Selena Quintanilla-Perez rightfully earned her titles of “La Reina del Tex-Mex” (Queen of Tejano) and “La Reina de la Cumbia” (Queen of Cumba) because she single-handedly revolutionized the genres, fusing her Mexican roots with bold new sounds. Alongside her brother A.B. Quintanilla III, who produced all of her biggest hits, and her band Los Dinos, Selena was not afraid to make music on their own terms, adding a hint of pop and rock to the classic cumbia, mariachi, rancheras, and Tejano rhythms.
Born and raised in Texas, Selena was homegrown.
As a woman in a male-dominated industry, she managed to keep it classy and real. With her bedazzled bustiers and high-waisted pants, she was sexy but approachable. Her music, including timeless hits such as “Bidi Bidi Bom Bom” and “Amor Prohibido,” had a universal appeal, and when she won the best Mexican American album Grammy for Selena Live! in 1993, she became the first female Tejano artist to win that award.
On the Billboard charts, seven of her studio albums hit No. 1 on the Top Latin Albums chart, including Amor Prohibido (1994), which spent 20 weeks there, and Dreaming of You (released posthumously in 1995), which spent 44 weeks. The latter set made history as the first predominately Spanish-language album to debut at No. 1 on the all-genre Billboard 200 chart.
Selena’s timeless appeal has continued well beyond her death at age 23 on March 31, 1995. Her legacy has not only shined on the charts, but also on social media, street murals, clothing lines, and makeup brands as an example of a true Latin icon in pop culture.
Here are 30 ways her legacy has stayed alive throughout the years:
Seven months after her passing, Los Dinos member and family friend Pete Astudillo, who wrote many of Selena’s songs, released a tribute called “Como Te Extraño.” “You live in my mind/ I want to see you and I can’t have you/ This goodbye burns inside/ Nothing comforts my heart/ I miss you,” go the heartfelt lyrics. The song was composed by Astudillo and former Los Dinos members A.B. Quintanilla and Joe Ojeda.
Throughout the years, painters and graffiti artists have kept Selena’s legacy alive via beautiful tribute murals. Fans can spot different ones around Mexico, Texas, California, Chicago and Miami, to name a few locations (see example below). In July 2019, for example, a new mural located in her Corpus Christi neighborhood was unveiled.
In 1997, a life-size bronze statue of Selena, sculpted by H.W. “Buddy” Tatus, was unveiled in Corpus Christi, Texas, to honor the late singer and her contributions to music and the city. The monument — located at 600 N Shoreline Blvd, Corpus Christi — is called “Mirador de la Flor” (viewpoint of the flower) and finds the statue facing the beach.
Many people first discovered Jennifer Lopez when she portrayed the late Mexican-American singer in the 1997 biographical drama Selena directed by Gregory Nava. The film follows the Queen of Tejano’s life story, from her humble beginnings to gaining international fame to her tragic death. In March 2020, J. Lo released a tribute video celebrating the 23rd anniversary of the movie’s release. Watch it above.
The Quintanilla family opened the Selena Museum in Corpus Christi as an intimate memorial showcasing her awards, concert outfits and memorabilia. According to the Q-Productions website, “The museum was built in response to the thousands of letters mailed to [the family] by fans expressing their desire to have Selena’s memory shared with the public.”
According to the official Selena Instagram account, a set of Selena statues were launched in the late ’90s. Now, they are very hard to find and are considered collector’s items.
To mark the 10th anniversary of her passing, Univision presented Selena ¡VIVE!, a benefit concert held at the Reliant Stadium in Houston, Texas — including tributes by artists such as Paulina Rubio, Thalia, Pepe Aguilar, Kumbia Kings, Gloria Estefan and Olga Tañon.
Selena’s widower, Chris Perez, published a tribute book featuring never-before-seen photos. To Selena, With Love tells the story of his relationship with the late singer.
Mexican tattoo artist Kat Von D launched her Esperanza eye shadow palette in 2003, which included a glitter purple called “Selena.” It was the first color on the set.
