biography of selena quintanilla in english

SELENA: (Singing in Spanish).

GARZA: My three brothers and I howled as the synthesized sounds filled our van. We wanted the station that played Depeche Mode and New Order, but she never relented.

GARZA: My brothers and I wanted to do the running man in our neon bike shorts. Our mother preferred dancing polkas and cumbias in Wranglers and ropers. Tejano music blasted at weddings, quinceaneras and fajita cookouts. It was dancing and beer-drinking music sung mostly by men - and that's why Selena stood out.

GARZA: In those early years when Selena wore her hair short and puffed-out like an atomic cloud, I thought she was as old as my mother. My mom told me Selena was a teenager who didn't even speak Spanish. I didn't quite believe either. After a while, Selena grew her hair out. She began wearing Madonna-style bustiers. Her music sprouted pop, R and B and techno flourishes. Suddenly, I could relate.

(SOUNDBITE OF SONG, "BIDI BIDI BOM BOM")

GARZA: I saw her perform at a small town festival. It was the year before she died. I spotted a red Porsche tucked between the mom-and-pop vendors selling tacos and gorditas. A friend told me the car was Selena's. We never saw cars like that along those lonely highways of South Texas. I could tell she was going places.

(SOUNDBITE OF SONG, "FOTOS Y RECUERDOS")

GARZA: It was a drizzly and overcast Friday when a student interrupted my pre-calculus class to tell us Selena had been shot. I rushed home after school to watch the news unfolding on TV. It didn't feel possible. My heart ached for Selena. (Speaking Spanish), my mother repeated. (Speaking Spanish), poor kid.

(SOUNDBITE OF SONG, "DREAMING OF YOU")

SELENA: (Singing) Late at night when all the world is sleeping.

GARZA: In death, Selena was elevated to something close to a patron saint. When I listen to Selena's music now, it's the sound of home. She showed me that I didn't have to pick between my mother's music or mine, between Spanish or English, or Latino or American culture. I could embrace it all just as she had.

SELENA: (Singing) 'Cause I'm dreaming of you tonight. Till tomorrow, I'll be holding you tight.

SIEGEL: That's commentator Cynthia Leonor Garza on her memories of the singer Selena, who was fatally shot 20 years ago today.

SELENA: (Singing) Here in my room, dreaming about you and me.

Copyright © 2015 NPR. All rights reserved. Visit our website terms of use and permissions pages at www.npr.org for further information.

NPR transcripts are created on a rush deadline by an NPR contractor. This text may not be in its final form and may be updated or revised in the future. Accuracy and availability may vary. The authoritative record of NPR’s programming is the audio record.

Spanish Mama

Teaching Spanish & Spanglish Living

Selena Quintanilla Biography and Quotes

Inside : Learn all about the famous Tejana singer with this Selena Quintanilla biography and famous quotes.

La reina de la música Tejana  — the Queen of Tejano Music– changed the landscape of American music.  She reached astonishing success in her short life, and was an inspiration to millions.

She was singer, performer, designer, and broke barriers in the music industry.

She was at once traditional and modern, a Mexican-American star who bound together both worlds in a singular way—and brought excellent Tejano music to a mainstream audience. Her untimely death splintered her rising profile and, as often happens when a bright, deeply genial star dies far too young, left many to mourn all the untapped potential. As a result, fans have been inspired over the years to dig in their heels even harder, working to ensure that her achievements will not be forgotten. – Vanity Fair

The story of Selena Quintanilla is fascinating, both to her devoted fans and those just learning about the Latina star. This post introduces her biography, as well as resources for teachers wanting to share her legacy.

Related: Famous Latinos & Hispanic Americans Home Page

Here’s an index of what’s included in the post. You can click on any link to jump straight to that section!

Contents: Quick Facts About Selena Selena Quintanilla Biography Links and Printables to Learn More Books About Selena Quintanilla for kids YouTube Videos 10 Quotes from Selena Quintanilla

Selena Quintanilla Quick Facts

Fast Facts about Selena Quintanilla Birth : April 16, 1971 Birthplace : Lake Jackson, Texas Death : March 31, 1995 Family : Chris Pérez (spouse) Education : Diploma from the American School of Correspondence in Chicago Career : Singer Famous For : Very successful career as a singer with 2 Grammys, called, the  “Queen of Tejano Music “ Solo Albums:

Selena Solo Albums: – Selena (1989) – Ven Conmigo (1990) – Entre a mi Mundo (1992) – Selena Live (1993) – Amor Prohibido (1994 – Dreaming of You (1995)

Top Selena Singles: – “Como la flor” – “Bidi Bidi Bom Bom” – “Dreaming of You” – “Amor Prohibido” – “Tú Solo Tú” – “Baila Esta Cumbia” – “No Me Queda Más” – “I Could Fall in Love”

Selena Quintanilla Biography

Selena Quintanilla was born in Texas on April 16, 1971. She was the third of three children born to Marcella and Abraham Quintanilla, and raised as Jehovah’s Witness. 

Selena’s father Abraham noticed her extraordinary talent for singing when she was still very young. He would have his children perform and Selena sing at the restaurant he managed. For the rest of her childhood, Abraham would arrange their life around making the most of Selena’s talent.

The family suffered from financial difficulties and moved to Corpus Christi after declaring bankruptcy. Abraham created a new family band, Selena y Los Dinos. Selena began singing in the band at just nine years old, accompanied by her brother Abraham (III) on the guitar and her sister Suzette on the drums. Abraham was a musician and managed the band, getting them gigs at weddings and local events or parties.

The band played música tejada, or Tex-Mex music. Selena needed to sing in Spanish, but had grown up only speaking English. Her father began to teach her to speak phonetically, so she could read and pronounce correctly even if she didn’t fully understand the words. 

The band began experiencing some success during Selena’s early teen years. They produced their first album in 1984 ( My First Recordings ). All the traveling affected her studies, however, and Selena dropped out of school in eighth grade to continue her studies by correspondence.

She earned her high school diploma at age 17, and began studying business at Pacific Western University.

Early Musical Success

Meanwhile, Selena was beginning to earn more widespread recognition. In 1987, she won top Performer of the Year and Best Female Vocalist of the Year at the Tejano Music Awards (a title she won successively for the next nine years). 

While Selena wanted to sing in English, they were releasing Spanish albums. Her success in the male-dominated genre of Tejano music surprised many people.

While performing at the Tejano Music Awards, she was spotted by José Behar from EMI Latin Records. Everything changed for Selena when she signed with the label EMI in 1989. 

What is Tejano Music?

Selena Quintanilla-Perez was known as the Queen of Tejano because she single-handedly revolutionized the genre, fusing her Mexican roots with bold new sounds. With her brother A.B. Quintanilla, who produced her biggest hits, and her band Los Dinos, they made music on their own terms, adding a hint of pop and rock to the classic cumbia, mariachi, rancheras, and tejano rhythms. – Billboard

Tejano music (or Tex-Mex ) is a style of music that originated in Texas among Mexican-American communities in the early 1900s. It’s an interesting fusion of styles: traditional Mexican norteño music, brass sounds from local German and Czech immigrants, and influences from the U.S.

Tejano music is typically characterized by its lively rhythms, accordion and bajo sexto (a type of 12-string bass guitar) melodies, and Spanish-language lyrics that often focus on themes of love, family, and community. As Selena’s career progresses, she sought to incorporate more pop and English and produce a true crossover album.

Main Career

Selena debuted her first solo album in 1989, titled  Selena . It was her first crossover albums, with three English songs on it. The album  Ven Conmigo  released in 1990. The track “Baila Esta Cumbia” became very popular. 

Selena also began dating her new guitarist Chris Pérez during this time. Though they kept their relationship secret for a while, they eventually eloped in 1999. Though Abraham Quintanilla opposed the relationship, he eventually accepted the marriage. 

Selena recorded the song “Buenos Amigos” with Álvaro Torres in 1991. This was her first single to hit number on the US  Billboard  Top Latin Songs chart, and gave her more exposure. 

The album  Entre  a  Mi Mundo  released the next year, and was her first one to top charts. She topped the US  Billboard  Regional Mexican Albums chart for eight months, was certified platinum 10 times, and was the second top-selling Mexican album at that time. 

Selena toured Mexico and garnered thousands of new fans, debuting the hit song “Como la flor.” The song hit number six of the US  Billboard  Top Latin Songs chart. Her concert in Monterrey drew a crowd of almost 100,000. 

Her 1993 album  Live!  won even more recognition, named Album of the Year by Billboard Latin Music Awards and certified gold. She won a Grammy Best Mexican American Album at the 36th Grammy Awards. 

The album  Amor Prohibido  came out in 1994 and again topped the Latin charts, becoming one of the best-selling albums in the United States. The songs “Amor Prohibido” and “No Me Queda Más” were the top Latin singles in 1994 and 1995.

“I want to be remembered not only as an entertainer but as a person who cared a lot, and I gave the best that I could. I tried to be the best role model that I possibly could.” – Selena Quintanilla

Other Ventures

Selena loved designing clothing, and usually modeled the clothing for her performances. She was called the Mexican Madonna for her signature style, a fusion of American and Mexican styles. 

In 1994, she launched her own line of clothing and opened two successful boutiques in Texas, earning millions from her designs. 

Selena also began acting, with some appearances in Mexican novelas, including Siempre en Domingo and Sábado Gigante. She also had a cameo in a 1995 film with Marlon Brando and Johnny Depp. She also appeared in a Coca-Cola poster.

End of Life

Selena’s life was tragically cut short when she was only 23 years old, by the president of Selena’s fan club.

Yolanda Saldivar was known to Selena and her family, and worked managin the fan club and the San Antonio boutique. She had secretly been embezzling funds, but asked Selena to meet in her at a hotel in Corpus Christi, Texas. When Selena confronted her about the missing money, Yolanda shot Selena in the shoulder. Selena tried to flee to the hotel lobby, but the blood loss was too great. 

Millions of fans the world around were shocked by the terrible tragedy. Major networks interrupted their programming to share the news and Selena was featured on the covers of People and The New York Times. George W. Bush– the then-governor of Texas– declared April 16th, her birthday, “Selena Day.”

Yolanda Saldívar was convicted of first-degree murder and sentenced 30 years in prison (and up for parole in 2025). 

Selena had originally signed with SBK records to fulfill her dream of an English album. It was postponed, and the English album  Dreaming of You  released after her death. It debuted at number one on the U.S. Billboard 200 and immediately sold millions of copies. It it still the best-selling album of all time in the United States. 

Billboard magazine named Selena Quintanilla the best Latina artist of all time. She was inducted into the Houston Star Trail of Fame, the Billboard Latin Music Hall of Fame, 

In 1997, Jennifer Lopez starred in the movie  Selena , a biographical tribute to the singer’s life. Netflix also released a series based on her life in 2020, called  Selena: The Series .

• 67 Tejano Music Awards
• 14 Latin Billboard Awards
• 10 Lo Nuestro Awards
• Star in the Hollywood Walk of Fame

Interesting Facts about Selena Quintanilla for Kids:

Growing up in Texas, Selena learned only English. When she began to sing for the band, her father taught her Spanish phonetically (so she could read and pronounce the words even if she didn’t know the meaning yet). She later did become fluent in Spanish!

