JonPaul Rodela said he lost count but estimates he has about 35 to 45 tattoos. But there’s one he has that’s literally always on his mind.
SAN ANTONIO — A San Antonio fan permanently honors Selena and it is visible every day when he looks in the mirror.
JonPaul Rodela is a loyal fan who is head over heels for the Queen of Tejano Music. Thirty years after her death, Rodela talked about why he decided to get a tattoo on his head of Selena Quintanilla-Perez.
“It is pretty much like a storybook of my life,” Rodela said. “I got one and then I couldn’t stop.”
Rodela lost count but estimates he has about 35 to 45 tattoos. But there’s one he has that’s literally always on his mind.
“I can never miss it,” he said. “I love that tattoo. It is like my top three favorites, next to my brother’s name. A lot of guys have skulls and things like that. But I was like: ‘What can I get that I love and that can represent me differently from everybody else?’ Selena was the first one.”
Rodela got it about four years ago and said it was a no-brainer to honor an icon that means a lot to him.
“Let me memorialize her the best that I could and show her love, and her family respect,” he said. “She is number one in my heart.”
He said it took eight hours and didn’t hurt. But over time and with the South Texas sun, it has faded. However, his love for Selena will never fade, especially on the 30th anniversary of her passing, here she is remembered.
“Thirty years later, I really wish she could be here,” he said. “But things happened how they happened. I was sad today. All we can do is celebrate her life and carry on her legacy.”
Rodela said he even asked Selena’s father for permission to get the tattoo and he said Abraham Quintanilla gave him his blessing. Rodela said he plans to get it touched up in a couple of months.