53 years ago today, the world was blessed with the birth of Selena Quintanilla-Pérez, who became an eternal icon in Latin popular music and culture. Selena paved the way for the Mexicana music explosion we’re seeing today, and Latina pop stars have followed in her footsteps. Her impact is often minimized compared to the tragic circumstances of her death. Yet her music — and the way she bridges the gap between Mexican and American identities — continues to resonate with new generations of Latine fans.
Selena Quintanilla was born on April 16, 1971 and grew up in Corpus Christi, TX. She is an Aries, a sign often described as “passionate, brave, and stubborn.” Truly in line with Mexicana music artists of the time, she paved the way for herself by proudly embracing her Chicana identity. With influences such as Whitney Houston, Janet Jackson, Jody Watley and Gloria Estefan, Selena pushed Tejano music forward and made the genre fresh and palatable to listeners beyond Texas. By the late ’80s, the singer had become a leading Tejano artist in a genre previously dominated by men. At the Tejano Music Awards, she won Best Female Vocalist and Female Entertainer of the Year for 12 consecutive years.
After conquering Texas, Selena was ready to take on the world, and she signed with Latin label EMI in 1989. From there, she released the most iconic albums of her career, including ” Ven Conmigo” in 1990, “Entre a Mi Mundo” in 1992,” and “Selena Live!” in 1993 earned her a Grammy at the 1994 ceremony. She also became the winning female Tejano artist. in the Best Mexican/American Album category.
That year, she released the last album of her life, “Amor Prohibido”. The LP yielded four number-one hits on Billboard’s Hot Latin Songs chart. Soon after, she made history as the first Tejano artist to reach the top of Billboard’s Top Latin Albums chart.
On March 31, 1995, as Selena was preparing for her first English album, she was tragically murdered by Yolanda Saldívar, a close friend of Selena’s who ran her fan club in age 23. Since then, Selena’s family, including her father and manager Abraham Quintanilla, have kept her memory alive through several posthumous projects. In July 1995, the album “Dreaming of You” was released, featuring her English classics such as the lush title track and the haunting “I Could Fall in Love With You”. After her death, Selena continued to make history with the first Latin album to debut at No. 1 on the Billboard 200 chart. In 1997, her family commissioned the biographical film “Selena,” in which stars Jennifer Lopez in the lead role. Through the adorable film, the world fell in love with Selena and saw that she was just like any other Mexican-American trying to find her place between worlds. It’s a story that still resonates with Latinos in America today.
It’s important to note that Selena’s music and image belong to her family, and they have the right to honor her legacy as they wish. In the following years, Selena’s family held memorial concerts such as Selena ¡Vive! in 2005 and the Fiesta de la Flor in Corpus Christi, where her fans could unite in her honor. There’s Selena’s Mirador de la Flor monument in Corpus Christi and then there’s a Netflix series. There are also brand deals that are loved by many Selena fans. In 2016, MAC collaborated closely on Selena’s makeup line with her sister, Suzette Quintanilla. Due to increased demand for cosmetics, MAC released its second capsule collection in 2020.
While these are great ways to give back to the fans who keep her memory alive, Selena’s family has also been criticized for cash-in moments that fans consider disrespectful to Selena. For example, in 2022, the family released the “Moonchild Mixes” remix album, in which Selena’s voice as a child was manipulated through studio technology to sound older. Amid discussions about the ethics of creating a project bearing her name in that way, Fidel Martinez of the LA Times called it a “Selena robot album”.
Thanks to the barriers Selena broke for Latin Americans, Mexican Americans, and Mexican culture, her fan base has continued to grow exponentially nearly 30 years after her death. As a Mexican American myself, I also found solace in her music as a gay man. Her songs like “Como La Flor” and “Amor Prohibido,” about forbidden romances, have become anthems for the LGBTQ+ community. While promoting “Moonchild Mixes”, I interviewed Abraham and Suzette Quintanilla. Although I was honored to speak with the family of an icon who means so much to me, I was disappointed that they seemed to brush aside my questions about Selena’s connection to her fans. her homosexuality by changing the subject of how she connects with “people”. With Selena’s music performed by drag queens and more recently on “Drag Race México,” her family could try to better understand the people who make up her fan base today .
It’s not just Selena’s family that’s been called out for exploitative projects. Back in February, Oxygen released its most disrespectful docuseries since Selena’s death, “Selena and Yolanda: The Secret Between Them.” The film tells the story of Yolanda Saldívar, the woman who managed Selena’s fan club and who murdered the singer. The show, which was not authorized by Selena’s family, attempted to justify Saldívar’s actions and it is a shame because the woman will now be eligible to apply for parole next year.
The media needs to continue to pay attention to Selena’s death, which also keeps the name of her killer relevant. Thanks to the barriers she broke for Latin Americans, Mexican Americans, and Mexican culture, her fan base has continued to grow exponentially nearly 30 years after her death. As a Mexican American myself, I also found solace in her music as a gay man. Her songs like “Como La Flor” and “Amor Prohibido,” about forbidden romances, have become anthems for the LGBTQ+ community. Selena’s music has become a staple for Latine drag queens to perform. Last year I had the pleasure of seeing “Como La Flor” perform on the first season of “Drag Race México,” which felt like a collision between my Latina, Mexican, and queer identities. Just like how she lived her life, Selena showed me how to embrace everything that makes me who I am.
To truly honor Selena, it’s time to focus on her life and legacy. Karol G recently sported a Selena shirt in the video for her Tejano-inspired song “Mi Ex Tenía Razón.” Shakira later paid homage to Selena by emulating her iconic washing machine spins in “(Entre Paréntesis)” with Texas-based band Grupo Frontera.
For Selena’s birthday this year, let’s throw parties in her honor and play her music loudly. Selena’s influence will never wane, thanks to fans who continue to find joy and inspiration from her story.