Selena once said, “ I feel very proud to be Mexican. I didn’t have the opportunity to learn Spanish when I was a girl, but it’s never too late to get in touch with your roots. “

Printables and links to learn more

There are some great ready-to-go printable and lessons for teaching more about Roberto Clemente. Check these out:

• Free Selena Quintanilla coloring page
• An extensive activity pack with a reading passage, graphic organizers, and writing templates for elementary students.
• Printable Selena worksheet for young Spanish learners on TpT
• Comprehension questions in Spanish to go with the video Selena from Draw My Life (video is 4min. 15s).
• Short elementary reading passage about Selena in English.
• A reading passage about the woman who killed Selena Quintanilla, in English. I am not sure if this is something you will want to investigate with your high school students or not, but here is the link.

More resources for learning about Selena Quintanilla:

Books FOR kids to adults

These links are affiliate links.

• Here is a PDF lesson plan to go with the book “ Queen of Tejano Music: Selena .”

Videos About Selena Quintanilla

First, to get to know Selena, you have to see her perform and hear one of her most famous songs:

A short Selena Quintanilla biography in English (2min 43s):

A 12-minute biography in Spanish:

This bio in Spanish might be more comprehensible to Spanish students (5min. 34s):

10 Famous Selena Quintanilla Quotes

Here are some Selena Quintanilla quotes that give us a peek into how she thought about herself, her music, and her family.

1. “We went through a hard time, and we had to turn to music as a means to putting food on the table. And we’ve been doing it ever since. No regrets, either.”

– Selena Quintanilla

2. “I’m very real, very sincere, and honest, and that’s how I’ll always be.”

3. “Tejano music was hard for us because I was a girl. My dad had a lot of problems while trying to set up shows for us or presentations because there are a lot of men who don’t think that women can get the attention of the public. But… wrong!”

4. “I don’t feel pressure because I’m not trying to portray something that I’m not.”

5. “The reason I’m really appreciative of everything that’s going on around me is because of the fact that I never expected it, and I want to keep that attitude.”

6. “If you have a dream, don’t let anybody take it away.”

7. “Music is not a very stable business, you know, he comes, and he goes, so does money. But your education stays with you for the rest of your life.”

8. “The family that plays together stays together.”

9. “We got laughed at. My father was told that we would never make it. It’s gradual, a growing process. It’s not like it came overnight.”

10. “Anybody can be a role model. Anybody can.”

I hope these ideas and resources were helpful to you! If you have more ideas for Selena Quintanilla lessons, let me know in the comments below!

Image Sources:

“ Selena_Quintanilla ” ( CC BY 2.0 ) by  davi151098

“ Selena ” ( CC BY-ND 2.0 ) by  hellboy_93

“ Selena Quintanilla (1994) ” ( CC BY 2.0 ) by  davi151098

“ Selena at Alamo Candy ” ( CC BY-NC 2.0 ) by  NoNo Joe

“ Selena Quintanilla ” ( CC BY 2.0 ) by  davi151098

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Selena Quintanilla

Selena Quintanilla   Biography

Selena Quintanilla Pérez was an American singer. Her music used to have a Texan rhythm and it was quite successful. She was born on April 16 of 1971 in Lake Jackson, Texas. Although she was born in the United States and her first language was English, she always sang in Spanish.

Selena grew up in a loving and happy family, with Hispanic origin. Selena’s father, Abraham Quintanilla, was also a musician, although he did not have as much recognition as his daughter. When Selena’s family realized that how talented she was, they did everything possible so that she would take advantage and develop her gifts.

Once her family discovered how gifted was her, Selena began to perform at her father’s restaurant with the support of her brothers. The group she formed with her brothers was known as Selena and the Dinos. The children reached recognition after they recorded their first single in 1984, called My first recordings.

After the release of their album, they continued participating in different shows and performing in many places. This is how 1989 arrives and with it their great opportunity. Behar, the president of the newly founded record company, EMI, goes out looking for new talent to incorporate into his company and observes them in one of his presentations. José Behar sees the talent and potential of Selena and offers her work.

In the same year she released her first studio album, Selena (1989) and after that the adolescent would bring out new works relatively often: Ven conmigo (1990), Entre a mi mundo (1992), Selena Live (1993), Live (1993) and Amor Prohibido (1994).

Her most usual costume for the stages were tops, in the style of Madonna.

In 1993, her album “Live” allowed her to obtain a Grammy for best Mexican-American music album.

Her next record, “Amor prohibido”, was the most successful. It included several songs that had great acceptance by the public as: “Bidi Bidi Bom Bom”, “No me queda mas” and her duo with Samo singing “Forbidden Love”, the English version of “Amor prohibido”.

The success of Selena was such that she led the lists of the Tejano music, even though it was a genre and a culture typically “macho”. She also managed to be in the first position in the Mexican music, although the Texan music was not very popular in that area.

In 1995, her album, “Dreaming of You” sold more than two million copies. That same year she performed a gigantic concert in Houston, Texas.

Also, two of her songs (“I Could Fall in Love” and “Forbidden Love”) became international hits.

Unfortunately, the story of Selena Quintanilla ended up in a tragedy when on March 31 of 1995, Yolanda Saldívar, president of Selena’s fan club, shot her in the back for financial reasons. Both, Yolanda and Selena had known each other for quite a while and Yolanda worked for Selena’s father in one of his stores. When the family realized that Yolanda was swindling them, the singer went to meet her to clarify the situation and Yolanda Saldívar murdered her.

In October 1995 Yolanda Saldivar was officially convicted of first-degree murder and sentenced to life imprisonment with the possibility of obtaining parole by 2025.

Three days later, on April 3rd Selena’s funerals were held. A week after her murder, People Texas magazine had her on its cover for a week. Besides that, they took out an edition dedicated to her.

As if that was not enough proof of the importance of Selena. On April 12 of 1995, George W. Bush, who at that time was governor of Texas, declared that the anniversary of Selena’s birthday, which was, April 16, would become the “Selena Day” in the state. Bush, explained his decision saying that she represented “the essence of the culture of South Texas”

Many famous artists, especially from the music industry have participated in tributes to her memory. For instance, Talía, Gloria Estefan and Carlos Vives. Also, in 1997, Jennifer Lopez, Edward James Olmos and Constance Marie acted in a film that tells the life of the young artist. The movie was called “Selena” and was directed by Gregory Nava. It featured the production of Selena’s father, Abraham Quintanilla.

As of her death, several compilations of her work have been published as: “Dreaming of You” (1995), “Éxitos del Recuerdo” (1995), “Siempre Selena” (1996), “Anthology” (1998), “Cumbias” (1999), “All My Hits, Vol. 1” (1999), “All My Hits, Vol. 2” (2000), “Selena Remembered” (2005), “The Legend” (2005), “Selena Live!” (2010) and “The Best Of … Selena” (2015).

Additionally, an English album on which she had been working at the time of her death went on sale, as well as other versions of her songs.

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Nicola porcella.

Nicola Porcella Biography

Nicola Emilio Porcella Solimano (February 5, 1988), better known as Nicola Porcella, is an actor and TV personality born in Lima, Peru. He is known for his controversies and for his appearances in various reality shows, including “La Casa de Los Famosos Mexico”.

Early years

Nicola Porcella is a renowned Peruvian television personality and actor. He is the youngest son of Francesco Porcella and Fiorella Solimano. His family has Italian roots and he has two older siblings.

He attended primary school at Colegio Carmelitas . Later, during his secondary studies, the family moved to Argentina for a period of time. In this country, Nicola began training in football. Upon returning to his homeland a few years later, he resumed his studies at Colegio Agnus Dei .

Nicola Porcella studied law, communications, hotel management, international business administration, and aviation, but only completed the latter . In order to obtain his pilot’s license, he had to fulfill certain requirements and flight hours, but he did not do so.

Before jumping into television fame, Nicola tried his luck with the sport he trained for. He began his football career in the youth division of Circolo Sportivo Italiano , winning youth tournaments. In 2006, he made his professional debut at FBC Melgar . Later, he joined Deportivo Municipal in 2008 and Sport Boys in 2010. Despite his talent, he decided to retire from football in 2010 to work as a cabin crew member. His image became popular in media campaigns for the chalaco team, of which he is a fan. Afterward, he ventured into aviation as a pilot and later into television.

Nicola began his career as a model and later ventured into television. His first television appearance was in a cameo role in the series “Así Es La Vida” in 2006. His participation in “Combate”, a sports competition show between teams, allowed him to gain popularity and be recognized by the youth audience. Later, his success continued with his participation in “Esto Es Guerra”, another competition show where participants face physical and mental challenges. He was the first contestant to win the program, achieving this feat alongside the participant and former romantic partner, Angie Arizaga.

Throughout his television career, Nicola Porcella has been a controversial figure due to various controversies that have arisen in his personal and professional life. However, he has also been one of the most recognized faces on Peruvian television and has amassed a large number of followers and fans.

In 2013, he had a guest appearance in the miniseries “Vacaciones en Grecia”. The following year, in 2014, he was part of the Peruvian version of “Are You Smarter Than a 5th Grader?” and also appeared in “The Choice”. He also joined as a co-host on the show “Estás En Todas” in 2014, and later became a permanent presenter in 2017.

In 2015, Nicola made a special appearance in the telenovela “Ven, Baila, Quinceañera” and took the opportunity to receive acting classes. That same year, he had his debut as a presenter on the reality show “Esto Es Guerra Teens”. A year later, alongside Rafael Cardozo, he was part of the program “El Búnker”, where he continued participating until 2018.

In 2018, he joined the cast of the telenovela “Te Volveré A Encontrar” as Nicolás Valdemar. The following year, Porcella changed channels after being with the television network América for seven years. In this new channel, he participated in hosting the program “Todo Por Amor”, alongside Karina Rivera. Subsequently, Nicola traveled to Mexico to take part in the reality show “Guerreros” by Televisa, where he stood out with a 54% victory rate in the challenges and was among the top 10 contestants of the first season.

In 2021, he led the Peruvian delegation in the confrontation against a similar program from Puerto Rico in “Esto Es Guerra”, but his team lost. He also resumed hosting duties on “El Show De Los Sábados” and participated in the second season of “Guerreros”. In September, he joined the team of the Mexican reality show to face the Peruvian counterpart and ultimately emerged victorious. Afterwards, he returned to acting for the Mexican network and took part in the third season of “Reto 4 Elementos”. Additionally, he started hosting a talk show on YouTube featuring personalities from the Peruvian and international entertainment industry.

In February 2023, Nicola Porcella received an invitation to participate in the renowned reality show “La Casa De Los Famosos México”. The program is broadcasted on TelevisaUnivision and EndemolShine Boomdog channels, including Las Estrellas, Canal 5, and the streaming service Vix . During his stay in the show, rumors of a possible relationship with Wendy Guevara emerged, although, up to this point, they have only shown a friendship with great chemistry.

The Peruvian was the first finalist of the famous reality show, “La Casa de Los Famosos México”.

