Fan of Selena will debut jewelry inspired by singer at festival
Growing up in Houston, Pamela McKinney was mesmerized by Selena, the musical superstar whose legend has only grown since she was slain by a friend in 1995.
The singer will be on her mind this weekend as McKinney makes her debut at Fiesta de la Flor, Corpus Christi’s fourth annual tribute festival to the singer. The Shell Chemicals customer relationship coordinator also makes and designs jewelry that she sells online. She says at least one of her necklaces was inspired by her memories of Selena.
“As a little girl, you see this beautiful woman and she has these crazy, cool outfits and your imagination just runs wild,” the 31-year-old said. “You see her as a superhero almost.”
McKinney is hardly alone is catering to generations of fans of the Corpus Christi native.
H-E-B on March 2 released a $2 limited edition reusable plastic bag bearing Selena’s image. Supplies sold out in about 1½ hours.
On April 7, the convenience store chain Stripes sold out of $2.99 commemorative collectible cups within 3½ hours.
MAC Cosmetics’ website crashed on Sept. 3, 2016, the day it launched MAC Selena, a makeup line.
The excitement for all things Selena resonates with McKinney. A medley of emotions ran through her when she first attended Fiesta de la Flor in 2015 and 2016.
“Everything about her is there,” she said. “You see pictures of her and you hear her music and it almost kind of takes you back. You definitely get emotional.”
McKinney launched her jew-
elry line, featuring necklaces, earrings, beaded chokers and rings featuring stainless steel and gemstones, in August. She and her boyfriend hand-make all pieces but the rings, which she outsources.
She applied to sell at Fiesta de la Flor in November, paid a $300 fee and in January was approved as a vendor.
Though this year she will be busy working at the festival, she plans to insert a sequined purple jolt of fun.
Like Demi Lovato and other celebrities have previously done, McKinney will be donning an imitation of Selena’s iconic jumpsuit from her final concert at the Astrodome.
Wearing the outfit “was something I was thinking about and was going to get it made regardless because I’ve always wanted (it),” she said.
She also will unveil a jewelry piece inspired by the singer. The crystal quartz stone-adorned chain necklace bears a halo-like ring dangling a rose-cut purple amethyst dropping a stem-like small chain. For McKinney, the color and floral embellishments are nods to themes associated with Selena.
She’s taking 11 of the necklaces to the show and selling them for about $30 each, but she said more inventory will be available online in a couple of weeks.
Fiesta de la Flor drew an estimated 55,000 fans last year, and the Corpus Christi Convention & Visitors Bureau says the event generated $15 million in economic impact.
Six in 10 visitors traveled from outside the area.
McKinney understands the appeal. Selena, she said, “was a genuinely good person, so I can only imagine what she would have been if she’d still be alive.
“She’d be a phenomenal person and she’d be just a great addition to the world. I wish she was still here.”