Will Selena Quintanilla Live Forever Through Hispanic Fans?
Say the name ‘Selena’ around any true Hispanic and I can assure you the first thing that will cross their mind is NOT Selena Gomez but the one and only Selena Quintanilla.
They envision the beautiful bicultural role model with her signature red big lips, her wide hips and small waist, with that astounding voice that left a place silent in awe. The month, March can signify a lot to people: spring break, #MarchMadness, St. Patrick’s Day, arrival of Spring. To many Hispanics of all ages know that it is a time of remembrance for Selena Quintanilla, a Tex-Mexican singer. Who, for her short years of life and career, rose to fame at an incredible pace. On March 31, 1995, the founder of her fan club turned on her and took the “Queen of Tejano” music from all her fans. This year we mourn and celebrate her grace for the 22nd time.
Every year, there are different ways as to how people celebrate the monumental footprint Selena left on many lives. The biopic, ‘Selena’ (1997) featuring Jennifer Lopez as Selena, and produced by the Quintanilla family, along with many other documentaries showing real footage of Selena. Streets, public parks, and auditoriums were renamed, awards, memorial stamps, and statues were created in her honor. On April 12, 1995 George W. Bush, governor of Texas at the time declared April 16, (also her birthday) Selena day. He said, Selena represented “the essence of south Texas culture.” The Quintanilla family also understood they would always have to share Selena with her fans and so they held a tribute concert a week after the 10th anniversary of her murder, April 7, 2005.
Selena must be crying from the heavens by now, because this year for the third consecutive year, thousands of fans have attended the two-day Fiesta de la Flor festival in her hometown, Corpus Christi, Texas.
A place where fans gather together to sing along and move their hips to Selena’s songs sung by different artists. A time and place where fans ranging from all ages could dress up in their signature Selena outfits, and feel her vibes all around.
Time for the serious debate:
There has been a constant argument about ‘what if’ she wouldn’t have passed away, ‘what if’ she were still alive today, would her fame had escalated as it has for the last twenty-two years? The answer, won’t ever be known for certain. But something that everyone must be aware of is, regardless, she has and will always serve as a bicultural role model to many women out there. A country built by immigrants, Selena fell amongst those that were born in American soil but had Hispanic blood running through her veins. A girl who loved her Mexican food and Cumbia rhythm but grew up in Texas and spoke English as her first language. She was someone who was born with wide hips, and a narrow waist but grew up in an era that gave white, tall, skinny women the title of “beautiful” and “model-like”. As many Hispanic millennials know, that not many people who looked like Selena were on the cover of many magazines. Yet she made proved to all of us that it was still possible to succeed, to achieve dreams.
Selena didn’t gain fans only because of her undeniable talent but for the traits she held; she was humble, ambitious, and close to her family, traits that are presumed from every Latino. The concept of looking up to Selena not only as a role model but a bicultural one is important and it isn’t solely about the looks (which resemble a lot of stereotypical Latina bodies that used to be mocked), but instead the understanding of what it meant to be expected to balance the Latino and the American culture equally. She was relatable, to see someone who understood all the expectations that were set for Hispanic-Americans and living through them.
It is a sad realization that as she had started working on her first English album, Dreaming of You, she wasn’t able to see it succeed. Her legacy will always continue to be remembered, especially by those who saw or see a little of themselves in Selena. Whether it be through her voice, her attitude, her fashion or her body, she will always be celebrated.
REST IN PEACE TO THE BICULTURAL ROLE MODEL AND QUEEN OF TEJANO SELENA QUINTANILLA-PÉREZ
