The Selena Impact
In honor of celebrating and honoring Selena Quintanilla’s legacy, we at The Edge wanted to talk a little bit about the major cultural impact she had and continues to have on music, fashion and the Latino community as a whole.
Selena began her career at a very young age when she started performing in a band that her father made. The band consisted of Selena as the lead singer, her sister Suzette on the drums and her brother A.B. on the guitar. This was the beginning of Selena y Los Dinos. The band would later expand with members outside of the family.
Selena got her big break in the Tejano music scene when she launched the song “Como la Flor,” which broke records. It became a hit in many countries and was certified diamond in Mexico and gold in Argentina. She was able to break through a male-dominated genre of music. She went on to be the first Tejano music singer to win a Grammy. Selena’s an icon, tbh. There’s a reason why she was dubbed the queen of Tejano music!
Selena’s sense of fashion was truly ahead of its time. Selena was called the “Tejano Madonna” because of her fashion choices. She designed all of her stage outfits. She even opened a boutique called Selena etc. Some of her most iconic outfits, such as her hand-bedazzled bralettes paired with tight leather pants, were designed and styled by her, but her most iconic outfit that she is remembered by has to be the purple glittery two-piece set with puffy sleeves and flared pants. These outfits were all designed and made by her. Selena continues to impact the fashion of Latinas, as her pieces are timeless. Even on Halloween, people dress up as her with her iconic two-piece set. Celebrities such as Kim Kardashian, Demi Lovato and Kylie Jenner have dressed up as Selena.
More than just music and fashion, Selena focused on giving back to the community. She was the spokesperson for many charities and nonprofits such as the D.A.R.E organization, where she visited schools to tell children the importance of staying in school and getting an education. She raised awareness about HIV and AIDS and even held a concert to raise funds for it. Selena also hosted a charity baseball game to raise money for various charities. She cared deeply for her community.
Even 28 years after her death, Selena still manages to have a continuous impact on the Latino community and beyond. We can only imagine how much more she could have done. She is truly missed but will forever continue to live through the legacy she left.