Texas man sets world record for largest Selena memorabilia collection

Editor's Note: The above video is previous coverage of Andrew Longoria's Selena Quintanilla memorabilia world record attempt from June 23, 2024.

A Texas man is officially a world record holder — all thanks to his love for Selena Quintanilla.

Andrew Longoria earned the Guinness World Record for the largest collection of Selena Quintanilla memorabilia, with 1,308 individual items as part of that set. Longoria achieved the feat at a record attempt in late June in Lake Jackson, down near the Gulf of Mexico.

In a text to KXAN Friday, Longoria said: "I'M JUST OVER THE MOON!!!!!!!!!!!!!"

It's an effort years in the making. For about a decade, Longoria has been documenting the growing collection on social media.

It all started with Longoria's first purchase of Quintanilla's "Dreaming of You" CD in 1997, he told KXAN back in January 2023. He bought that CD alongside his grandmother, whose own Elvis Presley collection inspired Longoria's journey.

“I was 5 years old when I got the [Dreaming of You] album,” Longoria told KXAN in 2023. “So to know how long I’ve been a fan and been collecting — it’s pretty phenomenal, to be perfectly honest.”

Selena’s groundbreaking career was cut short early after she was murdered in a Corpus Christi motel on March 31, 1995, by her friend and the president of her fan club, Yolanda Saldívar. At the time of her death, Selena was already widely considered “The Queen of Tejano Music” and the “Mexican Madonna” among the Latin community. She was also preparing a major crossover album, “Dreaming of You,” which was released four months after her death.

The murder was international news and catapulted Selena’s name and music to even wider audiences.

A feature film, titled “Selena,” was released in 1997 — grossing over $35 million and launching a then relatively unknown Jennifer Lopez to stardom.

Selena, known for chart-topping hits like “Bidi Bidi Bom Bom,” “Como La Flor,” and “I Could Fall in Love” has continued to influence artists of all generations, including contemporary artists like Beyoncé, Kacey Musgraves, and Drake.

Last month, President Joe Biden honored Selena, awarding the singer with a 2023 National Medal of Arts award, which is the highest award given to artists by the federal government. In a statement, the White House wrote: "For cementing Tejano music into the heart of the Nation. The youngest of the Quintanilla music family, Selena brought Latin music to the masses as the Queen of Tejano music and one of the most celebrated entertainers in our history. Her young life was tragically cut short, but her voice and spirit endure for the ages."

Selena's sister Suzette Quintanilla accepted the award on behalf of the singer, saying in part, "Selena often said “The goal isn’t to live forever, but to create something that will,” and this honor is a testament to Selena’s amazing legacy."