Arianators

Ariana Grande (2020) (1)

Ariana Grande is a successful pop icon and actress who won multiple awards throughout her singing career. In addition to her musical accomplishments, she has launched a popular makeup brand, REM Beauty, and recently starred in the highly anticipated film adaptation of Wicked.

Throughout her journey, Grande has been supported by a loyal and passionate fan base, known as "Arianators," who stand by her through every triumph, challenge, and album release. Walker. L (2017) explains that Ariana's fandom consists of "mainly teenage, mainly female fans" (para. 1). Her fans are a devoted community that continues to grow with each milestone Ariana achieves.

Fan Engagement

Eternal Sunshine Listening Party (5)
Ariana Grande constantly finds ways to interact and engage with her fan base. She hosted a Sweetener virtual release party in 2018, where 1,000 fans joined her on a Zoom call to listen to her album, Sweetener. Ariana Grande Wiki (2018) further explains, "Grande went live from her home in New York, fans could ask questions to the singer, and have a talk and hang out before the album's release" (para. 3).

Most recently, she held a listening party for her seventh album, Eternal Sunshine. Lucky fans got the opportunity to sit down and delve into Ariana's album with the creator herself, allowing fans to dive deep into the music, hear stories behind the tracks, and connect with Ariana on a personal level.

Furthermore, some fans even have the opportunity to be invited to a pre-screening of Grande's new film, Wicked, almost a month before its release date, where Daily Mail (2024) adds Ariana even made a special appearance to surprise her dedicated fans (para. 1)

Girls Night Out

Arianators Dressed up as Grande (2)
One popular way fans connect is through Ariana Grande tribute dance parties, where they can meet other Arianators dressed up in outfits inspired by Ariana’s iconic makeup and hairstyles while dancing to the songs they love. The DNA Lounge (2024) describes these as a "dance party dedicated to our favorite pony-tailed heroine" (para. 1) These parties are typically themed, relating to an album of Ariana's. The most recent one, hosted by 3 Dollar Bill nightclub (2024), took place on November 22, starting at 10pm and lasting until 4 in the morning (page 1.) Fans danced all night at this Wicked-themed Ariana Grande dance party.

Another way fans participate is through album release parties, hosted both online and in person. Following her most recent album, Eventbrite (2024) showcases that The Zoo in NYC hosted an album release party where fans could gather together and listen to the pop star's new songs (pg. 1). These parties are fun opportunities for Arianators to come together and experience Grande's latest music with other fellow fans, even allowing them to talk about it together, a chance you wouldn't have if you were alone.

Release Party Poster Hosted by The Zoo (7)

Ariana Grande Tribute shows are also a popular fan event, where different artists cover Ariana's songs in a live concert setting. Scarlett Entertainment (n.d.) describes these shows as "A fantastic way for younger fans to enjoy Ariana Grande without the overwhelming arena atmosphere" (para. 1) These shows allow fans to experience renditions of their favorite Ariana tracks and celebrate her music live with the help of look-alike performers. It’s a fun way for Arianators to come together and enjoy a concert-like experience while singing along to the songs they know and love.

Below, this video displays an example of what to expect at a tribute show:

Lucy's Sign (6)

Fan Projects

In 2017, during Ariana's Dangerous Woman world tour, fans gathered on the night of May 22 to hear Grande perform. Le Mond (2024) covers the tragedy briefly, stating towards the end of her concert, a terrorist attack struck in the form of a suicide bomb, killing 22 devoted Arianators (para. 3).

Ariana bravely returned to Manchester after the bombing, where fans came together to create a large, coordinated fan project involving the bee symbol. This included giant posters and coordinated light displays showcasing this symbol. In an interview by With The Band (2019), Lucy, the creator of this movement, explains, "The sign that I created has the classic Ariana pink color and the worker bee to represent Manchester. The project means a lot to me since music has always been my safe space, and for it to become a danger, that night was just awful. I want to make sure we all spread love to each other, especially Ariana when she comes back to Manchester to tour. We want to show her how strong she is for carrying on through everything she’s been through” (para. 2)

This tribute also extended to social media, where Arianators shared their own versions of the bee symbol, using the hashtags #WeAreManchester and #OneLove, even turning into a clothing line- with all proceeds going to the families of victims. This was a heartwarming display of the global Arianator community coming together in a moment of grief, working together to shine some light on such a tragic event and even helping to raise awareness and funds to help out the families affected along the way.

