Selena, the “Hispanic Marylyn Monroe”, the “people’s princess” the blazing queen of Tejano music (Texas Mexican music fusing Mexican, European and U.S. influences) was one of the most famous Latin artists and she is rightfully still celebrated to this day. 

Born on April 16th, Selena was unfortunately shot and killed on March 31st just a few days before her 24th birthday by her former fan club president Yolanda Saldivar, who is currently in jail preparing for a possibility of parole in 2025.

Born in Texas, her father noticed her amazing singing abilities from the early age of 6. Abraham Quantanilla Jr. – her father – states that “her timing, her pitch were perfect,” he “could see it from day one” (Peoples Magazine). 

Her father soon created the band Selena y Los Dinos with Selena as the lead singer before the name was changed to just Selena after being convinced by the entertainment label EMI Latin, now Capitol Latin, that she was signed to. 

At an early age Selena would sing at weddings, restaurants, Quinceañeras and street corners while touring around on their bus named “Big Bertha”. Selena would often show up to school tired due to her performances interfering with her education and though Selena’s teachers didn’t approve of her activities, she still was able to graduate from high school and went to college with business administration as a major.

While Selena is known for her powerful vocals, she would often be rejected from potential performances and told that she would never be successful because Tejano music was widely a male dominated genre. Though Selena sang in Spanish, she was born in Texas and only spoke English. She had to learn Spanish phonetically with help from her father. 

Selena’s murderer, Yolanda Saldivar, who was borderline obsessed with Selena was caught embezzling money from her and then terminated soon after that. When Selena set up a meeting with her in a hotel room to discuss the embezzlement, Saldivar then shot Selena who bled out after fleeing to the lobby leaving a trail of blood behind. She named Saldivar as her assailant and the room number that it took place in. After a nine and a half hour standoff with the police Salvidar finally gave herself up and Selena was dead on arrival at the Corpus Christi Memorial Hospital. She is now resting peacefully at Seaside Memorial Park in Corpus Christi, Texas. 

Selena’s third studio album Entre a Mi Mundo is labeled as her breakthrough album that peaked at number one on the US Billboard Regional Mexican Albums. Selena won a Grammy in 1993 for Live! as Best Mexican-American Album and of course being popular with Tejano fans, won the “Best Female Vocalist of the Year” and “Performer of the Year.” at the 1987 Tejano awards. 

Labeled as the “Mexican Madonna” Selena’s bold and sexy clothing choices were very popular even though she grew up as a Jehovah’s witness.

Though Selena is gone from the world, she is not gone from our hearts. In 1997 a movie based off of Selena’s life was released starring Jennifer Lopez who often tributes Selena as one of her greatest influences. She was also honored with a star on Hollywood’s walk of fame. April 16th is now named “Selena Day” in Texas as a reminder of the bright star that once shined.