Personal life

The love life of the celebrity has been a subject of curiosity for many people. He had a relationship with Francesca Lazo, a professional makeup artist and influencer, with whom he has a son named Adriano Porcella Lazo.

He has also been romantically linked to Angie Arizaga, Romina Lozano, and Ale Campaña. During his participation in a reality show, he was linked with his fellow contestant Catherine Civerio.

Currently, Nicola Porcella appears to be single. During his time on “La Casa de Los Famosos México”, he openly declared himself pansexual.

Controversies

Nicola Porcella has been the subject of public criticism due to his questionable behavior and controversial actions.

Horror Party

In 2019, Nicola was involved in a media scandal during a party in the district of Asia, in the southern part of the Lima department. It was said that two celebrities, Claudia Meza and Paula Ávila, were drugged and apparently abused. Both of them filed complaints.

Claudia Meza, former beauty queen, stated that after trying a drink that was offered to her, she felt sick and passed out. Upon waking up, she saw Nicola, Daniela, and Paula Ávila beside her.

Paula Ávila also gave her testimony to the press, stating that she was drugged without her consent with amphetamines. The following day, she underwent a toxicological examination that confirmed the consumption of amphetamines.

As a consequence of these events, Nicola was removed from the reality show “Esto Es Guerra” and the program “Estás En Todas”. Later, he attended the program “El Valor De La Verdad” to deny his involvement in the incidents. Months later, he resumed his work on the programs but filed a defamation lawsuit against the presenter Magaly Medina, which he eventually won. However, the verdict in his favor was overturned in 2021. The lawsuit also affected his participation in the reality show, but after resolving the conflict, he was able to return in 2016.

Angie Arizaga

The relationship between Nicola and his reality show partner, Angie Arizaga, was highly controversial due to the problematic attitudes of the Peruvian. The situation became public after a friend of Angie leaked a call where she confessed that Nicola had allegedly physically assaulted her and even attempted to strangle her.

Later on, a video surfaced in which Nicola was addressing Arizaga in a rude manner. Initially, she denied the abuse and tried to justify it as a relationship matter, but later changed her stance and claimed to be a victim of mistreatment. After several conflicting statements, Angie once again denied the mistreatment. Subsequently, Nicola accepted an invitation to participate in the show “El Valor De La Verdad”, where he publicly admitted to having engaged in verbal abuse.

In 2018, the couple decided to end their romance amicably, as stated by the model. Three years later, Nicola publicly apologized for the incident involving Angie on the program “La Academia: Desafío Y Fama”. Since then, he has chosen to stay away from Peruvian television.

Filmography

Projects that Nicola Porcella was a part of:

• “Así Es La Vida” (2006).
• “Vacaciones En Grecia” (2013).
• “Al Fondo Hay Sitio” (2013).
• “Ven, Baila, Quinceañera” (2015-2018).
• “Los Vílchez” (2019).
• “Te Volveré A Encontrar” (2020).

Reality shows

• “Very Verano” (2011).
• “Canta Si Puedes” (2011).
• “Combate” (2011).
• “Esto Es Guerra” (2012-2016).
• “Esto Es Guerra De Verano” (2013/2017).
• “Minuto Para Ganar VIP” (2013).
• “Esto Es Guerra: Apertura” (2014).
• “¿Sabes Más Que Un Niño De Primaria?” (2014).
• “Esto Es Guerra: Clausura” (2014).
• “Gisela, El Gran Show” (2014).
• “Fase Final” (2014).
• “Estás En Todas” (2014/2016/2017-2019).
• “Esto Es Guerra Teens” (2015).
• “EEG: El Origen De La Lucha” (2016).
• “EEG: La Revancha” (2016).
• “EEG: Pretemporada” (2017).
• “EEG: De Regreso Al Origen” (2017).
• “EEG: El Gran Juego” (2018).
• “Mi Mamá Cocina Mejor Que La Tuya” (2018).
• “EEG: El Gran Clásico” (2018).
• “EEG: La Lucha Por El Honor” (2019).
• “El Valor De La Verdad” (2019).
• “EEG: El Gran Clásico” (2019).
• “Todo Por Amor” (2020).
• “Guerreros 2020” (2020).
• “Guerreros 2021” (2021).
• “Guerreros, Esto Es Guerra: Perú Vs. Puerto Rico” (2021).
• “Guerra México Vs. Perú” (2021).
• “El Show De Los Sábados” (2021).
• “Reto 4 Elementos: Naturaleza Extrema” (2022).
• “La Casa De Los Famosos México” (2023).

Wendy Guevara

Wendy Guevara Biography

Wendy Guevara Venegas (August 12, 1993), better known as Wendy Guevara , is an influencer, actress, singer, and entrepreneur, hailing from León de Los Aldama, Guanajuato, Mexico. She is famous and widely recognized for being a member of the group “Las Perdidas” due to a viralized video.

Wendy Guevara is a talented Mexican influencer, actress, singer, and entrepreneur, identified as a transgender woman. She is the daughter of Francisco Guevara and Fabiola Venegas Vázquez. At birth, she was named and baptized with the name Luis Carmen Guevara Venegas . She has three siblings.

Despite coming from a humble and hardworking family, Wendy had to face the dysfunction caused by her father’s addictions. During her childhood, she spent a lot of time on the streets, and her older sister became a mother figure to her, providing care and protection.

Her family was involved in the footwear industry, dedicated to the creation and manufacturing of shoes. Over time, Wendy also worked in the family business. However, later on, she was forced to engage in prostitution for a few years in Mexico City.

Rise to fame

Towards the end of the penultimate quarter of 2017, Wendy Guevara found herself on a hill in the city, accompanied by her friend Paola Suárez, who is now a renowned influencer. At that moment, they were enjoying a romantic encounter with two men while drinking, well aware that drinking in public could attract the attention of the police. As their companions went out to buy more beers, Wendy and Paola took the opportunity to record a fun video in which they shouted to the wind, “¡Estamos perdidas!” (We’re lost!) and the other echoed back, “Perdidas, perdidas” (Lost, lost). Paola shared the video on her Facebook account, generating great amusement among internet users, who began to share it massively. This video became the turning point that propelled both content creators to fame.

Shortly after, the two young women were invited to the MTV Millennial Awards to receive recognition for their viral internet videos. Since Paola lived in Mexico City, Wendy made the decision to start sharing content on YouTube and asked her friend Kimberly Irene to join her in creating videos.

Credits: Facebook Paola Suarez

After their video went viral, Wendy, Paola, and Kimberly embarked on an exciting artistic project called “Las Perdidas” (The Lost Girls). These talented creators of audiovisual content share their videos on the YouTube platform and have also had the opportunity to participate in various television programs and other platforms. In 2019, Wendy and Paola made their television debut by being part of a virtual special for the popular telenovela “Doña Flor Y Sus Dos Maridos”, produced by Televisa. As their content has grown, they have added more people to their group of friends, forming what is now known as “El Clan de Las Perdidas” (The Clan of The Lost Girls).

In 2021, Guevara began her career in the music industry, introducing a series of promotional singles. These include “Mua”, “Hey Perra”, “Hasta Que Salga El Sol”, “Putssy” in collaboration with the talented drag queen singer Trixy Star, as well as “Las Bebas Trans” and “Tu Malandrito” in collaboration with Pol Prince.

During 2022, Wendy and her group of influencer friends had the opportunity to collaborate with the renowned journalist Adela Micha on the show “La Saga”. Shortly after, the trio thrilled their followers by confirming their participation in the biographical television series “Ellas Soy Yo”, which is based on the life of the talented singer Gloria Trevi.

After releasing her promotional single “TAPU” in February 2023, Wendy received an invitation to participate in the renowned reality show “La Casa De Los Famosos Mexico” , which was broadcasted on the TelevisaUnivision and EndemolShine Boomdog channels, including Las Estrellas, Canal 5, and the streaming service Vix . During her stay on the show, rumors of a potential relationship with Nicola Porcella surfaced, although up to that point, they had only displayed a friendship with great chemistry.

Finally, on August 13, 2023, Wendy Guevara emerged as the winner of the program , achieving a milestone by becoming the first transgender woman to win a reality show in Mexico. Her victory became etched in the country’s history and in the hearts of her followers.

Since childhood, before beginning her transition, Wendy faced episodes of violence from her father and older brother. Francisco Guevara did not accept his child playing with dolls, and her older brother used to report her, leading to physical abuse towards Wendy as a consequence. As Wendy grew older, her older brother also began facing ridicule and harassment due to his childhood appearance, which resulted in him perpetuating violence against Wendy as well. Nowadays, the influencer shares this period of her life with sadness and reflects that at some point, her older brother might have felt ashamed of her.

During her adolescence, when Guevara began questioning her sexual orientation, preferences, and gender identity, she had the opportunity to see trans actresses and celebrities on television who excelled in the industry. One of these inspiring figures was the renowned actress Alejandra Bogue, who was one of the first women to motivate Wendy to embrace her true identity and define herself as a transgender woman.

In that process, the content creator received support from her neighbor Lucero, a transgender woman who owns a hair salon in their neighborhood. The generous lady Lucero opened the doors of her business to several young people in the area so they could get themselves done there. At first, Wendy identified herself as Vianney , but it was her neighbor who suggested another name and baptized her as “Wendy”, in honor of the character played by Angélica Vale in the telenovela “Amigas y Rivales”, named Wendy Nayeli .

Currently, Wendy Guevara is in a period of being single , fully enjoying her life and her growing fame.

Her experience in prison

Wendy experienced a period of 48 days of confinement in the holding cells of León, Guanajuato, for engaging in prostitution. It is important to mention that prostitution is prohibited in that state of Mexico. Unfortunately, during her time in the holding cells, she went through extremely difficult situations that nobody should ever experience.

Victim of various abuses

From an early age, Wendy went through multiple challenges. She had to confront a dysfunctional family dynamic, marked by her father’s alcoholism and drug addiction. At the same time, she dealt with doubts and insecurities related to her sexuality and gender identity.

Sister’s mate

Unfortunately, at the age of seven, she became a victim of sexual abuse by a stranger. Subsequently, it was discovered that the perpetrator was a companion of her older sister. This tragic event took place during the holiday season while Wendy was spending time with her cousins, taking part in the creation of lanterns and bonfires. The young girl mentioned that at that moment, she felt fear and couldn’t do anything to defend herself. Sadly, the incident was only halted belatedly due to the brave intervention of her cousin, who quickly informed her aunts and other family members. Aware of the seriousness of the situation, they immediately alerted the authorities, leading to the arrest of the aggressor and his subsequent prosecution.

Sadly, this incident left a profound mark on Wendy’s life. In a revealing interview, she confessed that she continued experiencing nocturnal enuresis until the age of 14 as a direct result of the trauma she had lived through. However, thanks to the psychological support she received, the influencer was able to address and, with time, process what had happened. The therapeutic process allowed her to heal and gradually come to terms with the traumatic events she had faced.

A relative of her cousins

At the age of twelve, she was a victim of a cousin’s relative, who was already older at that time, and he asked her to touch him inappropriately for a minor. Unfortunately, she didn’t talk about this event when she was young. She exposed it now that she is recognized to alert her followers and parents, urging them to take care of and supervise children’s childhood, and to try to preserve their innocence.

