Editing Selena (section)

== Life and career ==

=== 1971–1988: Early life and career beginnings ===
Selena Quintanilla was born on April 16, 1971, at Freeport Community Hospital in [[Freeport, Texas]].<ref name=":0">{{cite web|last=Guerra |first=Joey |url=https://preview.houstonchronicle.com/selena/the-doctor-who-delivered-a-baby-selena-was-17001553 |title=The doctor who delivered a baby Selena was presidential hopeful Ron Paul &#124; Datebook |publisher=Preview.houstonchronicle.com |date= |accessdate=April 1, 2022}}</ref><ref name=":1">{{Cite web |last=Ong |first=Danielle |date=February 14, 2020 |title=The Untold Truth About Selena Quintanilla: The Mexican Madonna |url=https://www.latinpost.com/articles/143584/20200214/selena-quintanilla-the-mexican-madonna.htm |access-date=August 11, 2024 |website=Latin Post}}</ref><!-- Do not change the birthplace back to Lake Jackson. Even though Selena lived in Lake Jackson, she wasn't really born there. She was actually born in Freeport because the hospital she was born at is in Freeport. Many reliable sources say Lake Jackson is her birthplace when her birth hospital is in Freeport. --> She was the youngest child of Marcella Ofelia Quintanilla (née Samora), who was Mexican-American with some [[Cherokee ancestry]],{{sfn|Patoski|1996|p=20|ps=: "she was Mexican-American (and part Cherokee Indian)"}} and [[Abraham Quintanilla|Abraham Quintanilla Jr.]], a [[Mexican American]] former musician.<ref name=biographyselena>{{cite web|title=Selena, the Queen of Tejano Music|url=http://www.legacy.com/ns/news-story.aspx?t=selena-the-queen-of-tejano-music&id=312|publisher=[[Legacy.com]]|access-date=October 11, 2011}}</ref> The obstetrician-gynecologist at her birth was future [[United States House of Representatives|House of Representatives]] member [[Ron Paul]].<ref name=":0" /> Selena was raised as a [[Jehovah's Witness]].<ref>{{cite web|first=Ellen |last=Bernstein |work=[[Corpus Christi Caller-Times]] |url=http://www.caller.com/news/1997/apr/16/birthday-hoopla-prohibited/ |title=Birthday hoopla is prohibited |date=April 16, 1997 |location=Corpus Christi, Texas |access-date=August 27, 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090403065442/http://www.caller.com/ccct/home/article/0%2C1641%2CCCCT_800_3654650%2C00.html |archive-date=April 3, 2009 |url-status=dead }}</ref> Quintanilla Jr. noticed her musical abilities when she was six years old. He told ''[[People (magazine)|People]]'' magazine, "Her timing, her pitch were perfect, I could see it from day one." In 1980, Quintanilla Jr. opened his first Tex-Mex restaurant in [[Lake Jackson, Texas|Lake Jackson]], Papa Gayo's, where Selena and her siblings [[A.B. Quintanilla|Abraham III]] (on bass guitar) and Suzette Quintanilla (on drums) would often perform.<ref name=people>{{cite magazine|last1=Hewitt|first1=Bill|title=Before Her Time|magazine=[[People (magazine)|People]]|date=April 17, 1995|volume=43|issue=15|url=http://www.people.com/people/archive/article/0,,20105524,00.html|access-date=January 29, 2015}}</ref> The following year, the restaurant was forced to close after a recession caused by the [[1980s oil glut]]. The family declared bankruptcy and were evicted from their home.<ref name=people /><ref name="Daily News of Los Angeles">{{cite news|title=Viva Selena!|url=http://nl.newsbank.com/nl-search/we/Archives?p_product=LA&p_theme=la&p_action=search&p_maxdocs=200&p_topdoc=1&p_text_direct-0=0EF66AFD71CC58A3&p_field_direct-0=document_id&p_perpage=10&p_sort=YMD_date:D&s_trackval=GooglePM|access-date=October 10, 2011|newspaper=[[Los Angeles Daily News]]|date=August 24, 1994|archive-date=October 21, 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141021190041/http://nl.newsbank.com/nl-search/we/Archives?p_product=LA&p_theme=la&p_action=search&p_maxdocs=200&p_topdoc=1&p_text_direct-0=0EF66AFD71CC58A3&p_field_direct-0=document_id&p_perpage=10&p_sort=YMD_date:D&s_trackval=GooglePM|url-status=dead}}</ref> They settled in [[Corpus Christi, Texas]]; Quintanilla Jr. became manager of the newly formed band [[Selena y Los Dinos]] and began promoting it.<ref name=NewYorkTimes>{{Cite news|title=Grammy Winning Singer Selena Killed in Shooting at Texas Motel|page=1|author=Howe Verhovek, Sam|newspaper=[[The New York Times]]|date=April 1, 1995}}</ref><ref name=people /><ref name="The Milwaukee Sentinel">{{Cite news |date=1995-04-01 |title=Latin singer Selena killed in Texas motel |url=https://www.genealogybank.com/newspaper-clippings/title/hpcdygdpscgufbnrlerhnohlbvxptilv_ip-10-166-46-95_1744251459469 |access-date=2025-04-10 |work=[[Milwaukee Sentinel]] |page=2A |via=[[GenealogyBank.com]] |agency=Associated Press}}</ref> They needed the money and played on street corners, weddings, [[quinceañera]]s, and fairs.<ref name=people />{{sfn|Patoski|1996|p=53}}