Roger Gomez, a devoted fan and founder of LoveSelena.com, hosted the first-ever Selena Fan Gathering in Los Angeles. The annual event, held at Plaza de la Raza around the anniversary of her death, includes performances by tribute artists, washing-machine dance contests, giveaways and more.
The Quintanilla family launched the official Selena Radio in 2014, as part of Q-Productions, which plays non-stop Selena music and commentaries by her family. It’s available 24/7 at www.selenaqradio.com.
At the 2015 Billboard Latin Music Awards, Jennifer Lopez and members of Los Dinos — including Chris Perez, A.B. and Suzette Quintanilla — paid a heartfelt tribute to Selena. Wearing a pale pink ensemble, Lopez sang a medley of songs such as “Como la Flor,” “Bidi Bidi Bom Bom,” “No Me Queda Mas” and “I Could Fall in Love.” “The electricity was there and even though she was singing Selena’s songs, she made them her own tonight,” A.B. told Billboard. “She did a beautiful job. From her heart — this is something that she really wanted to do.”
The Quintanilla family inaugurated the annual Fiesta de la Flor music festival in Corpus Christi. The two-day event included artists such as Jackie Cruz, Leslie Grace and La Mafia. After hosting the event for five years in Corpus, the Quintanilla family announced they would be taking the event to another city.
“We truly appreciate the Selena Foundation and the Quintanilla family for allowing our community to celebrate Selena in such a special way for the past five years,” the organizers said in an October 2019 statement. “We will cherish the memories of this wonderful celebration and wish them luck in future endeavors.”
A prepaid Visa debit card with Selena’s picture on it was made available in 2015. According to Caller Times, the card was available for $4.95 plus a $10 minimum to load for use. No credit history was needed to buy the card, which was available on Selenavisa.com.
In 2016, fans were blessed with a makeup collection curated by Selena’s sister Suzette. The set embodied Selena’s style, including her signature red lipstick and an eye shadow palette named after some of her emblematic songs, such as “Como La Flor,” “Bidi Bidi Bom Bom,” and “No Me Queda Mas.” MAC later announced a new Selena cosmetics line in 2020.
Madame Tussauds Wax Museum unveiled a wax figure of the late songstress after more than 10,000 people signed a Change.org petition. The sculpture of the Tejano music icon recreates the star’s look from her Feb. 7, 1993, performance at the Memorial Coliseum in Corpus Christi, and is located in the museum’s Hollywood, Calif. location.
On October 17, the release date of Selena’s debut self-titled studio album, Google launched an animated Doodle celebrating the legacy of the Mexican-American singer in 18 different countries, including the U.S. and Mexico. “Today we celebrate Selena Quintanilla: Mexican-American music & entertainment icon, fashion trendsetter, passionate entrepreneur, and community philanthropist,” read the official Google statement.
In 2017, pop artist Demi Lovato showed her love for the Queen of Tejano by dressing up as her for Halloween. Other artists who have dressed up as Selena for the national holiday over the years include Keke Palmer, America Ferrera, Kim Kardashian and Victoria la Mala.
Selena was posthumously honored with her very own star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame on Nov. 3, 2017. The star is located in front of the Capitol Records building, where Selena would visit often after signing with EMI Latin.
Karol G surprised her fans with a new arm tattoo that she got in honor of three of her favorite singers: Selena Quintanilla, Rihanna — and herself. Watch a video of the day she got the tribute ink done.
In 2018, the official Netflix U.S. news Twitter account revealed that the Quintanilla family, along with Jaime Dávila and Rico Martinez from Campanario Entertainment, Simran A. Singh, and Moisés Zamora, would executive produce Selena: The Series. In 2019, Netflix unveiled the first look of Christian Serratos, a California-based actress of Mexican-Italian descent (known for her work in The Walking Dead and Twilight films) as Selena. Ricardo Chavira would co-star as Selena’s father Abraham, Gabriel Chavarria as her brother A.B., Noemi Gonzalez as her sister Suzette, Seidy Lopez as her mother Marcella and Madison Taylor Baez as young Selena. The show premiered in December 2020 and season two officially aired in May 2021.
