Selena Perez

The tragic shooting death of the famous singer Selena spawned a reaction within the Latino population that can be compared to the deaths of Elvis Presley and John Lennon. Selena is my hero because she encouraged people to get a good education even though it was difficult for her to get an education.

Selena wanted to get her degree in fashion design, but she thought that it would be more helpful to her family, employees, and her husband to know more about business than fashion. Selena loved fashion as a young girl. In 1993 she began her own full line of clothing, sold from two boutiques. Selena hired Yolanda Salvidar to manage one boutique even though Yolanda was already president of the fan club. Selena continued designing her clothing line and promoted it. Things such as photo shoots and fashion shows were in between her concerts, so Selena was always busy with her schedule.

This is Selena Perez Singing (www.selenaforever.com)

Selena's fan club attracted even more members. Her family became very wealthy because of Selena's business. She became one of the top twenty wealthiest Hispanics in the world.

On Friday March 31,1995, Selena was scheduled for a recording session at 10:00 A.M. She skipped the session and went to Yolanda's motel room. On Selena's way out, Yolanda shot her in the back of her right shoulder. Selena struggled around the corner and the motel manager helped her inside. She was rushed to the hospital. Sadly, Selena died an hour later. The doctors say she had lost too much blood from the shot.

Hispanics and Americans were in shock when they heard the queen of Tejano was dead. Millions of fans prayed tribute to their fallen star. Many fans went to her brick home. Flowers, stuffed animals, notes, and balloons lined her driveway. Many left the white rose which was her favorite flower. People put signs all around Corpus Christi saying "We love you Selena." A day after her death her Grammy winning album jumped from 12,000 to 28,000 albums sold per week. On the day of her funeral 50,000 fans filed near her closed casket. The family opened the casket one final time to see Selena. Selena was dressed in the purple dress that she had worn at the Ala Dome. She was carried in a white carriage and people threw white roses to it. White rose by white rose kept on piling on top of her casket. On April 16,1995, she would have been twenty-four. Governor George W.Bush declared the day "Selena Day" throughout the state of Texas. He praised her determination and devotion she had made to schools and education.