As her popularity as a singer grew, the demands of Selena's performance and travel schedule began to interfere with her education. Her father took her out of school when she was in the eighth grade.<ref name="queen">{{cite news |last=Mitchell|first=Rick|title=Selena, the making of the queen of Tejano |url=http://www.chron.com/content/chronicle/metropolitan/selena/95/05/21/legend.html |newspaper=[[Houston Chronicle]]|date=May 21, 1995|access-date=February 1, 2008 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070709024550/http://www.chron.com/content/chronicle/metropolitan/selena/95/05/21/legend.html|archive-date=July 9, 2007}}</ref> Her teacher Marilyn Greer disapproved of Selena's musical career.<ref name=":1" /><ref name=":2">{{Cite web |last=Dixon |first=Christine Liwag |date=2020-02-12 |title=The Untold Truth Of Selena Quintanilla |url=https://www.thelist.com/188362/the-untold-truth-of-selena-quintanilla/ |access-date=2025-02-09 |website=The List |language=en-US}}</ref> She threatened to report Quintanilla Jr. to the [[Texas Board of Education]], believing the conditions to which Selena was exposed were inappropriate for a girl her age.<ref name=":2" /> Quintanilla Jr. told Greer to "mind her business". Other teachers expressed their concerns when they noticed how tired Selena appeared when she arrived at school.{{sfn|Arrarás|1997|p=58}} At seventeen, Selena earned a high school diploma from the [[American School of Correspondence]] in [[Chicago]]{{sfn|Patoski|1996|p=59}} and was also accepted at [[Louisiana State University]].{{sfn|Patoski|1996|p=111}} She enrolled at [[California Miramar University|Pacific Western University]], taking up business administration as her major subject.<ref name="biotexas">{{cite web|last1=Orozco |first1=Cynthia |author-link=Cynthia Orozco|date=August 31, 2010 |title=Selena Biography |url=https://tshaonline.org/handbook/online/articles/fquxg |access-date=September 27, 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150908063732/https://tshaonline.org/handbook/online/articles/fquxg |archive-date=September 8, 2015 |url-status=live |website=Texas State Historical Association}}</ref>

