Gwinnett Daily Post

Photo by Kristen Ralph

SNELLVILLE -- You could be holding onto Tracie Tolentino's face the next time you pull a Krystal hamburger box from a bag.

The Snellville resident's likeness will be printed on the sides of millions of boxes distributed at restaurants throughout the southeast beginning in January.

It's one of the ways the fast-food chain honors those inducted into its Krystal Lovers Hall of Fame.

Tolentino is one of 10 inductees this year selected from several thousand entries via Krystal's social media sites, e-mails and letters. She was officially inducted into the Hall of Fame at the Krystal on U.S. Highway 78 in Snellville on Dec. 19.

"To get in the Hall of Fame, you have to demonstrate passion for Krystals," said Kenny Hammontree, manager of marketing promotions for the chain. "In the case of Tracy Tolentino, (she has) a very simple story but in reading it and interacting with her, it's obvious she's passionate about Krystal and it's played a big part in her life."

As a child, Tolentino always looked forward to her weekly dance classes but not because she loved to dance. It was the stop by Krystal afterward.

"We didn't eat out often," she said of her family, "but Krystal was all I ever needed. I still love Krystal hamburgers more than anything and will be a Krystal lover for life."

Today, Tolentino is passing her love of Krystal on to her 2-year-old daughter, with whom she shares her favorite No. 1 combo -- four small, square burgers with fries and a drink.

"I loved them and she seems to like them," Tolentino said. "And it's small enough that she can hold them herself. She's very independent."