Amidst a distressing escape from a man determined to attack her with a machete, fate led Wendy to a busy Oaxacan taco stand. Desperate to find help, she approached the manager of the place, who kindly provided her refuge in his van. However, behind the façade of kindness, a dark and terrifying secret was concealed: the manager took advantage of Wendy’s vulnerable situation to commit a disgusting act, touching her inappropriately without her consent.

Police officer

During her time in jail, in the detention cells, a police officer would pretend to conduct an inspection in a room. He would call a group of women and have them go individually into the room, where he would abuse them. Unfortunately, Wendy was also a victim of this man, who forced each inmate to perform oral sexual acts.

Discography

Musical Works by Wendy Guevara:

• “Hey Perra”.
• “Hasta Que Salga el Sol”.
• “Putssy”, junto a Trixy Star.
• “Tu Malandrito”, junto a Pol Prince.

Projects on the screen in which Wendy Guevara has participated:

• “Doña Flor y Sus Dos Maridos” (2019).
• “La Saga” (2022).
• “Gloria Trevi: Ellas Soy Yo ” (2023).
• “La Casa de Los Famosos México ” (2023).

Paris Hilton Biography

Paris Whitney Hilton (February 17, 1981), better known as Paris Hilton , is a socialite, businesswoman, model, DJ, designer, and singer, born in New York, United States. She is one of the most famous heiresses on an international level and a prominent icon of American culture.

Paris Hilton is a prominent American celebrity, being the firstborn child of Richard Hilton and Kathy Avanzino. Her ancestry is an interesting blend of origins, including German, Italian, Irish, English, and Norwegian roots. It is no coincidence that she inherits her lineage of success, as she is the great-granddaughter of Conrad Hilton, the hotel magnate and founder of the famous Hilton hotel chain.

She grew up in an affluent family, enjoying a life filled with luxury and comforts from an early age. Paris is the eldest of four siblings, among whom are Nicky Hilton, Barron Nicholas Hilton, and Conrad Hughes Hilton.

Due to her nomadic life, Paris Hilton lived in various places, which gave her the opportunity to attend different schools and meet a wide variety of people. During her childhood and youth, she established strong friendships with other young celebrities from high society, among them, Kim Kardashian and Nicole Richie.

She attended her freshman year of high school at Marywood-Palm Valley School in Rancho Mirage, California. Later, she had a brief stint at the Sacred Heart Convent alongside Lady Gaga . She continued her sophomore and penultimate year at Dwight School in New York. After that, she was transferred to Canterbury Boarding School in New Milford, Connecticut, where she was part of the hockey team. However, she was expelled in early 1999 for violating the rules.

Although Paris Hilton initially rose to fame due to her family lineage, her presence in pop culture became prominent in the late 1990s and early 2000s, thanks to her media appearances and extravagant lifestyle. Her professional career took off when she starred in the reality show “The Simple Life” alongside her friend Nicole Richie , which aired from 2003 to 2007. In the show, both of them experienced comedic and challenging situations, working in various jobs far from their privileged environment, generating a massive fan following and further elevating their popularity.

Making use of her growing fame, Paris Hilton ventured into the world of music and released her debut album in 2006, titled “Paris”. The album included singles like “Stars Are Blind”. Although it didn’t achieve dazzling success, this foray allowed her to explore her musical side.

Throughout her career, Paris Hilton has made notable appearances in various films, among which “Wonderland” and “The Cat in the Hat” stand out. In March 2008, it was announced that Paris would be the star of a new MTV show titled “Paris Hilton’s My New BFF”, where she would embark on a quest to find a new best friend. The series eventually premiered on September 30 of the same year.

Paris Hilton landed supporting roles in movies like “Nine Lives,” “Raising Helen,” “The Hillz,” and “House of Wax”. However, it was her portrayal of Paige Edwards in “House of Wax” that earned her the Teen Choice Award for Best Scream and a nomination for Choice Female Hottie.

Additionally, Paris Hilton portrayed Amber Sweet , the daughter of a magnate, in the musical “Repo! The Genetic Opera” . Her performance in the film, where she showcases both her vocal and acting abilities, has been well-received by critics. Interestingly, the movie’s director, Darren Lynn Bousman, had initially rejected the idea of casting Hilton for the role of Amber Sweet . However, in an interview, Bousman revealed that Paris was so determined to get the part that she carried the script with her while serving time in a Los Angeles prison , using that time to perfect her character. Her dedication and effort were remarkable, and she ultimately impressed the team with her performance.

Despite her fame in other fields, Paris Hilton’s true professional career has been focused on the world of business. She has achieved significant success with the launch of several lines of perfumes , which have generated considerably high revenues. Her fragrance product brand has been especially successful, reaching million-dollar sales and establishing her as a prominent figure in this lucrative market.

In addition to her successful acting career, Paris Hilton has left her mark in numerous advertising campaigns and has been a model for various fashion brands, solidifying her image as an icon of style and glamour. Furthermore, Paris has demonstrated her talent in the fashion world with her own clothing and accessory line. But her skills don’t stop there; she has also ventured into the hotel business and successfully opened several hotels under the prestigious “Paris Hilton” brand in different parts of the world.

In 2019, Paris Hilton continued to solidify her success and versatility in the world of entertainment and fashion. In the music scene, she released the single “Best Friend’s Ass” in collaboration with Dimitri Vegas & Like Mike, and the music video featured prominent social media personalities, including Kim Kardashian. Similarly, Hilton showcased her entrepreneurial skills by partnering with and investing in The Glam App , an on-demand beauty platform, thereby expanding her influence in the fashion and beauty industry. Her presence in runway shows for renowned designers like The Blonds and Christian Cowan reaffirmed her relevance on the catwalk and her prominent position in the fashion world.

In 2020, Paris Hilton starred in the impactful documentary “This Is Paris”, where her traumatic past was revealed, receiving a warm reception from the audience. She also ventured into the world of podcasts with her shows “I am Paris” and “Trapped In Treatment”. Additionally, Hilton participated in reality shows such as “ Cooking with Paris” and “Paris in Love”, receiving recognition and awards for her outstanding performance in these projects.

In the year 2022, Paris Hilton continued to expand her presence in the fashion and music worlds, further solidifying her position in both industries. She also delved into the editorial realm by releasing her memoirs, sharing intimate details and significant experiences from her life. But her ambition didn’t stop there, as she also ventured into the film industry, starring in a horror movie titled “Alone At Night”, which premiered in January 2023.

Throughout her life, the socialite has had various romantic relationships and has been engaged several times. Among her fiancés are the model Jason Shaw and the heir Paris Latsis. However, it was with Carter Reum that she finally got married and started a family.

On January 24, 2023, Paris Hilton excitedly announced the birth of her firstborn, whom they affectionately named Phoenix. The baby was brought into the world through a surrogacy process, and the news was joyfully shared on social media.

  Ver esta publicación en Instagram   Una publicación compartida por Paris Hilton (@parishilton)

The celebrity is widely recognized for her passion for animals, but what piques people’s curiosity the most is her devotion to dogs. Paris Hilton is a devoted lover of Pomeranians and Chihuahuas. In fact, she has had an extravagant house built, valued at $325,000, exclusively for her beloved pets. Surprisingly, this luxurious abode is an exact replica of her own mansion in Bel Air.

On different occasions, she has experienced the loss of some of her dogs. During those times, the socialite has hired mediums, private detectives, and even used drones to locate them. Furthermore, she has been known to offer generous rewards of up to $10,000 to recover her beloved pets.

In April 2023, Paris Hilton shared through a statement on her social media the sad passing of her dear companion, Harajuku Bitch , who had been by her side for 23 years.

Intimate video of Paris Hilton

By the year 2003, an intimate video of Paris Hilton engaging in sexual relations with her then-boyfriend Rick Salomon was leaked. Salomon sued the company that leaked the video and the Hilton family, accusing them of damaging his reputation. Hilton also sued the company that released the tape for invasion of privacy. In April 2004, Salomon distributed the tape under the title “1 Night in Paris” through the movie company Red Light District Video . Eventually, in that same year, Salomon and Red Light District Video stated that they would pay Paris $400,000 plus a percentage of the profits from the tape’s sales. Years later, the famous heiress claimed that she never made any money from the video.

Visual projects in which Paris Hilton participated:

• “Wishman” (1992).
• “Sweetie Pie” (2000).
• “Zoolander” (2001).
• “Nine Lives” (2002).
• “L.A. Knights” (2003).
• “Wonderland” (2003).
• “The Cat in the Hat” (2003).
• “Win a Date with Tad Hamilton!” (2004).
• “The Hillz” (2004).
• “Raising Helen” (2004).
• “House of Wax” (2005).
• “Bottoms Up” (2006).
• “National Lampoon’s Pledge This!” (2006).
• “The Hottie and the Nottie” (2008).
• “Repo! The Genetic Opera” (2008).
• “An American Carol” (2008).
• “Paris, Not France” (2008).
• “My Name is Earl” (2009).
• “Rex” (2009).
• “Teenage Paparazzo” (2010).
• “The Dog Who Saved Christmas Vacation” (2010).
• “The Bling Ring” (2013).
• “The American Meme” (2018).
• “This Is Paris” (2020).
• “Alone At Night” (2023).
• “The Simple Life” (2003–2007).
• “Las Vegas” (2004).
• “George Lopez” (2004).
• “The O.C.” (2004).
• “Veronica Mars” (2004).
• “American Dreams” (2005).
•  “Paris Hilton’s My New BFF” (2008–2009).
• “Pedal to the Metal” (2009).
• “Supernatural” (2009).
• “The World According to Paris” (2011).
• “Hollywood Love Story” (2018).
• “Cooking with Paris” (2021).
• “Paris in Love” (2021–Present).

Musical works of Paris Hilton:

“Paris” (2006):

• Turn It Up.
• Fightin’ Over Me.
• Stars Are Blind.
• I Want You.
• Nothing in This World.
• Not Leaving Without You.
• Turn You On.
• Do Ya Think I’m Sexy.

Bibliography

Books written by Paris Hilton:

• “Confessions of an Heiress: A Tongue-in-Chic Peek Behind the Pose” (2004).
• “Your Heiress Diary: Confess It All to Me” (2005).
• “Paris: The Memoir” (2023).

Leonardo DiCaprio

Biography of Leonardo DiCaprio

Leonardo Wilhelm DiCaprio is a renowned actor and film producer who has won numerous awards within the film industry . He was born on November 11, 1974, in Hollywood, Los Angeles, California, United States.

DiCaprio is an only child of Irmelin Indenbirken, a secretary born in Germany, and George DiCaprio, an underground comic artist and producer/distributor of comics. On his father’s side, he has half-Italian (from Naples) and half-German (from Bavaria) ancestry. On the other hand, on his mother’s side, his grandfather Wilhelm Indenbirken was German and his grandmother Helene Indenbirken was a German citizen born in Russia under the name Yelena Smirnova.

He was named Leonardo because, while his pregnant mother was looking closely at a painting by the great artist Leonardo da Vinci in a museum, DiCaprio gave a strong kick inside her belly. His parents divorced when he was only one year old, and they shared custody of Leonardo until 1997.