Quintanilla Jr. refurbished an old bus; he named it "Big Bertha" and the family used it as their tour bus.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Barba |first=Joanna |date=2023-09-01 |title=Is That Big Bertha at the Selena Museum? A.B. Clears It Up |url=https://klaq.com/tour-buses-at-the-selena-museum/ |access-date=2025-02-09 |website=95.5 KLAQ |language=en}}</ref> In the first years of touring, the family sang for food and barely had enough money to pay for gasoline.{{sfn|Arrarás|1997|p=56}} In 1984, Selena recorded her first [[LP record]], ''[[Selena y Los Dinos (album)|Selena y Los Dinos]]'', for Freddie Records.<ref>{{cite news|last=Schone|first=Mark|url=https://www.bloomberg.com/bw/stories/2004-10-31/sweet-music |title=Sweet Music|newspaper=[[Bloomberg Businessweek]]|date=October 31, 2004|access-date=January 29, 2015}}</ref> Despite wanting to record English-language songs, Selena recorded [[Tejano music]] compositions; a male-dominated, Spanish-language genre{{sfn|Miguel|2002|p=118}} with German influences{{sfn|Sobek|2012|p=631}} of [[polka]], [[jazz]], and [[country music]], popularized by Mexicans living in the United States.{{sfn|Miguel|2002|p=3}}

Quintanilla Jr. believed that Selena should record musical compositions related to her heritage.<ref name=pbs>{{Cite episode |number=3|title=The Chicano Wave|series=Latin Music USA |url=https://www.pbs.org/wgbh/latinmusicusa/index.html#/en/wat/03/07|access-date=April 19, 2015 |network=[[PBS]] |minutes=30 |quote=Selena wanted to sing American pop music, but her father had learned some hard lessons playing music in Texas with a band he'd had years before called Los Dinos.}}</ref> During the recording sessions for the album, Selena had to learn Spanish phonetically with guidance from her father.{{sfn|Arrarás|1997|p=256}} In 1985, to promote the album, Selena appeared on the ''[[Johnny Canales|Johnny Canales Show]]'', a popular Spanish-language radio program, on which she continued to appear for several years. Selena was discovered by musician Rudy Trevino, founder of the [[Tejano Music Awards]], where she won the [[Tejano Music Award for Female Vocalist of the Year|Female Vocalist of the Year]] award in 1987 and for nine consecutive years after.<ref>{{cite news|last1=Morales |first1=Tatiana|title=Fans, Family Remember Selena|url=http://www.cbsnews.com/news/fans-family-remember-selena/|access-date=January 29, 2015|publisher=[[CBS News]]|date=October 16, 2002}}</ref>

The band was often turned down by Texas music venues because of the members' ages and because Selena was their lead singer.{{sfn|Arrarás|1997|pp=56–57}} Her father was often told by promoters that Selena would never be successful because she was a woman in a genre historically dominated by men.{{sfn|Patoski|1996|p=112}} By 1988, Selena had released five more LP records; ''[[Alpha (Selena album)|Alpha]]'' (1986), ''[[Muñequito de Trapo]]'' (1987), ''[[And the Winner Is... (Selena album)|And the Winner Is...]]'' (1987), ''[[Preciosa (album)|Preciosa]]'' (1988), and ''[[Dulce Amor (album)|Dulce Amor]]'' (1988).{{sfn|Patoski|1996|p=63}}

=== 1989–1991: ''Selena'', ''Ven Conmigo'', and relationship with Chris Pérez ===
[[File:Chris Pérez 2012.jpg|thumb|upright|[[Chris Pérez]] ''(pictured in 2012)'' and Selena began a relationship, despite her father's disapproval]]
[[José Behar]] of newly formed label [[EMI Latin]] Records, together with the new head of [[Sony Music Latin]], watched Selena perform at the [[1989 Tejano Music Awards]]. Behar was searching for new Latin acts and wanted to sign Selena to EMI's label Capitol Records, while Sony Music Latin offered Quintanilla Jr. twice Capitol's signing fee.<ref>{{cite AV media |people=Cecilia Miniucchi (director), [[Edward James Olmos]] (narrator), Jeffrey Coulter (producer) |year=1997 |title=[[Selena Remembered]] |language=en, es |medium=[[VHS]]/[[DVD]] |time=60 minutes|publisher=[[EMI Latin]], [[Q-Productions]]}}</ref> Behar thought he had discovered the "next [[Gloria Estefan]]" but his superior called Behar illogical because he had been in South Texas less than a week.<ref name="queen"/><ref name="The Queen of Tejano Music">{{Cite AV media| title =Queen of Tejano Music, Selena special | publisher=Q-Productions |location=Corpus Christi| date=2007| minutes=18|medium=Part of the 10th anniversary of the ''Selena'' DVD movie }}</ref> Quintanilla Jr. chose EMI Latin's offer because of the potential for a [[crossover (music)|crossover]] album and wanted his children to be the first musicians to sign to the label.<ref name="Legacyrick">{{cite news |last=Gershman |first=Rick |date=March 18, 1997 |title=Selena's legacy |url=https://www.tampabay.com/archive/1997/03/18/selena-s-legacy/ |access-date=2025-04-10 |newspaper=[[St. Petersburg Times]]}}</ref>

