Celebrating The Life Of Selena

Today many people are celebrating the life of Selena Quintanilla otherwise known as Selena. If you've never seen the movie or know anything about Selena, One way to describe her is that she was the Original J-LO. Selena paved the way for Latinas worldwide, she was the first singer to crossover from Spanish to English. Jennifer Lopez eventually played Selena in her movie and that is very significant to many Latinos but in my opinion it should be an inspiration to all cultures. Selena did something that had never been done before and she did it against the odds. I wonder if Shakira would be as successful in Spanish and English music today if it wasn't for Selena's accomplishments .  If you're interested in learning more, here are five interesting facts about Selena from simplemost.com

1. She Supported Her Family Through Singing

Selena was born on April 16, 1971 in Lake Jackson, Texas and would be 46 years old if she were alive today.

Selena’s father saw his daughter’s talents when she was just six years old and would bring her to perform at the family’s restaurant. When the restaurant closed in the 1980s, Selena was often the family’s breadwinner, dropping out of school to make money through her music. She later earned her high school diploma through correspondence studies.

2. Selena’s Final Album Broke Mariah Carey’s Sales Records

“Dreaming of You” was her fifth and final album and it was released after her death. The album sold 175,000 copies on its first day of release in the U.S., which, at the time, was a record for a female vocalist. The album eventually sold more than 5 million copies and surpassed even Mariah Carey’s sales records.

3. Selena Gomez Is Named After The Late Singer

Pop star Selena Gomez was born in 1998, three years after the singer’s death. Her parents were both huge fans of Selena, so they chose to name their daughter after the star.

4. Selena’s Murderer Remains In Prison With A Life Sentence

Following Selena’s death, her murderer Yolanda Saldivar was sentenced to life in prison, where she currently remains. According to the San Antonio Current, she has filed multiple appeals, all of which have been unsuccessful.

5. Texas Celebrates ‘Selena Day’ On April 16

Shortly after Selena’s death, then-governor of Texas (and future president) George W. Bush declared her birthday, April 16, to be “Selena Day” in the Lone Star State