Perth woman wins world record for collection of more than 1,000 minions
In the film small, pill-shaped characters called minions play a key role and they have since been featured in numerous sequels.
Ms Benecke was immediately charmed by the characters and quickly acquired a number of small plastic minion figurines.
"I had about 20 so I made a shadow box [display case], so they're all sitting in the shadow box," she said.
"And it just kept snowballing."
Liesl Benecke takes an item off a shelf dressed in a minions oodie. ( ABC News: Ashleigh Davis )
The shadow box Liesl Benecke made 15 years ago that started the collection. ( ABC News: Ashleigh Davis )
Her collecting intensified after a trip Singapore in 2018.
"I was there for my birthday and I spent about $400 [at Minion Land]," she said.
"I carried the lot of it home with me and it just made me really, really happy, so I kept going."
Collection still growing
At this point Ms Benecke's home is filled with minion-themed items from the living room to the bathroom and the pantry shelves.
Minion items in the pantry in Liesl Benecke's house. ( ABC News: Ashleigh Davis )
Minions in the pantry. Minions in the toilet. ( ABC News: Ashleigh Davis )
Minions in the toilet. A TV surrounded by minion plush toys and figurines. ( ABC News: Ashleigh Davis )
Minions on the TV.
Her children have grown up and moved out and Ms Benecke is still eagerly adding to her collection.
"When I do see them everywhere it puts a smile on my face," she said.
"If I'm in the shopping centre and I see them, I'll give a little squeal and I'll run and I'll go, 'Oh, minions', and I'll go and buy them and it doesn't matter how much they cost."
The collection also goes on the road with Ms Benecke.
"The back of my car is filled with about 20 plush minions so you see them all smiling at you," she said.
Liesl Benecke's car is also full of minions. ( ABC News: Ashleigh Davis )
"I sometimes take Stuart out, my giant plush — he's about a metre tall.
"I sit him in the back, I put the seatbelt on so he's safe.
"But he comes for a drive with me every now and again.
"If we're sitting at the lights and I'll put his little hand up and wave him and people laugh at me, and I just think that's spreading the joy."
Liesl Benecke's partner tattooed her with a minion. ( ABC News: Ashleigh Davis )
Ms Benecke's partner, a tattoo artist, has given her a minion tattoo on her arm.
She is known as "the minion lady" at work, where she has a number of minions on her desk.
A world record, for now
Last year she began the process of having her collection recognised by Guinness World Records and now holds a certificate proclaiming her the world record holder, with 1,035 individual official minion items in her collection.
A shelf full of minions in Liesl Benecke's collection. ( ABC News: Ashleigh Davis )
A shelf full of minions. A minion water bottle. ( ABC News: Ashleigh Davis )
A minion water bottle. Minion items in Liesl Benecke's collection. ( ABC News: Ashleigh Davis )
Wall-to-wall minions.
It was a huge process to gather the minions, then provide the evidence to Guinness World Records.
"When I lodged the application I didn't realise how involved it would be," she said.
"I had to take a photo of every single minion. I had to then do an inventory of all of them.
"Then I had to get two expert witnesses, and I had to have them here on the day of the video counting.
"Every single one had to be individually counted."
Liesl Benecke's certificate from Guinness World Records. ( ABC News: Ashleigh Davis )
To be eligible for the record, the items had to be officially licensed minion merchandise and no duplicates were allowed.
One of her expert witnesses was a woman who works at her local toy shop and had gotten to know Ms Benecke well from her regular visits to buy minion merchandise.
The record was conferred on February 16 but it has not stopped Ms Benecke collecting.
"I just recently rewarded myself for getting the record with the Swarovski crystals," she said.
"They've brought out four different minions and they're beautiful."
To celebrate winning the world record Liesl has bought a set of Swarovski crystal minions. ( ABC News: Ashleigh Davis )
She was not concerned that another collector could one day beat her record.
"I'd be happy to be joined by lots of minion lovers. That wouldn't worry me at all," she said.
"I set the record. I guess that can't be taken away from me.
"And hey, the more minions, the better."
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