Before Selena began recording for her debut album, Behar and [[Stephen Finfer]] requested a crossover album for her.<ref name="Stephen Finfer">{{cite news |last=Lopetegui |first=Enrique |date=April 8, 1995 |title=A Crossover Dream Halted Prematurely, Tragically Some Ambitious Plans Were Under Way to Bring Selena to Mainstream U.S. Audience |url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1995-04-08-ca-52230-story.html |url-access=subscription |access-date=2025-04-10 |newspaper=[[Los Angeles Times]]}}</ref> She recorded three English-language compositions for the heads of EMI's pop division. Behar and Finfer's request for a crossover album was denied and Selena was told she needed a bigger fan base to sell such an album.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.taxi.com/music-business-faq/ar/behar.html |title=Jose Behar, interview |author=Minnick, Doug |date=September 24, 2010 |publisher=Taxi A&R |access-date=September 24, 2010 |url-status=dead |archive-date=January 30, 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150130193334/http://www.taxi.com/music-business-faq/ar/behar.html}}</ref> Behar thought EMI Records and the public did not believe that a Mexican American woman could have "crossover potential" after [[Charles Koppelman]] denied the project.<ref name="The Queen of Tejano Music"/>

Selena released her [[Selena (album)|self-titled debut album]] on October 17, 1989.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Minsker |first=Evan |date=2017-10-17 |title=Selena Honored With Animated Google Doodle: Watch |url=https://pitchfork.com/news/selena-gets-animated-google-doodle-tribute-watch/ |access-date=2025-02-08 |website=Pitchfork |language=en-US}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Google celebrates Selena's 1989 debut album with a new Doodle |url=https://www.thefader.com/2017/10/17/google-doodle-selena-1989-debut-album |access-date=2025-02-08 |website=The FADER |language=en}}</ref> The singer recorded most of the songs at AMEN Studios in [[San Antonio|San Antonio, Texas]]; "[[Sukiyaki (Selena song)|Sukiyaki]]" and "My Love" were recorded at Sunrise Studios in [[Houston]]. Selena wrote "My Love" and wanted the song to be included on the album. Her brother A.B., became Selena's principal record producer and songwriter for most of her musical career,{{sfn|Morales|2003|p=266}} though did not write the tracks "Sukiyaki", "[[Selena (album)|Contigo Quiero Estar]]", and "No Te Vayas". "Sukiyaki" was originally recorded in Japanese in the 1960s by [[Kyu Sakamoto]]; Selena used a translation into Spanish of an English version of the song by [[A Taste of Honey (band)|Janice Marie Johnson]].<ref>{{AllMusic|class=album|id=mw0000078350}}</ref> ''Selena'' peaked at number seven on the US ''Billboard'' [[Regional Mexican Albums]] chart,<ref>{{cite magazine |url={{BillboardURLbyName|artist=selena|chart=all}} |title=Selena (artist): Chart history: Regional Mexican Albums: Selena |magazine=Billboard |access-date=May 16, 2012}}</ref> becoming Selena's first recording to debut on a national music chart. The album performed better than other recordings from other contemporaneous female Tejano singers.{{sfn|Peña|1999|p=205}}