We Can't Be Friends

Ariana vs. Paige Neimann (3)

Some devoted Arianators have gone to extreme lengths to look like their idol, including the operating table. YouTuber Gabi DeMartino, known for her striking resemblance to Ariana Grande and her admiration for the pop star, underwent several cosmetic surgeries to enhance her features and mirror Ariana’s appearance. Daily Mail (2018) reveals, "Gabi, who has been criticized for allegedly copying the star, admits that she thought Ariana hated her because she has taken 'so much inspiration from her'" (para 1.) Shockingly, In a full-circle moment, Ariana invited Gabi to appear in the music video for hit song Thank U, Next.

Furthermore, Paige Neimann, another Arianator, has been attempting to look like Grande for years, often posting herself uncannily resembling the pop sensation. In an interview hosted by ET Online (2019), Paige recounts an online interaction she had with Grande, recalling a DM they shared: "She wanted to let me know that I am beautiful in my own way, and I said 'Thank you and thank you for being so kind to me.' And she said, 'I'm proud of you" (para 5.)

Arianator Activities

Countless fans love to recreate Ariana's infamous ponytail look and winged eyeliner. Not only is it an extremely popular Halloween costume, but some superfans even go out in public in an attempt to trick others into believing they are the actual pop star. Shockingly, it works!

Youtuber Ruslana Gee tricked people in LA in the video below:

In addition to dressing up as the famous singer, many fans took it upon themselves to create fan accounts on Twitter, Instagram, and TikTok. One of the most popular accounts, @yallneedbutera, has yielded over 106K followers! That's enough people to fill up three small cities! Here, fans spend hours making edits to popular Ariana songs, showcasing the pop star in all her glory. Above is an example of what these edits entail!

Drawing of Grande's 2020 Instagram Post (4)

Arianators also love to paint and draw Ariana, too, often turning her album covers or popular pictures into art. I did, too, in the eighth grade for an art class assignment! It's fun drawing a celebrity you love!

Additionally, fans can immerse themselves in the Ariana Grande fandom through platforms like Ariana Grande Wiki and engage in a fan knowledge quiz that tests their knowledge and loyalty as Arianators.

Becoming an Arianator

Becoming an Arianator is so easy! It's a self-proclaimed title, not something you earn. Anyone is welcome to join the fandom, you don't have to be a super fan. Just hit play on one of her albums and you'll be captivated!

References

3 Dollar Bill. (2024, November 22). Wicked: An Ariana Grande dance pop party. 3 Dollar Bill. https://www.3dollarbillbk.com/rsvp/2024/11/22/wicked-an-ariana-grande-dance-pop-party

Ariana Grande Wiki. (2018, August 16). Sweetener virtual release party. Ariana Grande Wiki. https://arianagrande.fandom.com/wiki/Sweetener_Virtual_Release_Party#:~:text=On%20August%2016%2C%202018%20Grande,team%20to%20supervise%20the%20event

Daily Mail. (2018, December 4). Ariana Grande lookalike reveals singer sent DM asking star to be in Thank U, Next video. https://www.dailymail.co.uk/femail/article-6456447/Ariana-Grande-lookalike-reveals-singer-sent-DM-asking-star-Thank-U-Next.html

Daily Mail. (2024, November 19). Wicked fans stunned as Ariana Grande, Cynthia Erivo, and Jeff Goldblum make surprise appearance at London film screening. https://www.dailymail.co.uk/tvshowbiz/article-14103519/Wicked-fans-stunned-Ariana-Grande-Cynthia-Erivo-Jeff-Goldblum-make-surprise-appearance-London-film-screening.html

DNA Lounge. (2024, March 23). Event calendar. DNA Lounge. https://www.dnalounge.com/calendar/2024/03-23.html

Eventbrite. (2024). The Zoo: Eternal Sunshine - Ariana Grande’s official NY album release party. https://www.eventbrite.com/e/the-zoo-eternal-sunshine-ariana-grandes-official-ny-album-release-party-tickets-850561140267

Le Monde. (2024, April 14). Survivors of the suicide attack at Ariana Grande’s concert in 2017 sue intelligence agency. https://www.lemonde.fr/en/international/article/2024/04/14/survivors-of-the-suicide-attack-at-ariana-grande-s-concert-in-2017-sue-intelligence-agency_6668414_4.html#:~:text=Suicide%20bomber%20Salman%20Abedi%20set,Abedi%20died%20in%20the%20explosion.

Scarlett Entertainment. (n.d.). Ariana Grande tribute show. https://scarlettentertainment.com/us/acts/ariana-grande-tribute-show

Walker, L. (2017, May 24). Arianators assemble: Ariana Grande’s fans weave a web of support. The Guardian. https://www.theguardian.com/music/2017/may/24/arianators-assemble-ariana-grandes-fans-weave-a-web-of-support

With the Band. (2019, May 31). Protecting the music we love: An Ariana Grande fan project. With the Band. https://www.withtheband.co/post/protecting-the-music-we-love

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