Studies, beginnings in acting.

As for his education, he did not attend university and only took basic courses at John Marshall High School in Los Angeles. His career in the world of image and acting began when he followed his older stepbrother, Adam Farrar, in television advertising, starring in a commercial for the Matchbox car brand at the age of fourteen and subsequently participating in educational films. At the age of five, he was also part of the children’s television series “Romper Room”, but had to leave it as it was detrimental to him.

“1990 – 1991: Debut in television and cinema”

In 1990, he made his true television debut when he was cast to be a part of the “Parenthood” ensemble, a series based on the film of the same name. He then landed minor roles in several series, including “The New Lassie” and “Roseanne,” as well as a brief part in “Santa Barbara.” His work in “Parenthood” and “Santa Barbara” earned him a nomination for the Young Artist Award for Best Young Actor. His big screen debut came in 1991 with the science fiction and horror movie “Critters.” Later on, he became a recurring member of the cast of the ABC sitcom “Growing Pains,” playing Luke Brower. However, DiCaprio didn’t achieve success in the film industry until 1992, when he was selected by Robert De Niro from among 400 young actors for the lead role in “This Boy’s Life,” which also starred Ellen Barkin and De Niro himself.

1993 – 1996

Later, in 1993, DiCaprio played the mentally disabled younger brother of Johnny Depp in “What’s Eating Gilbert Grape.” The film’s director, Lasse Hallström, admitted that he initially sought a less attractive actor, but he decided on DiCaprio because he had become “the most observant actor” among all who auditioned. The film was a great financial and critical success, resulting in Leonardo being highly praised for his performance, which led to him being awarded the National Board of Review for Best Supporting Actor and nominated for an Academy Award and a Golden Globe . Subsequently, he had roles in films such as “The Quick and the Dead” (1995) and was one of the leads in “Romeo + Juliet” (1996).

But his big break came with director James Cameron, who offered him the lead male role in Titanic (1997), a movie that not only won a considerable number of Academy Awards but also became a social phenomenon . Afterwards, DiCaprio gained greater acceptance in the cinematic world, so he was part of numerous films such as:

• The Man in the Iron Mask (1998)
• The Beach (2000)
• Catch Me If You Can (2002)
• The Aviator (2004)
• The Assassination of Richard Nixon (2004)
• Blood Diamond (2006)
• Gardener of Eden (2007)
• Body of Lies (2008)
• Orphan (2009, as producer)
• Shutter Island (2010)
• Inception (2010)
• Django Unchained (2012)
• The Great Gatsby (2013)
• Runner Runner (2013)
• The Wolf of Wall Street (2013)
• The Revenant (2015)
• The Audition (2015).

Curiosities

Interestingly, he was nominated for an Oscar five times: Best Supporting Actor for What’s Eating Gilbert Grape, Best Actor for The Aviator, Blood Diamond and The Wolf of Wall Street. This generated a lot of jokes and talk of a supposed “curse” in Hollywood. But in 2015, he finally won the award thanks to his great performance in “The Revenant”.

It should also be noted that DiCaprio is a committed environmentalist who has received praise from environmental groups for choosing to fly on commercial flights instead of private planes like most celebrities, and for driving an electric hybrid vehicle and having solar panels in his home.

Denzel Washington

Biography of Denzel Washington

Denzel Washington is an African American actor born on December 28, 1954 in Mount Vernon, New York, United States. His father was a Pentecostal minister and his mother, belonging to the Baptist Church, owned a beauty salon. Upon graduating from school, he initially thought about studying medicine but later decided to study journalism at Fordham University. During his time as a counselor at a summer camp, he decided to participate in a theatrical production, and from then on, he began to develop a passion for acting. Upon his return, he began taking acting classes with Professor Robinson Stone.

Debut as an actor

Later, he moved to San Francisco to study at the American Conservatory Theater. Denzel was not inexperienced, having studied intensively at the ACT. After leaving the conservatory, he returned to New York to look for work as an actor. His debut in film was in 1965 , when he played a minor role in the movie The Cincinnati Kid, which was called The King of the Game in Spain. Later, in 1977, he starred in the movie Wilma. Fortunately, he got his first leading role in Carbon Copy. In 1987, Washington played the role of South African black activist Stephen Biko in the film Cry Freedom, for which he was nominated for an Oscar for Best Supporting Actor.

During this period, films based on events that sought to narrate the struggle for civil rights of African Americans, or the lives of Black men and women, had Denzel’s participation, and he felt very honored to collaborate in them. He is a very committed actor to his community. In 1989, he played one of the lead roles in Glory, about the participation of African Americans in the American Civil War, and he won the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor as a result.

1990 – Consolidation as one of the best actors.

Starting in the 90s, Denzel Washington became a critically acclaimed actor and was also placed alongside the great Eddie Murphy , as both were the most successful African American actors of the time . Alongside Spike Lee, he filmed the biographical movie Malcolm X (1992), about the life of this activist of the American black community who was assassinated in 1965. He then played Tom Hanks ‘ defense attorney, who was fired from his company for contracting AIDS in the movie Philadelphia (1993). In the world of theater, one of the most significant works he participated in was Much Ado About Nothing (1993), directed by actor and director Kenneth Branagh.

Throughout the 90s, Denzel’s popularity was undeniable as he starred in numerous films, including:

• The Pelican Brief (1993)
• Devil in a Blue Dress (1995)
• Crimson Tide (1995)
• Courage Under Fire (1996)
• Fallen (1998)
• The Siege (1998)
• The Bone Collector (1999), a story about a paralyzed police officer investigating a series of murders.
• The Hurricane (1999). This film marked a change in his career, as he played boxer Rubin “Hurricane” Carter, who was the victim of a racist police setup and spent 22 years in prison despite being innocent. Many years before, his story had inspired a famous Bob Dylan song.

Throughout his career, Denzel Washington has participated in commercial films, such as some in the action genre directed by Tony Scott. However, despite the changes in the world of cinema and the turn of the century, Denzel has remained one of the most highly regarded actors , characterized by his interpretive ability. Among his recent films, we highlight:

• Training Day (2001), which earned him an Oscar for Best Leading Actor . It is worth noting that this award marked a milestone, a s no African American actor had won it since the days of Sidney Poitier.
• John Q (2001)
• As a curious fact, he made his directorial debut in 2002 with the drama Antwone Fisher.
• He starred in Out of Time (2003)
• The Manchurian Candidate (2004)
• Inside Man (2006)
• Déjà vu (2006)
• American Gangster (2007)
• The Taking of Pelham 123 (2009)
• Unstoppable (2010)
• Flight (2012).

In The Safe House (2012), he starred alongside Ryan Reynolds . He then acted in 2 Guns (2013). In 2014, Denzel participated in several productions, one of which was The Equalizer (2014), a film co-starring Chloe Grace Moretz. Two years later, he played one of The Magnificent Seven (2016) and directed Fences, a film in which he also starred. Some years later, he was again nominated for the Oscar Award for his portrayal of an idealistic and driven defense attorney whose life is turned upside down when his mentor, a civil rights icon, dies. The movie is called Roman J. Israel, Esq, written and directed by Dan Gilroy. In addition to the Oscar nomination, Washington was also nominated for a Golden Globe for his work.

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Sélena Quintanilla Pérez

Sélena Quintanilla of Corpus Christi, popularly known as Sélena, was the queen of Tejano music and an international superstar in the late 1980s and early 1990s. Her group, Selena y Los Dinos, was formed in 1981, and in 1987, she won the Tejano Music Award for best female vocalist. She recorded for Capital EMI/Latin Records and in 1992, her album, "Entre a Mi Mundo" (Enter My World) sold more than 300,000 copies, a record for a Tejana artist.

Sélena produced her first all-English language album in 1993 with SBK records; the next year, she won a Grammy for Best Mexican-American Album "Selena Live." Sélena also designed clothes and owned fashion boutiques in San Antonio and Corpus Christi.

In 1995, Sélena was shot to death by Yolanda Saldivar, her business associate and former fan club president, in Corpus Christi. Her posthumous album, "Dreaming of You," climbed to number one on Billboard magazine's chart.

Biography Source Information

Biographies are reprinted from the Foundation for Women’s Resources (now Women’s Resources), Dallas, Texas. They originally appeared in "From Gutsy Mavericks to Quiet Heroes: True Tales of Texas Women," video study guide, Austin: The Foundation for Women's Resources, 1997. Death dates have been added where needed.

Selena Quintanilla: The ‘Queen of Tex-Mex music’

Google celebrates the career of the inspiring music star whose life was tragically cut short more than 20 years ago.

On Tuesday, Google celebrated the life and legacy of one of Latin America music’s most recognised stars, Selena Quintanilla.

Better known as the “Queen of Tejano (Tex-Mex) music”, Google commemorated the debut of her first official album Selena, released on October 17, 1989. Selena recorded five more albums, the last of which was released posthumously, becoming No 1 on the Billboard 200, in 1995.

Selena recorded her first song in Spanish when she was eight years old and started a band at the age of nine. Her  brother AB, became her primary record producer and songwriter for most of her musical career.

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In 1989, she signed a contract with recording company EMI.  Her album Selena Live! won Best Mexican-American Album and her 1994 album Amor Prohibido, was nominated for another Grammy.

She also produced four number-one Spanish-language hits.

Billboard named her the top-selling Latin artist of the 1990s, while her image inspired MAC cosmetics in 2016 to launch the best-selling celebrity collection in cosmetics  history. 

Media outlets often referred to her as the “Tejano Madonna” due to her style. She is also known as one of the most influential artists of all-time and credited for bringing the Tex-Mex genre into the mainstream.

Selena was also active in her community and known for always being working with civic causes. 

On March 31, 1995, she was shot dead by Yolanda Saldivar, her friend and former president of her fan club and clothing boutique manager. Although Saldivar claimed  the gun “accidentally went off”, she  was sentenced to life in prison with a possible parole after 30 years.

Two weeks after her death, George W Bush , then-governor of Texas, declared Selena’s birthday Selena Day in Texas. 

For some, Selena has become a source of inspiration for immigrant and bicultural communities. She forged a connection with many by embracing her cultural heritage. 

In 1997, Warner Bros released Selena, a film about her life and career, which starred pop star Jennifer Lopez and Lupe Ontiveros.

As of 2016, Selena had sold over 60 million albums worldwide. 

Selena was born in Lake Jackson, Texas. Her father, Abraham Quintanilla, was an American singer-songwriter and record producer. 

She was nine when her father founded the singing group Selena y Los Dinos with her brothers. They initially performed at the family’s restaurant, “Papa Gayos”, but the restaurant eventually closed. 

The family soon went bankrupt and was evicted from its home, so they continued performing wherever they could.

At the age of 12, Selena recorded her first album for a local record company. The album didn’t sell and her father bought all the original copies. 

She continued her education on the road, and at the age of 17, she earned a high school diploma from The American School of Correspondence in Chicago. Selena released her second album, Alpha, in 1986.

After her death, her father was devastated and his family started a charitable organisation that assists children in crisis.

He has been actively involved in the development of albums and documentaries that involve Selena’s life and image. 