In the same year, [[Coca-Cola]] wanted Selena to become one of their spokespeople in Texas.<ref name="biotexas"/> The jingle used in her first two commercials for the company was composed by A.B. and [[Chris Pérez]]—the latter of whom had joined Selena y Los Dinos several months earlier as the band's new guitarist.{{sfn|Pérez|2012|p=9}} Pérez began having romantic feelings for Selena, despite having a girlfriend in San Antonio.{{sfn|Pérez|2012|p=12}} After a trip down to Mexico with the band, Pérez thought it would be best for them both to distance themselves, but he found that impossible and chose to try to build a relationship with her.{{sfn|Pérez|2012|p=28}} They expressed their feelings for each other at a [[Pizza Hut]] restaurant and shortly afterward became a couple.{{sfn|Novas|1995|p=50}}{{sfn|Pérez|2012|p=49}} Pérez and Selena hid their relationship, fearing Quintanilla Jr. would try to break it up.{{sfn|Pérez|2012|p=52}}{{sfn|Jones|2000|p=23}}

Selena released her second studio album, ''[[Ven Conmigo (album)|Ven Conmigo]]'', in September 1990.<ref>{{Cite news |date=2016-10-05 |title=Selena Quintanilla: The tragic Latin pop icon who still inspires |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/world-latin-america-37563550 |access-date=2025-02-09 |work=BBC News |language=en-GB}}</ref> Three tracks from ''Ven Conmigo'' were released as singles; "Ya Ves", "La Tracalera", and "[[Baila Esta Cumbia]]".<ref name=disco>{{cite magazine|title=Selena > Discography|date=June 10, 1995|magazine=Billboard|volume=107 |issue=23|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=0QsEAAAAMBAJ&pg=PA64|access-date=October 10, 2014}}</ref> The latter, a [[Mexican cumbia|Tejano cumbia]] song, became one of Selena's most successful singles. Its popularity grew in Mexico, where a compilation album bearing the single's name was released there, which was certified platinum by the [[Asociación Mexicana de Productores de Fonogramas y Videogramas]] (AMPROFON), denoting sales of 150,000 units.<ref>{{harvnb|Castrellón|2007|p=[https://books.google.com/books?id=pT3SO9XeUbQC&pg=PT22 NA]}}. "El motivo era celebrar que Selena había ganado su primer Disco de Oro al rabasar las 150 mil copias vendidas de su disco Baila Esta Cumbia, el primero que salio en Mexico. [The occasion was to celebrate that Selena had won her first gold record of 150 thousand copies sold of her album Baila Esta Cumbia, who first came to Mexico.]"</ref><ref>{{cite news|title=Disco de Oro y Platino a Viene de la Uno|work=[[El Siglo de Torreón]]|date=December 13, 1993|language=es |url=http://h.elsiglodetorreon.com.mx/Repository/getFiles.asp?Style=OliveXLib:LowLevelEntityToSaveGifMSIE_ELSIGLO&Type=text/html&Locale=spanish-skin-custom&Path=EDT/1993/12/13&ChunkNum=-1&ID=Ar05010&PageLabel=50|access-date=October 10, 2014}}</ref>

A registered nurse and fan named [[Yolanda Saldívar]] asked Quintanilla Jr. to start a fan club in San Antonio.{{sfn|Patoski|1996|p=134}} Saldívar had the idea after she had attended one of Selena's concerts. Quintanilla Jr. approved Saldívar's request; he believed the fan club would bring more exposure for the band. Saldívar soon became a close friend to Selena and the family; she was trusted and became the acting president of the fan club in 1991.<ref name="orlando">{{cite news |date=April 1, 1995 |title=Gunshot Silences Singing Sensation Selena At Age 23 |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-orlando-sentinel-gunshot-silences-si/169967387/ |access-date=2025-04-10 |newspaper=Orlando Sentinel |pages=[https://www.newspapers.com/clip/169967387/ A1], [https://www.newspapers.com/clip/169967434/ A5]}}</ref> That same year, [[List of Salvadorans|Salvadoran]] singer [[Álvaro Torres]] composed a duet he wanted to record with Selena. The song, "[[Buenos Amigos]]", was produced by Enrique Elizondo and was released on Torres' tenth studio album ''[[Nada Se Compara Contigo]]'' (1991).<ref>{{cite news|last=Soto |first=Manuel |title=Alvaro Torres: el antigalán de la canción |date=December 30, 2004 |url=http://www.hoy.com.do/areito/2004/12/30/32744/print |access-date=May 7, 2012 |newspaper=[[Hoy (U.S. newspaper)|Hoy]] |language=es |url-status=dead |archive-date=October 6, 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141006111739/http://hoy.com.do/areito/2004/12/30/32744/print}}</ref>

