Lana Del Rey encounters fan in Lana Del Rey Alabama Waffle House Halloween costume
Sometimes a pop-culture figure or moment transcends mere celebrity to achieve Halloween-costume status. Think Hunter S. Thompson, Elvira, Slash, The Dude from “The Big Lebowski,” Pam and Tommy, Princess Leia, and so many Elvis Presleys.
Welcome to the Halloween zeitgeist, Lana Del Bama.
As reported by Billboard, last weekend Sandy Ganzer, a successful makeup artist, attended a Halloween party dressed up as noir-pop singer/songwriter Lana Del Rey … in Del Rey’s internet-famous shift as a Waffle House server in Florence, Alabama this summer.
Macy Ladner (left) with Lana Del Rey at a Waffle House in Florence, Ala., July 20, 2023. (Courtesy of Macy Ladner)
At the party, Ganzer ran into the real Del Rey, whose biggest songs include “Video Games” and “Young and Beautiful.”
The singer, dressed in cowgirl attire, happily posed for a selfie with Ganzer and even took a solo pic of Ganzer in her Waffle House getup, all of which Ganzer later posted in Instagram. In the caption, she tagged Del Rey, “Thank you for having a sense of humor about it @honeymoon, you’re a Queen.”
According to Entertainment Weekly, Ganzer’s makeup clients include musician Phoebe Bridgers and model Kendall Jenner. Ganzer’s online portfolio highlights work with actors like Sydney Sweeney and Julia Garner, outlets including Vogue and Marie Claire, and brands such as Gap.
In her Instagram post, Ganzer detailed how she put together her Del Rey costume:
“Waffle House employee shirt purchased on Ebay : $28.60
“Pepsi bottle and fun little straw purchased last minute at CVS: $9
“Waffle House “Lana” name tag sticker: $5.59
“Attending a halloween party dressed as “Lana Del Rey kicking’ it at Waffle House”and she’s there in real life: Priceless”.
Besides Del Rey’s spontaneous Waffle House shift (as told in a Hollywood Reporter interview), there were a string of other mysterious Lana sightings, including: a Birmingham nail salon, interacting with fans in downtown Florence, and shopping at a Russellville boutique.
She also did an impromptu recording session at legendary Sheffield recording studio Muscle Shoals Sound.
There was much superfan speculation online about what Del Rey, who’s based in Los Angeles, was doing in Alabama.
It turned out, as AL.com previously reported, Del Rey confirmed to Hollywood Reporter she was in town visiting family in the Florence area. Del Rey’s Alabama saga concluded – for now – with a triumphant sold-out concert at Huntsville’s Orion Amphitheater.
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