The Story of Selena Quintanilla-Perez, the Queen of Tejano

David Livingston/Contributor/Getty Images

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Selena Quintanilla-Perez became known as the "Queen of Tejano Music" during her short but well-received music career performing in the genre in her home state of Texas before her tragic death at age 24 in 1995.

Selena was born on April 16, 1971, in Lake Jackson, Texas, and raised in a Mexican-American family, but only spoke "kitchen Spanish," originally learning to sing her Spanish tunes phonetically but later taking intensive Spanish classes to sharpen her vocabulary and pronunciation.

She released her first album "Mi Primeras Grabaciones" with her band "Selena y Los Dinos" in 1984, but the group wasn't noticed until seven years later in 1989 when she signed a record contract with Capitol/EMI. 

Growing up in Texas

Selena was the youngest of three children born to Mexican-American Abraham Quintanilla and Marcella. Her father loved music and formed a band with Selena, her sister Suzette and brother A.B. (A.B. Quintanilla III of Los Kumbia Kings / Kumbia All Starz fame). Selena was 6 years old, but her father claims he could tell she was destined for a musical career because she had perfect pitch and timing.

Quintanilla Sr. had performed as a vocalist with "Los Dinos" ("The Boys") when he was young so when he opened a restaurant named "Papagallos" a few years later, the newly formed band "Selena Y Los Dinos" were the featured performers.

Although the restaurant failed and the family went bankrupt and relocated to Corpus Christi, the band hit the road, performing at weddings, cantinas, and festivals throughout southern Texas. Ultimately, Quintanilla pulled Selena out of school when she was in the eighth grade so that she could stay on the road and she passed her high school equivalency exam via correspondence school.

Early Albums and International Attention

In the beginning, "Selena y Los Dinos" was a small band comprised primarily of Selena, Suzette, and A.B., but over the next few years, they added a few members and started recording for a small, local label. Their first album, "Mi Primeras Grabaciones " came out in 1984, and although it wasn't sold in any stores, Quintanilla would carry the album with him and pitch them to record executives at the band's performances.

The band recorded 5 albums in this manner, including "Alpha" in 1986; "Preciosa" and "Dulce Amor" came out in 1988. The previous year, Selena won the Tejano Music Award for "Best Female Vocalist" and "Best Female Performer" when she was just 15 years old.

For the next 7 years, Selena would continue to win award after award. In 1989, she signed a record contract with Capitol/EMI and made a string of albums including "Ven Conmigo," "Entre A Mi Mundo" and "Baile Esta Cumbia." Her 1993 album "Selena Live!" won the "Best Mexican-American Album" Grammy, making Selena the only Tejano artist to win a Grammy award.

Personal Affairs and Business Endeavors

Things were going well in Selena's personal life, as she'd met a man named Chris Perez who was hired to perform in Selena's band and the two married in 1992, after overcoming her father's objections and agreeing to move into the house next door. Perez is still in the family business performing with brother A.B.'s Kumbia Kings/Kumbia All Starz.

Selena also began to capitalize on her fame in other ways. She opened Selena Etc. Inc, a company that included boutiques that sold her clothing line.

The family had avoided fan clubs up until 1990 when Selena met Yolanda Saldivar, the aunt of one of Selena's childhood friends. Although they were strangers at that point, Saldivar convinced the family that a fan club would be a good idea and professed great admiration for the singer. Saldivar became the president of Selena's fan club—an unpaid position that soon boasted over 9000 members.

In 1994, as a reward for her hard work, Selena promoted Saldivar to the paid position of overseeing Selena Etc. Inc. Things started going wrong in short order. The company's designer quit, saying he couldn't work with Saldivar; products that had been paid for were not delivered and there were accusations of misused and missing funds.

Tragedy and Betrayal

Selena and her father confronted Saldivar. The Washington Post reported that Saldivar was actually fired by phone the evening of March 29th and that the fan club president simply said "OK". The next day Saldivar called back and made arrangements to meet with Selena so that she could hand over some paperwork.

On the morning of March 31, 1995, Selena went to the Days Inn in Corpus Christi to meet with Saldivar. We can only guess what was said, but a short time later, as Selena was leaving the room, Saldivar shot her in the back. Selena made it to the lobby before collapsing. She died at the hospital a few hours later.

It was 2 weeks before her 24th birthday.

While Selena's young life was prematurely ended, she continues to win awards and sell records. Her popularity has only grown in the wake of her death with the posthumous release of her last unfinished crossover album "Dreaming Of You," which went quadruple platinum upon its release in 2004, proving that while Selena may have lost her life, her voice has not been stilled.

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Selena’s Special Genius

The Mexican-American star, who was killed at 23, is the subject of a new Netflix bio-series. But what was the root of her musical powers?

By Elijah Wald

In 2017 Beyoncé spoke with Solange for Interview magazine, and popped a couple of questions about her sister’s tastes. First she asked for her sibling’s favorite Diana Ross film, then a choice some readers might have found more puzzling: “ ‘No Me Queda Mas’ or ‘I Could Fall in Love’ ”?

“This is so unfair!” Solange protested, before answering: “No Me Queda Mas.”

Neither sister needed to mention the name of the song’s singer. Growing up in Houston in the 1990s, everyone knew of Selena , the Tejano star whose death at age 23 in 1995 catapulted her to national fame.

In the quarter century since her death, Selena’s legend has continued to grow , fed by reissues and remixes, numerous books, a film starring Jennifer Lopez and now a bio-series from Netflix, which debuts Friday . A regular theme of these projects is that the young star was struck down while recording her first full English-language album, right on the verge of crossover success. While not altogether wrong, that interpretation misses an essential fact about Selena’s career: She had been crossing stylistic, linguistic, ethnic and geographical boundaries since she began singing professionally at age 9, constantly expanding both her music and her audiences. And everything she sang came from her own background and experience.

Selena’s first hits were in Spanish, but her first language was English and her musical tastes ranged from traditional ranchera, the Mexican equivalent of country-western, to whatever was currently on the radio. A 1987 performance at Houston’s Miller Outdoor Theatre shows her dressed in jeans and a denim jacket, singing Jody Watley’s “Looking for a New Love” — a No. 1 R&B hit that year, and one with particular significance for the overwhelmingly Latino crowd, which enthusiastically cheers its bilingual kiss-off line, “Hasta la vista, baby.” Selena struts across the stage, busting out Paula Abdul dance moves and negotiating the melody with effortless power, then announces “a song by Janet Jackson’s brother” and segues into “Billie Jean.”

Barely 16 years old, Selena was breaking out as the new queen of the Tejano scene. The previous month she had been named best female vocalist at the Tejano Music Awards — an honor she would win for nine of the next 10 years — and if her records focused on the light Spanish-language show-band pop typical of that genre, her live shows demonstrated an uncanny ability to assimilate any style that attracted her. Whether she was singing hot R&B, bouncy cumbia, rootsy accordion conjunto music or her own genre-busting fusions, she looked and sounded completely at home.

Selena combined virtuosic skills with a kind of magical ordinariness. You can see it in a live performance of one of her defining songs, “Como la Flor.” She begins by emphasizing the heartache of the lyric, slowly drawing out the lines about a lover leaving, her face contorted in pain. Then, in an instant, she drops the mask, smiling and even laughing, reminding the audience they are all watching and enjoying this together — and then she again is in agony, her fist beating her chest, murmuring the final words, “como me duele,” “how it hurts me.”

The triple transformation takes barely a minute, and although she repeated it night after night, both personas feel authentic: She is tearing herself apart for us and also is one of us, entertained by the spectacle. Then her hips sway as the band shifts to a cumbia, the crowd cheers and relaxes, and the show goes on.

That mix of brilliance and normalcy created a special bond between Selena and her fans. No matter how dazzling or famous she became, she always seemed approachable and candid, and easily laughed at herself. It helped that she was part of a family band: Her father, Abraham Quintanilla, had been part of a popular Tejano vocal group in the early 1960s and raised his children to continue and amplify his dream. Selena’s older siblings formed a solid rhythm section, sister Suzette on drums and brother A.B. on bass, and when she married the band’s guitarist, a Van Halen-style shredder named Chris Perez, they moved into a house next door to her parents.

That sense of family grounded Selena’s most spectacular performances in a reassuring warmth and stability, and as she explored a growing range of styles, it kept her sound impressively cohesive. A.B. Quintanilla arranged and produced all the recordings and wrote almost all the songs, often in partnership with the backing vocalist Pete Astudillo, and they rarely brought in any outside musicians.

The 1990 album “Ven Conmigo” marked Selena’s first significant crossover, hitting not only in Texas but in Mexico. The key was her R&B-flavored version of cumbia, the Afro-Colombian style that had become popular with dancers on both sides of the border. Selena prepared for the new market by working hard on her Spanish — in early interviews she responded to Spanish questions in English, but by the 1990s she was comfortably fluent, though she still joked about occasional mistakes.

She also proved she could sing the deepest form of ranchera and make it her own. Her brother and Astudillo wrote a ballad of female anger, “ ¿Qué Creías? ” (What Did You Think?), which she delivered with the ferocious passion of a classic Mexican diva — and in concert she would call for a volunteer from the audience and spit the lyrics in his face, paying tribute to tradition while comically asserting her independence from it.

That ability to find a unifying, personal approach to widely disparate styles was Selena’s special genius. Where other artists might seem to be torn or shifting between cultures, all her explorations felt like natural extensions of herself. She was genuinely an R&B singer, genuinely a Mexican diva, genuinely the little daughter of a close family and genuinely a dazzling pop star. As she reached new audiences, first in Texas, then Mexico, then the broader Latin markets of Miami and South America, and finally the United States’s Anglo mainstream, it felt less like she was “crossing over” than inviting them to join her.

Selena’s death was in jarring contrast to her life. Shot by her close friend and fan club president in a moment of madness, she became a tragic legend. Dramatic retellings of her story inevitably build toward that ending, showing her bravely struggling against a domineering father, pervasive sexism and the prejudices of both Anglos and Mexicans, cut down before she could realize her dream. Selena undoubtedly had to surmount a lot of barriers, but that legend is the opposite of what she chose to portray every time she stepped onstage: a young woman joyfully in control of her music and her life.

An earlier version of this article misstated which Michael Jackson song Selena covered at a 1987 performance. It was "Billie Jean," not "Beat It."

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AT THE SMITHSONIAN

How museums are preserving and celebrating selena’s legacy.

The singer’s presence can still be felt at the Smithsonian’s National Museum of American History

Kayla Randall

Digital Editor, Museums

Selena lived for almost 24 years. Her legacy will live much longer—it already has.

Last month marked the 30th anniversary of her Grammy-nominated 1994 album Amor Prohibido , which was the first Tejano album to hit No. 1 on the Top Latin Albums chart, according to Billboard. This April 16 would have been her 53rd birthday. Next March will mark 30 years since she was shot and killed by Yolanda Saldívar in Corpus Christi, Texas, in 1995.