"[[Buenos Amigos]]" peaked at number one on the US ''Billboard'' Top Latin Songs chart, giving Selena her first number-one single.<ref>{{Cite magazine |date=2020-03-30 |title=All Selena Quintanilla's Hot Latin Songs Hits |url=https://www.billboard.com/pro/selena-hot-latin-songs-hits/ |access-date=2025-02-09 |magazine=Billboard |language=en-US}}</ref> The song's music video earned Selena and Torres two nominations at the 1992 [[Billboard Music Awards|''Billboard'' Music Awards]].<ref>{{cite magazine|title=Peniston Leads Music Video Nominees|magazine=Billboard|date=October 17, 1992|volume=104|issue=42|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=EBIEAAAAMBAJ&q=Selena+Torres+Buenos+Amigos&pg=RA1-PA80|access-date=May 5, 2013}}</ref> The track was also nominated for Duo of the Year at the [[1992 Tejano Music Awards]].<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.tejanomusicawards.com/awards-show/past-award-winners/ |title=Past Tejano Music Awards Winners |website=TejanoMusicAwards.com |publisher=Texas Talent Association |access-date=May 5, 2013 |archive-date=September 17, 2012 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20120917144800/http://www.tejanomusicawards.com/awards-show/past-award-winners/ |url-status=dead }}</ref> Biographer Deborah Parédez wrote that the track enabled Selena to tour the west and east coasts of the United States.{{sfn|Parédez|2009|p=259}} According to John Lannert of ''Billboard'' magazine, "Buenos Amigos" was helped by increased airplay on regional Mexican and Tejano radio stations, which had previously dismissed Selena's recordings.<ref>{{cite magazine|author=Lannert, John |date=June 10, 1995 |title=Beloved Selena Enters Latin Music Hall of Fame |magazine=Billboard |volume=107 |issue=23 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=0QsEAAAAMBAJ&pg=PA58 |access-date=May 2, 2013}}</ref>

=== 1992–1993: Elopement, ''Entre a Mi Mundo'', and ''Selena Live'' ===
[[File:Selena Signature.svg|upright|thumb|Trademark logo used by Selena]]
Selena's sister Suzette claimed to have caught Selena and Pérez flirting with each other and immediately informed their father.{{sfn|Pérez|2012|p=72}}{{Efn|According to Pérez in that book, Suzette freaked out when she got on Big Bertha, the band's tour bus, seeing him and Selena together, but they actually never flirted with each other when they were on the bus alone before Suzette's bare arrival.}} Quintanilla Jr. took Pérez off the bus and told him his relationship with Selena was over.{{sfn|Pérez|2012|p=73}} Selena and Pérez continued their relationship despite Quintanilla Jr's disapproval;{{sfn|Pérez|2012|p=75}}<ref name=hollywoodreporter>{{cite news|last=Aguila|first=Justino|title=Selena's Widower Shows a Different Side of Singer in New Book (Q&A)|url=http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/selena-chris-perez-book-to-selena-with-love-303434|access-date=June 9, 2013|newspaper=[[The Hollywood Reporter]]|date=March 22, 2012}}</ref> Selena's mother Marcella approved of their relationship.{{sfn|Novas|1995|p=53}} Quintanilla Jr. saw Selena and Pérez romantically together on the bus after he informed them of his disapproval; he pulled over and an argument between him and Selena ensued. He called Pérez a "cancer in my family" and threatened to disband the group if they continued their relationship.<ref name="cnn">{{cite news|last=Gostin|first=Nicki|title=Chris Perez on his book 'To Selena, With Love'|url=http://www.cnn.com/2012/03/30/showbiz/celebrity-news-gossip/chris-perez-selena-book/|access-date=June 9, 2013|publisher=CNN|date=March 30, 2012}}</ref>

