Lana Winters

Grew Up… with the mindset that even the most awful of people started off as an innocent child. Her connection to people and their stories would lead her to a career in journalism.

Profession… journalist at The Gazette, where most of her work consists of plain pieces relating to food. Lana loves writing but she has no connection to what she is currently doing; her cooking is horrible. Lana sees this job as only a start for her, and she wants to get a position at a more prestigious press like Life or Look. The expose on Briarcliff and Kit Walker, the supposed Bloody Face Killer, was supposed to be her breakout story. But the terrible conditions there are making this seem impossible.

Relationship Status… recently separated from Wendy Peyser. Lana lived with Wendy, but their relationship was kept secret to not risk Wendy’s reputation and job as a third-grade science teacher. They had other lesbian friends who understood their need for secrecy, and this community was important to them.

Challenge… admitted to Briarcliff insane asylum against her own will after making an enemy of one of the heads of the manor, Sister Jude Martin. The conditions there are abysmal, something she had wanted to expose before being admitted. While she tries to make the best out of her situation, Lana knows that she cannot continue living there. Despite the rules against keeping any sort of journal at Briarcliff, Lana finds ways to secretly write things down whenever possible. She does not hesitate to risk her safety or sanity for the story. For Lana, writing is empowerment. As she says, “You can write your own destiny.” Unfortunately, Lana is also dealing with severe trust issues after facing an intense betrayal.

Personality… ambitious, intelligent, and curious. Lana wants to share her curiosity and fascination with a good story with the world. She is daring and willing to surpass her limits to get a good story. This isn’t to say she is fearless or indestructible, because she definitely has qualities of both, but her ability to pick herself up after enduring some of the most gruesome events is admirable.