In her short life, the Mexican American singer left a lasting impact on music and culture. She’s known as many things: the queen of Tejano music , a Grammy-winning singer , a Latin music legend , a ’90s icon and an icon of American pop culture in general. Selena Quintanilla grew up in South Texas and sang since she was a child. Her father, Abraham Quintanilla, formed their family band Selena y Los Dinos, in which she performed with her siblings. Their self-titled debut album released in 1984. Selena’s solo music began with her own self-titled debut album released in 1989. Selling millions of records worldwide, she captivated listeners with each of her subsequent albums: Ven Conmigo (1990), Entre a Mi Mundo (1992), Selena Live! (1993), Amor Prohibido (1994) and Dreaming of You (1995), released posthumously.

On March 31, 1995, Selena met with Saldívar, the former president of Selena’s fan club and manager of her clothing boutiques, at a Corpus Christi Days Inn. Earlier that year, Saldívar was fired after Selena’s family had accused her of embezzling money from the business. Saldívar shot and killed Selena. Saldívar was convicted of first-degree murder in the fall of 1995 and sentenced to life in prison with parole eligibility in 2025.

The Smithsonian’s National Museum of American History , National Portrait Gallery , National Postal Museum and American Art Museum all have collected artifacts that represent Selena. In 1998, her family opened the Selena Museum in Corpus Christi to celebrate her life. Tens of thousands of visitors come each year to see outfits, photos and other memorabilia.

Years and years go by, and the devotion to Selena lives on.

“A lot of people say ‘ Selena vive ,’ ‘Selena lives,’” says Ashley Oliva Mayor, a curatorial associate focused on Latin music and culture at the National Museum of American History. “That’s because people have kept her memory alive through all of these generations.”

Her posthumous album Dreaming of You debuted at No. 1 on the Billboard 200 albums chart in 1995. The 1997 biopic about her life introduced her to people outside her fan base and to those born after her death. Writer and scholar Deborah Paredez published a book about Selena’s impact and importance, Selenidad: Selena, Latinos and the Performance of Memory , in 2009. The book was praised for how it studied grief and mourning over Selena’s death, and explored the cultural and political dynamics around her.

Selena got a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame in 2017. She was the focus of a course at the University of Texas at San Antonio that launched in 2020 called “Selena: A Mexican American Identity and Experience.” Apple Podcasts’ “Best of 2021 ” named the “ Anything for Selena ” podcast hosted by Maria Garcia as the Newcomer of the Year, commending it for the way it “asks profound questions about belonging.”

As a fashion icon, Selena has even left her mark on the makeup industry. Cosmetics company MAC launched a Selena collection in 2016, and it later announced another collection in 2020.

“I stood in line at MAC trying to buy this collection that sold out before I ever made it to the door,” says Mayor. “When MAC launched the Selena collection, it kind of reminded us there is still an incredible following, an incredible fan base that loves her, remembers her, supports her, even in this collaboration that obviously is years and years after her death and after she has stopped making music. There’s not new music being made by Selena, but she continues to have this enormous power over us, those of us who were fans of hers.”

Inside “Entertainment Nation,” the permanent exhibition covering music, theater, sports, television and film at the National Museum of American History, visitors can stand under an arch to hear Selena’s music and watch footage of her. Near the arch is one of her leather outfits , which she wore to the Tejano Music Awards in 1994, donated by the singer’s family.

“It’s just incredible to see how folks still love her so much,” Mayor says. “We call Selena’s outfit at the Smithsonian a pilgrimage object, because people will come to D.C. with the express purpose of seeing her outfit on display.”

Eventually, Selena’s outfit, and the arch that features her experience, will need to rotate out of the exhibition for conservation purposes, Mayor says: “We want to make sure we’re preserving her outfit in perpetuity. It needs to get put away so it has a break from exposure to light and from tension on seams being mounted on a mannequin.”

Mayor says the outfit has been on display since the exhibition opened in 2022, but sometime in the next year, it will have to be taken from public view and replaced by the outfit and story of “a different figure who’s been influential as well.”

Producing the Selena experience inside the exhibition took nearly two years of development, Mayor says. The arch features selected songs and quotes from Selena.

“For me, I’m a fan of Selena,” says Mayor. “Having to narrow down all of her songs to like five selected songs for that one experience was incredibly difficult. I kept thinking, my favorite song of hers [ ‘El Chico del Apartamento 512’ ] didn’t even make it in. We have to be very thoughtful and intentional about what our messaging is, and what songs we’re selecting to carry the message and legacy of Selena forward.”

Selena had a voice , Mayor says, and it was undeniable. “That transcends language, that transcends genre,” she says. “You hear someone, and you are saying, ‘Wow, this woman can sing.’”

Meanwhile, the Smithsonian’s new National Museum of the American Latino is currently in organizational ramp-up, figuring out its collection plan, building staff and awaiting congressional designation on a proposal for a physical location. Ranald Woodaman , the museum’s assistant director of exhibition development, says that while its collection doesn’t currently have much representation of Selena, her story and spirit are part of the fabric of its mission.

“Our mission is collecting, recovering, documenting, displaying the legacy of Latinos and Latinas in terms of shaping U.S. society and making U.S. history,” Woodaman says. “Selena is obviously part of that.”

He visited the Selena Museum last year and says he gained a massive amount of appreciation for her, particularly as a designer. “She designed her outfits,” he says. “She was really in conversation with the fashion of the day. She had a sense of herself as a multidimensional artist.”

At the National Portrait Gallery, curatorial assistant of Latino art Gabrielle Tillenburg highlights two photographs of Selena in the museum’s collection. They aren’t currently on display, because photographs, like other museum artifacts, rotate in and out of view for conservation, she notes.

In a portrait by San Antonio photographer Al Rendon , Selena is “standing really powerfully with her hand on her jacket,” Tillenburg says. “Everything is very much in line with the glamour that you affiliate with Selena. Her facial expression is both soft and strong at the same time.”

In the portrait by John Dyer , another San Antonio-based photographer, “the lighting, her skin is so luminous, the red lip is so strong,” she says. “You’re so enticed by that. You want to be her.”

Tillenburg continues, “She’s owning it. As a girl growing up in the ’90s, to see this figure who simultaneously embodied this glamorous femininity and at the same time embodied power and owning her space on the stage, and at the same time was a Latina doing that really coming from a place of owning her culture. Yes, she’s crossing over and she’s doing pop songs, but she’s the queen of Tejano music. She’s going to be there representing cumbia, mariachi, all of these genres. This portrait, for me, really gets at that.”

One of Tillenburg’s favorite Selena songs is “ Si Una Vez ,” which she says was innovative in how it combined mariachi and cumbia sounds. The way the singer was able to put emotion into her voice is still impactful, she says.

In Tillenburg’s view, Selena’s legacy and history are being preserved, and, at the same time, they are still being written. She says the portraits show the impact she had in her time, but they also engage audiences in real time.

Selena means so much to so many, from the understanding of her as both a cultural phenomenon and regional artist to being able to identify with her as a person, says Mayor.

“Selena is American history,” Mayor says.

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Kayla Randall | READ MORE

Kayla Randall is Smithsonian magazine's digital editor, museums.

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Tejano Singer Selena Quintanilla's Legacy Endures Through Her Music and Fashion

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In one of Selena Quintanilla 's final interviews, she took cameras on a walk through of the Corpus Christi space that would soon be transformed into her dance studio, sewing room, boutique, spa, and more.

"It's taking shape," she told KHOU 11 in 1994. "Right here, they're going to make a recording studio, so we don't have to go out of town to record."

The renovation took place as Selena's career was growing. Only 23, she had just won her first-ever Grammy award and her fourth studio album, Amor Prohibido , would later debut at the top of Billboard's Latin Albums chart. And this was only the beginning for Selena, who was in the middle of recording her first English-language album. Music industry executives had high hopes for the Tejano musician, believing she would make it big as a solo pop star.

"She would have been up there with the Janets and the Madonnas,” EMI Latin President Jose Behar told the Los Angeles Times in 1995.

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But no one could've predicted what came next. Instead of celebrating the release of Selena's English-language album that summer, fans mourned the pop star's death at the hands of her former fan club president, Yolanda Saldivar , who shares her perspective in the upcoming Oxygen documentary Selena and Yolanda: The Secrets Between Them — premiering with back-to-back episodes Feb. 17 at 8 p.m. ET/PT and concludes Feb. 18 at 7 p.m. Episodes will be available to stream on Peacock the day after they air.

Selena Quintanilla's Songs

Selena Quintanilla-Perez backstage at the Houston Livestock Show & Rodeo at the Houston Astrodome, Houston, Texas, February 26, 1995. Photo: Arlene Richie/Getty Images

The pop star's career in music started early on, when she was a mere kid performing alongside her siblings, A.B. and Suzette, at rodeos and restaurants across Texas under the name of Selena y Los Dinos. "We played a lot of weddings and anniversary parties. We played at my father’s restaurant. We played dinner clubs. We did a lot of talent shows just to win money. We went through a lot," she told Latin Style Magazine , via SelenaForever.com , in 1995.

At first, the siblings played covers of other famous hits before writing their own music, finding success with songs "Baila Esta Cumbia" and more. Their third studio album Entre a mi Mundo brought further acclaim, with critics and fans loving "Como la Flor" and "La Carcacha."

But it was her fourth studio album Selena Live! , recorded at the Memorial Coliseum in Corpus Christi in February 1993, that took Selena all the way to the 36th Annual Grammy Awards. Nominated for Best Mexican/American Album, Live! beat out the likes of established artists Los Tigres del Norte and Vicente Fernandez.

Selena accepted the award in a stunning white halter-neck gown, her hair piled atop her head in a chic updo.

"I remember thinking, 'Selena, if you fall, you're going to be so embarrassed. Don't fall.' It had this fish tail on the back of it and I was trying to be all cool walking up there," she shared in an interview, via Youtube . "But it was great. Thinking back now, it's an experience I will never forget."

Her following album, Amor Prohibido , released in March 1994, featured the singles "Amor Prohibido" and "Bidi Bidi Bom Bom." The two songs remain some of her biggest hits, alongside "Como La Flor" and "Si Una Vez."

Selena's English-Language Album, Dreaming of You

At the time of her death, Selena was planning the upcoming release of her untitled English-language album, produced by her brother Abraham "A.B." Quintanilla III, as well as acclaimed musicians Rhett Lawrence and Keith Thomas.

The album was far from finished when Selena died on March 31, 1995, but her family and label resolved to share with the world the four English songs she had completed, alongside a mix of new and popular hits. The result was Dreaming of You , a 13-track album released in July 1995.

RELATED: Beloved Texas Teacher and Mother of 4 Manuela Allen Brutally Killed While Her Family Slept

"We created a retrospective that will allow people who are buying a Selena record for the first time, because of the English-language songs, to hear the hits that got her where she was,” EMI President Behar said to the L.A. Times .

But the album's release was bittersweet. Selena's husband and guitarist, Chris Perez , told the newspaper that he was overjoyed to see his late wife's dream come to fruition, but added, "at the same time, she’s not here to see it and enjoy it, so it’s not the same.”

Selena's Fashion Boutiques

While her music career was a family endeavor, Selena's costumes and wardrobe were her creations alone. The pop star would step out onto the stage in jackets before shedding her outer layers to reveal her now-iconic bustiers and other stunning ensembles.

