Babs Costello, the 77-year-old TikTok star known as @brunchwithbabs, has built a massive following with cooking and wisdom videos. Now, she’s expanding into children’s literature and home renovation with her “third act,” proving that age is no barrier to digital innovation and multi-platform influence.
Barbara “Babs” Costello’s rise to social media stardom began not with a carefully planned strategy, but with a nudge from her daughter. Over five years ago, the then-72-year-old former preschool director posted her first TikTok video, initially expecting it to be a “one and done” experiment. Today, she commands a loyal audience of more than 4 million followers under the handle @brunchwithbabs, becoming a symbol of intergenerational digital connection AOL.
Her background is rooted in education: Costello spent 25 years teaching and directing a preschool, shaping young minds long before she shaped online trends. This experience directly informs her content, which blends practical cooking tips—like her viral chicken cutlet recipe—with timeless wisdom, often framed by her signature opening: “Did Your Mother Ever Tell You…?” AOL. She started posting in earnest during the COVID-19 pandemic, a period when people globally sought “support” and “normalcy,” and she provided both with a grandmotherly warmth that felt both personal and universal.
Costello’s authenticity is her superpower. She rejects the pressure to conform to typical TikTok trends, such as dance challenges, focusing instead on what she knows best: cooking, home tips, and gentle life advice. “It is a very teaching app,” she reflects, noting that her age grants her a unique authority. “If anybody does make a comment, it’s like I have my own posse,” she says of her followers, who quickly defend her against criticism, dubbing her a “national treasure.” This protective community highlights a broader shift: audiences increasingly crave relatable, experience-driven content over polished influencer personas AOL.
The Discover List Recognition and Platform Validation
In 2026, TikTok formally recognized Costello’s impact by including her in The Discover List under the Innovators category, a prestigious annual roundup of creators to watch TikTok Newsroom. This acknowledgment from the platform itself validates her approach: age and experience are not liabilities but assets in the attention economy. Her selection underscores TikTok’s evolution from a youth-centric entertainment app to a diverse ecosystem where learning, sharing, and personal connection thrive.
Expanding the Empire: From Children’s Books to Cottage Renovation
Never one to rest on viral laurels, Costello is aggressively expanding her brand beyond short-form video. Her first children’s book, Did Your Mother Ever Tell You?, is available for pre-order ahead of its April 7 release Instagram. The book compiles classic idioms like “Don’t cry over spilled milk” and “Birds of a feather flock together,” aiming to spark discussions between parents and children. “It’s a springboard for a lot of discussion,” Costello explains, demonstrating her educator’s heart by turning each saying into a lesson on inclusivity and critical thinking.
Simultaneously, she’s launching a “third act” that involves renovating an 1830s cottage formerly used as a basket shop, a project she’s documenting with her daughter. This venture into home improvement content diversifies her portfolio and taps into the massive audiences for lifestyle and DIY content. For Costello, these projects are seamless extensions of her mission: “Every day is like a gift you have to unwrap. I like to live one day at a time and do the best I can do for this day.”
Why This Matters: The Broader Implications for Digital Culture
Costello’s trajectory challenges several pervasive narratives in tech and media:
- Age is not a barrier to innovation: Her success counters the Silicon Valley obsession with youth, showing that life experience fuels sustainable content creation. She notes that starting on TikTok as a teenager might not have yielded the same confidence or depth.
- Multi-act careers are the new norm: From teacher to TikTok star to author and renovator, Costello embodies a portfolio career that defies linear professional paths. This resonates with an aging population seeking meaningful second and third acts.
- Authenticity drives loyalty: In an era of algorithmic manipulation and curated perfection, her unfiltered, nurturing style builds communities that actively protect their creators, reducing exposure to toxic online dynamics.
- Platforms reward wisdom: TikTok’s inclusion of Costello in The Discover List signals a strategic shift toward valuing diverse voices, acknowledging that platforms rich in generational wisdom attract broader, more engaged audiences.
Her fan community, largely composed of younger users who see her as a surrogate grandmother, amplifies this impact. They don’t just consume her content; they champion her, creating a feedback loop that reinforces positive engagement and shields her from common creator pitfalls.
Looking Ahead: The Blueprint for Age-Inclusive Influence
Costello’s story is more than a feel-good viral moment; it’s a case study in how older adults can leverage digital platforms for purpose, profit, and legacy-building. She dismisses fears of “running out of ideas,” drawing from a “wealth of information from my past” to stay relevant. As she renovates her cottage and promotes her book, she exemplifies a new archetype: the wisdom influencer who monetizes experience without sacrificing authenticity.
This trend has implications far beyond one grandma’s account. Brands and platforms would be wise to note that audiences increasingly seek intergenerational dialogue, and creators like Costello fill a void left by segmented media. Her journey from preschool to TikTok to publishing house illustrates that the most compelling stories aren’t confined by age—they’re enriched by it.
For anyone doubting the viability of older creators online, Costello offers a blunt rebuttal: “There’s never going to be another you in the history of the universe.” Her mantra encourages late bloomers to embrace their unique perspectives, knowing that platforms like TikTok can be “more than just entertainment, but a platform of learning, of sharing information, of reaching people on a more personal level.”
As she unwraps each new day, Babs Costello isn’t just building a third act—she’s constructing a blueprint for how to age powerfully in the digital spotlight, one cooking tip, one children’s book, and one renovation project at a time.
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