Who is Selena Quintanilla, the Tejano Singer and Subject of Netflix's New Hit Series?
Nicknamed the Queen of Tejano, Selena Quintanilla-Perez, known mononymously as Selena, was one of the most popular Latin singers in the '90s. A singer, businesswoman, fashion designer, and even model, she is now at the heart of the new Netflix show Selena: The Series which premiered last week.
Selena was born in Texas in 1971 to a Mexican-American father and mother of Mexican-American and Cherokee ancestry. Selena's Tejano (or Tex-Mex) style blended American and Mexican influences that spoke to her multi-cultural upbringing in southern Texas. Considered one of the most important figures in Latin music with more than 60 million albums sold worldwide, in addition to being the first Latin woman to achieve a gold record for her album Ven Conmigo, the singer was a worldwide media sensation until her death in 1995 at just 23 years old. L'OFFICIEL remembers Selena and the impact she had on the music industry with these five must-know facts about the late icon.
She won her first award at the age of 12
In 1984, at only 12 years old, the singer recorded her first album Mis Primeras Grabaciones, and won the distinction of Best Female Artist of the Year at the Tejano Music Awards. She went on to take home the same award for nine consecutive years. However, as she gained international recognition, the rewards continued to abound. In 1994, her album Live! was honored at the 36th Grammy Awards with the award for Best Mexican/American Album, making her the first female Tejano artist to win a Grammy.
She was a fashion icon
Her rising popularity and unique style quickly propelled her to the forefront, both musically and stylistically. Selena's wardrobe was made up of jumpsuits, rhinestone belts, and fringed biker jackets, a coveted style by '90s fashionistas. The star was then approached to create her own line of clothing, named Selena Etc., which was sold in two stores in Texas. Due to its overwhelming popularity, the line generated five million dollars in revenue.
Selena rapidly gained recognition as a fashion icon, even nicknamed the Mexican Madonna, emphasizing the avant-garde side of her wardrobe. With each appearance on stage, she dazzled the audience with her costumes. A glittering collision of Spanish inflections and modern trends, bralettes, dazzling crop tops, and flared pants quickly became her benchmarks, styles that continue to influence trends today. Celebrities such as Jennifer Lopez, Kat DeLuna, and Becky G have all accredited Selena as a fashion influence. In 2017, Kim Kardashian West made headlines for her Halloween costume as Selena, which some found to be a form of cultural appropriation.
She was an ambassador for Coca-Cola
Many celebrities have been the face of Coca-Cola, including Britney Spears, Daft Punk, and fashion designer Karl Lagerfeld. In the early '90s, Selena signed an agreement with the soda brand to run its advertising campaign in Spanish and English, in addition to being their spokesperson in Texas. The brand dedicated a limited edition bottle to her.
She didn't speak a word of Spanish at the start of her career
Wanting to raise her like an American, the star's parents educated her exclusively in English. Early in her career, the artist wanted to record her tracks in English, but her father, Abraham Quintanilla Jr., wanted a tribute to her heritage. The singer then recorded her first songs all in Spanish without actually being familiar with the language. She sang them phonetically, repeating what her father told her.
She was murdered by her biggest fan
At the peak of her career, Selena was killed by an obsessed fan. On March 31, 1995, she met with Yolanda Saldívar at the Days Inn in Corpus Christi, Texas. The two women had a working relationship as Saldívar oversaw the boutiques of Selena Etc. and was the founder and president of Selena's fan club. Prior to the murder, Saldívar was accused of embezzlement of both the stores and the fan club by the Quintanilla family, who had confronted her in early March. Saldívar met with Selena to discuss the accusations, which erupted into an argument where an armed Saldívar killed Selena as she attempted to flee. Police arrived in time to arrest Saldívar, who was later sentenced to life in prison.
