-granddaughter sparked a late-life persona known for flamboyant, rebellious style.
• She amassed more than 3 million followers and collaborated with brands and entertainers, including Urban Decay, INC.redible, Miley Cyrus and a 2019 Coachella appearance with Kacey Musgraves.
• Fans and celebrities, including Paris Hilton, shared condolences in the comments, and her final post on July 21 celebrated her 97th birthday.