Selena Quintanilla, the renowned American songwriter, singer, and fashion trendsetter, was about 165 cm or 5 feet 5 inches tall. With an inch less of the required height (5 feet 6 inches) for an editorial model, Quntanilla’s fans admired her edgy and unique fashion sense.
She influenced her generation and fans through various fashion designs, styles, and cultures and owned a chain of clothing boutiques, Selena Etc. The boutiques served as an expression of Selena’s Mexican-American heritage.
Selena’s boutiques also offered salon services and sold some of Selena’s personally designed pieces. She wanted her fans to have the chance to replicate her style whenever they wanted.
Unfortunately, Selena Quintanilla died at the age of 23. However, her fans still hold her dear due to her mark in the music industry and her love for them.
So, if you are Selena’s fan or someone interested in her remarkable story, stick around to find out everything there is to know about Selena Quintanilla. Get also to find out whether her chain of boutiques is still in business.
Selena Quintanilla’s Early Life, Family, and Education
Marcella Ofelia Quintanilla and Abraham Quintanilla Jr. invited Selena Quintanilla into the family on April 16, 1971. Born in Lake Jackson, Texas, Selena Quintanilla had two siblings and was the youngest.
Selena Quintanilla’s sister was named Suzette, while her brother was Abraham III (“A.B.”). The trio picked up a passion for music from an early age, with a primary influence from their dad, who was a musician.
Besides music, Selena Quintanilla loved education. She enrolled at Oran M. Roberts Elementary School in Lake Jackson for her elementary studies. After a while, the family moved to Corpus Christi.
After moving, she attended West Oso Junior High and finished eighth grade. Later, she secured a GED (General Educational Development) credential. A GED credential is just like a high school diploma.
When she hit 17, Selena Quintanilla got a chance to take the Pacific Western University business administration off-campus courses (correspondence courses). She also served as Coca-Cola’s spokesperson.
Many of Selena Quintanilla’s choices revolved around balancing her education with music. That’s why she eventually dropped school for a while to sustain her music career.
Despite the hard decisions, Selena loved education. She used her musical influence to visit several schools to educate students about the need for education.
Not only did Selena Quintanilla go back to school and complete her education, but she also kept learning while working on her career. Here is more about her career.
Summary of Selena Quintanilla’s Height & Other Attributes
Feature |
Value |
| Height | 165 cm or 5 feet 5 inches tall |
| Weight | 126 lbs or 57 kg |
| Hair Color | Black |
| Eye Color | Dark brown |
| Distinctive features | Stunning Latin American appearance, Preference for provocative dresses |
| Measurements | 89-66-94 cm, or 35-26-37 inches |
Selena Quintanilla’s Career
She went from singing in their family restaurant to winning numerous awards, including the Grammy Awards and the Billboard Latin Music Awards. Many dubbed her the Latin Madonna and the Queen of Tejano. Guess who? Selena Quintanilla, of course.
Selena had a musical gift; it was not long before her father realized and started nurturing it. When Selena was 9, the father decided to create a family band, Selena y Los Dinos.
Selena’s dad, Abraham Quintanilla Jr, was the songwriter, mostly writing Spanish songs. Selena Quintanilla was the lead vocalist. The brother, Abraham III (“A.B.”), was the bass guitarist, while Selena’s sister, Suzette, played the drums.
The band started singing in their family restaurant. Later, they went on tours throughout Texas. They often performed as the opening acts of many other Tejeno bands.
At some point, due to the fame the band had earned, Selena had to stop schooling for a while. She was in the eighth grade at the time. However, she later returned to school and got a GED (General Educational Development) credential.
In 1984, Selena y Los Dinos recorded its first album, Mis Primera Grabaciones (“My First Recordings”). They later released two more albums in 1986, Munequito de Trapo and Alpha.
In 1986, Selena Quintanilla participated in the Tejano Music Awards competitions and won the Female Entertainer of the Year category. Also, the songs she released alongside her band began climbing the Latin music boards.
Selena’s Success and Awards
Selena’s vibrant and energetic performance, a Texan rhythm, and a fluid voice pushed her music career to the top.
Quintanilla’s fans liked how she cleverly borrowed ideas from the Tejano music genre and made her songs melodic and fun, with a touch of smooth dance moves. Eventually, her fans nicknamed her the Latin Madonna and the Queen of Tejano.
While soaring her career ladder, Selena won several awards and found love. She won 68 awards and was nominated for 90 awards. The awards she won were as a result of her popular songs, including:
- Como La Flor
- Amor Prohibido
- Bidi Bidi Bom Bom
- Techno Cumbia
- I Could Fall in Love
- Si Una Vez
- Dreaming of You
- No Quiero Saber
Here is a summary of the awards Selena Quintanilla secured during her career.
| Award | Details |
| BMI Awards | BMI Pop Awards (1993,1994)
BMI Latin Awards (1993, 194) |
| ASCAP Awards | Most Performed Song (1995) |
| Billboard Latin Music Awards | 14 wins, 19 nominations |
| Grammy Awards | Best Mexican-American Performance (1993)
Best Mexican-American Album (1994) |
| Lo Nuestro Awards | 10 wins, 12 nominations |
| Tejano Music Awards | 36 wins, 48 nominations |
Selena Quintanella’s Love and Relationship
Selena’s love life was quite interesting, especially because her father did not approve of it. Moreover, despite the father’s disapproval, she and her lover still got married. It all started when Chris Perez joined the Selena y Los Dinos band as the guitarist.
Chris Perez and Selena Quintanella started dating in 1989. The two began seeing each other and enjoying time together, only for Selena’s father to question their love. He was not for the relationship because he believed it would derail Selena’s career progress.
Selena’s father, the manager at the time, fired Chris Perez with the hope of the two love birds giving up. However, he was wrong. Selena and Perez kept seeing each other and sharing moments of love under the radar of Abraham Quintanilla.
On the 2nd of April 1992, the love birds decided to elope to get married because they knew Abraham Quintanilla would do everything he could to stop them. Eventually, they got married in secret and kept it to themselves.
Later, Selena’s father came to hear about the marriage and was not pleased. However, he eventually accepted the fact of the matter and accepted his daughter’s relationship with the guy he had fired indefinitely.
Selena Quintanilla shared great moments with her husband and grew her music career until her premature demise in 1995. She died at the age of 23 after being shot by Yolanda Saldivar.
Frequently Asked Question
How tall was Selena Quintanilla when she died?
Ans: 165 cm or 5 feet 5 inches tall.
So, What’s Left of Selena Quintanella?
The memories of Selena Quintanella’s music journey and songs still hold a place in the minds of her die-hard fans. Also, many of her songs have been uploaded to YouTube, and her fan base is still growing.
As for her clothing chain stores, they are no longer in business. Luckily, if you desire to purchase an item of hers, you can visit the Selena Museum in Corpus Christi or order it online.