Staff Writer | Dani Herrera
The Queen of Tejano Music and icon to Mexican-Americans, Selena Quintanilla-Perez, took over the Hollywood Walk of Fame on Nov. 3.
Quintanilla was honored for her 75 platinum career singles, as well as her 7 diamond albums, with her own star almost two decades after her sudden death in 1995.
Some 4,500 fans gathered in Hollywood as her star was unveiled on what has officially been proclaimed “Selena Day” in Los Angeles.
Quintanilla-Perez was a singer that crossed the divide between Spanish and English music, something that is almost unparalleled today, with top hits such as “Bidi Bidi Bom Bom,” “Dreaming of You,” “Como la Flor” and “I Could Fall In Love.” Her life was cut short after she was shot at the age of 23 by the president of her fan club, Yolanda Saldivar.
Though hers is just another star among 2,600 others, her name all over social media in the days leading up to and following Nov. 3.
Out of 2,600 stars on the Walk of Fame, only 89 belong to Latino/Latina artists.The 1997 biopic depicting her life, Selena, is viewed by many as a cultural milestone because of its representation of Mexican-Americans.
As a Mexican-American, Quintanilla-Perez lived in the culture and faced the strife of cultural divide.
Actress Eva Longoria conceptualized this dual identity and simultaneously praised Quintanilla saying, according to ENews, that she was “as American as apple pie and as Mexican as enchiladas.”
According to the Los Angeles Times, Longoria went on to say, “This star isn’t just for Selena but for all Latinas.”
Her legacy has lived on through generations as her music can be expected to play at Mexican family gatherings and as Selena continues to be a staple in every Mexican-American family household.
Selena is not only seen as a singing icon but as a fashion icon. MAC released a makeup line in her honor in 2016. Even stars such as Demi Lovato and Kim Kardashian have recreated her iconic looks, complete with her signature red lipstick and purple bodysuit, for Halloween costumes this past year.
The ceremony was emotional as Selena’s sister, Suzette Quintanilla, accepted her star in her sister’s honor. She quoted Selena saying, “I’ll leave you with this…The goal isn’t to live forever, but to create something that will.’ And I think tonight is a perfect testament of that.”