Selena Quintanilla, the beloved "Queen of Tejano," has been immortalized in wax at Madame Tussauds, honoring her enduring legacy and significant impact on culture. The wax figures, unveiled in both Hollywood and New York, and displayed in Corpus Christi, represent a testament to her lasting influence and the unwavering devotion of her fans.
More than two decades after her untimely passing, Selena's star continues to shine brightly. In commemoration of the 21st anniversary of her fifth and final studio album, "Dreaming of You," Madame Tussauds Hollywood announced its plan to immortalize Selena Quintanilla in wax. The wax figure's debut in August marked a significant moment for her fans and the Latin community. The figure is valued at approximately $350,000.
The creation of Selena's wax figure was driven by an outpouring of fan appreciation. Nearly 10,000 people digitally signed a Change.org petition in 2015, urging Madame Tussauds to create the figure. This passionate display of support underscored Selena's enduring popularity and the desire of her fans to celebrate her legacy.
Madame Tussauds collaborated closely with the Quintanilla family throughout the process. Her sister, Suzette Quintanilla, and other family members were actively involved in the creation of the wax figure, ensuring that it accurately captured Selena's likeness and essence.
The Quintanilla family selected the outfit for the wax figure: a recreated stage look from Selena's concert held at the Memorial Coliseum in Corpus Christi, TX on Feb 7, 1993. This outfit holds special significance as it represents a pivotal moment in her career. The bustier was an iconic staple in Selena's wardrobe. The following year Selena won the Grammy for "Selena Live!," recorded that night at the Coliseum.
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The unveiling of Selena's wax figure was a momentous occasion, celebrated with special events and fan engagement opportunities.
Madame Tussauds Hollywood held a launch event on August 30th, inviting Annual Pass Members and special guests, including Abraham Quintanilla, Marcella Quintanilla, Suzette Quintanilla, and Chris Perez. The event started at 4pm. Selena Annual Passes were offered. A contest was held from July 18 through August 15, inviting fans to upload videos to YouTube using the tag "Selena Quintanilla Madame Tussauds," explaining why they were Selena's biggest fan. The five fan favorites and their guest won an invitation to the launch party, a commemorative Selena Annual Pass, and a meeting with the special guests. The public viewing of the figure began on August 31th with an Annual Pass or general admission, from 10am - 10pm. Food and water were provided to invited guests while supplies lasted, and additional beverages were available for purchase. Limited edition Selena Quintanilla T-shirts were available for purchase for $20 at the Madame Tussauds Hollywood retail shop, located inside the attraction. Colin Thomas, General Manager of Madame Tussauds Hollywood, stated that Selena perfectly described the icons who have made a significant impact on our culture. He noted that her influence has transcended generations and her passionate fans continue to be inspired by her to this day.
Selena Quintanilla's wax figure was unveiled at Madame Tussauds New York on Friday, June 23, 2017. It's been 22 years since the death of the late Selena Quintanilla. A few lucky fans were granted early access to attend the unveiling, meet with Quintanilla and take pictures with the Selena figure, after winning the ‘Celebrate Selena’ contest hosted by the museum. The contest asked fans to share their favorite Selena moments on Instagram with the hashtags #CelebrateSelenaNY and #NYCWAX. The top ten most creative posts were chosen to attend the unveiling. Natalie Ortiz, one of the contest winners, said that Selena helped her be more comfortable with being a Latina especially because her Spanish wasn’t very good and hers wasn’t as well so she kind of validated my identity as a Latina. Anna Domingo, the general manager of the museum, said that it was one of the most emotional moments to have Selena at the New York museum and that it meant the world for her fans and it meant the world for their staff, especially with the collaboration of the Quintanilla family, who have been wonderful during the whole journey to create the figure.
Following its debut in Los Angeles, the wax figure arrived in Corpus Christi, allowing fans to see her up close and ask questions about her. The figure was displayed at the Art Museum of South Texas during Fiesta de la Flor. Teresa Rodriguez Bartlett, Corpus Christi Convention and Visitors Bureau spokeswoman, said that this is something fans will really love, and that there will also be music, videos and Selena art fans can look at while they walk in the museum. Suzette Quintanilla Arriaga, Selena's sister said that the Madame Tussauds crew flew in from London and took a lot of pictures and videos of Selena to make sure they could capture her the best that they could and they did an amazing job.
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