Another way fans have been paying tribute to Selena throughout the years has been by rocking merch … because anything for Selenas! In May 2019, the Quintanilla family launched the official online store for all licensed Selena merch. Q Productions’ website also sells Selena apparel, albums, DVDs, posters, accessories, hats and more.
Angela Aguilar dropped Baila Esta Cumbia in January 2020. The seven-track covers EP highlights some of Selena Quintanilla’s biggest hits. The set kicks off with the title track, giving it a cumbia-banda twist. “I present this EP as a tribute and in gratitude to Selena,” Aguilar wrote on Instagram at the time. “With an admiration of a Mexican / American woman who, along with her family, expressed her love for music and the stage through her dances and songs. I wish I could take your music to more girls who didn’t have the opportunity to listen to it.”
Selena Quintanilla was inducted into the Star Trail of Fame at the Rodeo Houston, making history as the first Latina artist and second female act overall. She was honored 25 years after Selena & Los Dinos took the stage for the last time at the Houston Astrodome in the Rodeo. The Queen of Tejano performed three years in a row (1993-1995), ultimately breaking her own record with the 1995 televised spectacle that drew nearly 67,000 attendees.
Selena’s 1990 album Ven Conmigo was inducted into the National Recording Registry of the Library of Congress. Her recording, which includes hits such as “Baila Esta Cumbia,” “Ya Ves,” and “No Quiero Saber,” was among 25 “aural treasures” granted entry that year.
At the 2020 Premios Juventud, Karol G presented a special tribute, saying that Selena has marked her generation and that’s why she has a tattoo of her on her arm. “She continues to shine each day and that’s why she’s eternal,” she said. Danna Paola, Natti Natasha, Ally Brooke, and Greeicy all shared stages, dazzled in Selena-inspired outfits and performed a medley of “Como La Flor,” “Carcacha,” “Techno Cumbia,” “Amor Prohibido,” Baila Esta Cumbia” and “Fotos y Recuerdos.”
Karol G then presented A.B. Quintanilla with two Musical Legacy awards, for him and his late sister. “I dedicate this award to my mom and dad,” he said, expressing that because of them, he and his siblings fell in love with music.
Wrapping up 2020, Funko Pop unveiled two new Selena figurines: one with her iconic purple jumpsuit and one with her sparkly Grammys look. “Commemorate the greatest Latin female artist of all-time,” expressed the Quintanilla family on social media when they shared the news.
Selena was honored with a Lifetime Achievement Award at the 2021 Grammys alongside Marilyn Horne, Salt-N-Pepa, Talking Heads, Grandmaster Flash & The Furious Five, and Lionel Hampton. According to the Recording Academy’s description: “The Lifetime Achievement Award celebrates performers who have made outstanding contributions of artistic significance to the field of recording.” The late Queen of Tejano won the Grammy for best Mexican/Mexican American album for Live! in 1994, marking the first time a female Tejano artist had won in the category.
In the summer of 2022, the Quintanilla family released a new album called Moonchild Mixes (Warner Music Latina), home to 10 original songs that Selena recorded between the ages of 13 and 16. “We as a family had discussed this amongst ourselves that in the future, after Selena’s passing, we were going to maintain her presence through her music, and we’ve done that for 27 years,” explained Mr. Quintanilla to Billboard. “I’m more than sure that the fans are going to love it because if you listen to it, it’ll move you emotionally and take you back to as if Selena was recording it this morning.” The set’s first single, “Como Te Quiero Yo A Ti” debuted and peaked at No. 6 on the Billboard Latin Digital Song Sales chart.
In honor of Women’s History Month, clothing brand Forever 21 unleashed its Selena Quintanilla collection, featuring t-shirts, hoodies and more for women, men and children. “We celebrate Selena Quintanilla and her ability to be a female-driven force in the male-populated Tejano music genre,” read a joint Instagram post with images of the Selena-inspired outfits. You can shop the collection here.