"She had a sketchbook that she was always sketching in when we were on the road. A lot of the outfits she wore onstage were her own design," said her sister, Suzette Quintanilla, in a 2010 interview with Texas Monthly . "Remember the white outfit she wore at the 1994 Astrodome show? She beaded the boots before we got to Houston, but she was still sewing beads onto the bustier backstage right before the show started."

Fans loved the flashy looks, which took inspiration from Madonna and other stars, but her father, Abraham, reportedly did not view fashion as Selena's top priority.

"From Abraham’s perspective, she was a singer and a performer first; designing clothes was her hobby. I don’t know if he realized how invested she truly was in being a designer, but it wasn’t a hobby. Having her own fashion line was her dream," Martin Gomez, a Selena, Etc. Designer explained to Texas Monthly .

Together, she and Gomez worked to open two Selena, Etc. Boutiques, the first located in San Antonio and a second in Corpus Christi, Texas, where fans could buy merch and clothing, or be pampered at the salons on-site. "They’re not big businesses but they’re functioning very well," she shared with Latin Style Magazine .

She gave KHOU a look at the styles being sold in her shops, highlighting a red leather jacket with gold studs. The fashions were similar to ones she wore onstage, though Selena told the reporter that normally she's dressed in sweats and a sweatshirt, "just like anybody else."

Selena Quintanilla-Perez at the 36th Annual Grammy Awards at Radio City Music Hall, New York, New York, March 1, 1994. Photo: Arlene Richie/Getty Images

"This is more for show," she said, pointing to the flashy jacket.

In the months leading up to her death, Selena was working on opening a third boutique in Monterrey, Mexico, telling the outlet, "I hope to see Selena clothing all over Mexico, and here in the States."

Shortly after she died, the San Antonio location was shut down. The Corpus Christi storefront was eventually closed in 2009, with Abraham citing the economic downturn, according to the Houston Chronicle .

Fans continue to emulate the singer's iconic fashion, with Kim Kardashian , Demi Lovato, and other stars wearing their own versions of the purple jumpsuit Selena sported for her performance at the Houston Astrodome Livestock Show & Rodeo in February 1995 — her final televised performance.

To learn more about Selena's final moments and her relationship with Yolanda, tune in to Selena and Yolanda: The Secrets Between Them when it premieres with back-to-back episodes Feb. 17 at 8 p.m. ET/PT and concludes Feb. 18 at 7 p.m. Episodes will be available to stream on Peacock the day after they air.

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Selena Quintanilla-Pérez-The Life and Legacy of the Queen of Tejano Music

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Happy birthday, selena 15 things about selena that you probably do not know.

Ana Gonzalez , Digital Content Producer

April 16 is Selena’s birthday, and the Queen of Tejano would have been 53 years old.

Breaking barriers as a Mexican-American artist, she became widely known outside Texas and Mexico and her legacy lives on today thanks to her music.

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Here are 15 things you may or may not know about Selena and her history-making legacy:

1. Selena was working on her album “Dreaming of You,” her first crossover album with five English songs before she was killed.

2. Many Latin artists such as J Balvin, Bad Bunny, and Rosalia credit Selena for their inspiration and influence for crossover hits between U.S. and Latin America.

3. There is still an online Selena official store where you can purchase official merchandise.

4. Selena was honored at Houston Rodeo’s Star Trail of Fame for her sold-out performance at the Rodeo 26 years ago.

5. “Selena,” the 1997 blockbuster movie that stars Jennifer Lopez, is one of the highest-grossing music biopics of all time .

6. You can take a course on Selena and her impact on Mexican-American culture at the University of Texas-San Antonio

7. She was born in Lake Jackson, just over an hour south of Houston.

7. George W. Bush, who was governor of Texas at the time, declared Selena’s birthday as “ Selena Day” in Texas.

8. Selena was honored with a Lifetime Achievement Award during the 2021 Grammys alongside artists Salt-N-Pepa and Talking Heads.

9. She was the first female to win a Grammy in Tejano music .

10. At 17 years old, she signed with Coca-Cola, changing the Hispanic advertising landscape.

11. About 40,000 fans attended the open-casket viewing of Selena in Corpus Christi, a day after her death.

12. Selena Etc, Selena’s boutique, remained open even after her death, with her widower, Chris Perez, taking over the business until July 2009 .

13. Growing up , Selena only knew English until her father, who was a former musician, taught her to sing in Spanish by learning the lyrics phonetically.

14. Aside from being the “Queen of Tejano,” she was also referred to as the “Mexican Madonna” primarily due to her sexy outfits onstage.

15. A monument dedicated to Selena , called “Mirador de la Flor” (Lookout of the Flower) is visited by tourists all over the world today in Corpus Christi. It was unveiled in 1997 and was sculpted by H.W. “Buddy” Tatum.

What memories do you have of Selena? Share with us in the comments below.

Copyright 2021 by KPRC Click2Houston - All rights reserved.

About the Author

Ana gonzalez.

A graduate of the University of Houston-Downtown, Ana moved to H-Town from sunny southern California in 2015. In 2020, she joined the KPRC 2 digital team as an intern. Ana is a self-proclaimed coffee connoisseur, a catmom of 3, and an aquarium enthusiast. In her spare time, she's an avid video gamer and loves to travel.

30+ Selena Quintanilla Quotes About Music, Being Mexican and Her Ambition

T here are only a handful of talented musicians who can get away with going by just one name, and Selena Quintanilla-Pérez is one of them. The Mexican-American singer, known as the Queen of Tejano Music or simply just La Reina to her most devoted fans, is best known for songs like “Bidi Bidi Bom Bom,” “Como La Flor,” “Si Una Vez” and so many more hits. Jennifer Lopez played her in the 1997 biopic, Selena , however, Quintanilla was a star in her own right before that even premiered.

Selena made a name for herself in the Tejano music scene, which was notably male-dominated, and took it over at the time with her popularity despite not speaking fluent Spanish. She was already a darling to Mexican and Latine listeners and was just beginning to bust into the mainstream music scene after winning Best Mexican/American Album at the 1994 Grammys. Selena was at the height of her career and in the middle of recording her first-ever English crossover album, which would have truly brought her into mainstream pop when she was tragically murdered . On March 31, 1995, Selena’s former friend and manager of Quintanilla’s Selena Etc. boutiques, Yolanda Saldívar , shot and killed Selena after being caught stealing funds from Quintanilla’s businesses. Selena was only 23 at the time, a little over two weeks away from her 24th birthday on April 16.

After her death, Selena’s music gained even more popularity and she became the first Latin artist to debut on the Billboard 200 with her posthumous crossover album, Dreaming of You . The governor of Texas at the time, George W. Bush, officially declared April 16 as Selena Day in Texas. But for fans of Selena around the world, every April 16 is Selena Day. She was known for her infectious laugh and smile, her gorgeous voice, her humor and her tenacity . Her death left a void for her fans, her loved ones and the music industry she was torn from.

So, in honor of the beloved Tejano music star and her birthday, here are the 30+ best Selena Quintanilla quotes. 

Related:  Where Is Selena's Sister Suzette Quintanilla Now?

32 Selena Quintanilla Quotes

1. "If you’re going to be somebody, you need to be a leader and not a follower. The impossible is always possible and you don’t need anybody else to tell you that you’re good."

2. "I feel very proud to be Mexican. I didn't have the opportunity to learn Spanish when I was a girl, but... it's never too late to get in touch with your roots."

3. "One of the most important things, for me, is to have my family by my side, supporting me and have that love. For me, love is super important because money comes and goes but love lasts for such a long time, for the rest of your life."

4. "If you have a dream, don't let anybody take it away, and always believe that the impossible is possible."

5. "When I'm singing, I'm another person. I can be really free, in the sense that I can do whatever I want."

6. "When love hits you, it hits you and you don't expect it."

7. "You have to take what you can get when you're getting started."

8. "Tejano music was hard for us because I was a girl. My dad had a lot of problems while trying to set up shows for us or presentations because there are a lot of men who don't think that women can get the attention of the public. But... wrong!"

9. "The reason I'm really appreciative of everything that's going on around me is because of the fact that I never expected it, and I want to keep that attitude."

10. "It’s great to have everybody, especially Hispanics, getting back to their roots and listening to Spanish music and it’s a start, getting back to learning the language. That’s how I learned it, literally. Because I actually learned English before I learned Spanish."

11. "All I need to do is try and do the best that I can do."

12. "I’m very simple. I like the finer things in life but because we have gone through some tough times in life I am able to enjoy the simpler things in life."

13. "We went through a hard time, and we had to turn to music as a means of putting food on the table. And we've been doing it ever since. No regrets either."

14. "We never thought we'd get this far, but we're here."

15. "It’s really cool to kind of have people come to me and get excited, you know, I don’t see myself that way. And I get excited when I see other artists."

Related: Did Beyoncé Meet Selena In Real Life or Only For 'Selena: The Series'?

16. "Not only as an entertainer but as a person who cared a lot and I gave the best that I could, and I’ve tried to be the best role model that I possibly could and the best person that I could be." — Selena on how she wants to be remembered.

17. "If you work hard to achieve your goals, the rest it’s really easy"

18. "Well, when I am singing I am a completely different person. I could be very free, depending on the situation I could do what I want."

19. "I’m very real, very sincere, and honest, and that’s how I’ll always be."

20. "You shouldn’t care for somebody just because of the materialistic things that they have and I’m a firm believer in that."

21. "We got laughed at. My father was told that we would never make it. It's gradual, a growing process. It's not like it came overnight."

22. "I don’t feel pressure because I’m not trying to portray something that I’m not."

23. "With a positive attitude, you can be anything you want to be."

24. "Anybody can be a role model."

25. "The family that plays together stays together."

26. "Yes. I love Texas. I’m a Texas girl. I am Texan. I really like Corpus because it’s really laid back... When I go other places, I’m working, and I’m enjoying meeting people, but when I go home, that’s my time to be myself, and relax.”

27. "Our culture is very beautiful. It’s very romantic. Spanish is a very romantic language. It’s the language of love. I think it’s very sad if we forget where we come from. Because we are who we are. I think the color or our skin is beautiful. I think people should be proud of that."

28. "And you have to be grateful to the public in that way to give autographs if they want an autograph, you give them an autograph! It’s not going to take very much of your time, I do it!… Because I know that without the fans and the public, we wouldn’t be where we are today. I am really conscious of that fact that they made us what we are."

29. "I hope to make a lot of people happy with my music. I hope people understand that when I sing my songs, I am not only singing them because I like to sing them, but I am singing them because I want to touch somebody’s heart. In our music, the words have a strong message and somewhere out there somebody’s going through something. And if I can touch somebody in that way, that’s the ultimate."

30. "The most important is that the people accept me for my music, not for physical appearances."

31. "It’s got polka in it, a little bit of country, a little bit of jazz. Fuse all those types of music together. I think that’s where you get Tejano."

32. "And, with a lot of promoters—and it still exists, although not as much as before–there’s the issue of machismo. They would tell my father straight to his face, “Not only is she too young, but there’s no way she could draw like a male artist."

Next up: 50+ Most Influential Latin American Women in History for Hispanic Heritage Month

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