Today is a special day in my heart. It's Selena Quintanilla's birthday.
She would have been 47 today.
She's known as the Queen of Tejano, but has become the unofficial bicultural patron saint and role model for Latinos and even non-Latinos today. Fans adored Selena for being talented but humble, ambitious and close to her family. She became an icon for Mexicans and many Latinos, seamlessly balancing a tremendous career in two cultures.
There's been a Selena renaissance movement in the last few years. Fiesta de la Flor, the weekend-long festival honoring Selena in Corpus Christi, launched in 2015. Limited edition collectible items have caused websites to crash and stores to be swarmed by devoted fans.
How big is your Selena collection? Here's a look at the latest wave of must-have memorabilia:
MAC Cosmetics Selena collection:
Generations of fans who idolize the late Tejano singer Selena love to re-create her look of bold lipstick paired with a sharp eyeliner. They lined up by the hundreds in 2016 to buy the first signature makeup collection in her honor.
H-E-B's Selena tote bag:
"The traffic to our website clearly speaks to the passion we all have for Selena, both throughout Texas and across the country," a store spokesperson said in an email after the company's website crashed and her bags sold out in stores within minutes.
Stripes Selena cups:
Just like her previous collectibles, the Selena cups sold out quickly at stores earlier this month. They were priced at $2.99 and have since been listed for resale on websites like eBay for $65.
