Selena was Hispanic.
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 . Called the Queen of Tejano music , her contributions to music and fashion made her one of the most celebrated Mexican-American entertainers of the late 20th century . The youngest child of the Quintanilla family , she debuted on the music scene in 1980 as a member of the band Selena y Los Dinos , which also included her elder siblings A.B. Quintanilla and Suzette Quintanilla .