Selena recorded music.
Selena Quintanilla-Pérez ( [ seˈlena kintaˈniʝa ˈpeɾes ] or [ seˈlena kintaˈniʎa ˈpeɾeθ ] April 16 , 1971 -- March 31 , 1995 ) was an American singer , songwriter , spokesperson , model , actress , and fashion designer . However , her popularity grew after she won the Tejano Music Award for Female Vocalist of the Year in 1987 , which she won nine consecutive times .