OCALA, Fla. – A Central Florida business woman is tickled pink over her new title.
The Guinness World Records just honored the custom frame shop owner for having the world's largest flamingo collection.
"I get flamingos every day because my customers find them and think of me," Cindy Dunlow said.
Dunlow told News 6 that she runs her custom frame shop in Ocala to pay the bills, but her real passion is collecting all things flamingo.
"If I let it, the collection would take over the whole shop," Dunlow told News 6. "So, I have to keep it contained to the front-quarter section."
According to the official count for the Guinness Book of World Records, Dunlow collected a staggering 793 flamingo-related items to earn her official certificate, which she recently received in the mail.
Her collection includes two flamingo quilts and a 5-foot stuffed animal flamingo, but she told News 6 that her favorite item is a flamingo with a coconut head body.
"I also have a love for coconut heads," Dunlow said.
Dunlow said her calling to collect flamingos started while vacationing in South Florida in the 1960s. She explained to News 6 that flamingos reminded her of Florida.
About six years ago, Dunlow told News 6 that a customer shared a news article about the current record holder.
"It never occurred to me to go that route," Dunlow said.
At the time, Dunlow said the record holder had 619 flamingos.
"I'll let the person hold their reign for a couple years," she said.
She patiently waited and kept collecting until recently, when she swooped in and applied for the top title.
Of course, she framed it.
Dunlow said she is planning an open house to celebrate on July 13.
Find out more information about her flamingo collection.