Selena and Pérez relented; Quintanilla Jr. fired Pérez from the band and prevented Selena from leaving with him.{{sfn|Pérez|2012|p=79}} After his dismissal, Pérez and Selena secretly continued their relationship. On the morning of April 2, 1992, Selena and Pérez decided to [[elopement (marriage)|elope]], believing Quintanilla Jr. would never approve of their relationship.{{sfn|Pérez|2012|p=93}}<ref>{{Cite web |date=April 2, 1992 |title=Selena and Chris' marriage certificate {{!}} State of Texas |url=https://pbs.twimg.com/media/C8dXWJQUIAA4T-2.jpg |website=}}</ref> Selena thought her father would have to accept them if they were married and would not have to hide their feelings for each other. Within hours of their marriage, the media announced the couple's elopement.{{sfn|Pérez|2012|p=99}}

Selena's family tried to find her; Quintanilla Jr. did not take the news well and alienated himself for some time.{{sfn|Pérez|2012|p=99}} Selena and Pérez moved into an apartment in Corpus Christi.{{sfn|Jones|2000|p=26}} In interviews, Quintanilla Jr. expressed how he feared Pérez could be a ''[[machismo|machista]]'' (Spanish for a male chauvinist), who would force Selena to end her career and music goals, a move that prevented Quintanilla Jr. to accept Pérez as being suitable for Selena at the time.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Behar|first1=Deider|title=Exclusive: 'Selena' Turns 20! Her Family Reflects on the Movie and Her Legacy: 'In My Mind, She's Still Alive'|website=E! |date=March 21, 2017 |url=http://www.etonline.com/news/213379_exclusive_selena_turns_20_her_family_reflects_on_the_movie_and_her_legacy_in_my_mind_she_still_alive|access-date=September 13, 2017}}</ref> Quintanilla Jr. later approached Pérez, apologized, accepted the marriage, and took Pérez back into the band.{{sfn|Pérez|2012|p=105}}

A month after her elopement, Selena released her third studio album, ''[[Entre a Mi Mundo]]'', in May 1992.<ref>{{Cite magazine |author1=Marjua Estevez |author2=Suzy Exposito |author3=Andrew Casillas |author4=Isabela Raygoza |author5=John Ochoa|date=2018-07-09 |title=50 Greatest Latin Pop Songs |url=https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-latin-lists/50-greatest-latin-pop-songs-695776/selena-como-la-flor-1989-695887/ |access-date=2025-02-09 |magazine=Rolling Stone |language=en-US}}</ref> The album was critically acclaimed as her "breakthrough album".<ref>{{cite news|last=Tarradell|first=Mario |title=Dreaming of Selena A new album celebrates what she was but only hints at what she could have become |url=http://nl.newsbank.com/nl-search/we/Archives?p_product=DM&p_theme=dm&p_action=search&p_maxdocs=200&p_topdoc=1&p_text_direct-0=0ED3D5DDAA01CD52&p_field_direct-0=document_id&p_perpage=10&p_sort=YMD_date:D&s_trackval=GooglePM|access-date=November 18, 2011|newspaper=The Dallas Morning News|date=July 16, 1995|url-access=subscription}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last=Mitchell |first=Rick |date=April 12, 1995 |title=Record company planning Selena retrospective |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/fort-worth-star-telegram-record-company/169967519/ |access-date=2025-04-10 |newspaper=[[Fort Worth Star-Telegram]] |page=A14 |via=[[Newspapers.com]]}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|last=Burr|first=Ramiro|title=Selena crosses over to pop&nbsp;– Posthumous release a reminder of talent cut short|url=http://nl.newsbank.com/nl-search/we/Archives?p_product=SAEC&p_theme=saec&p_action=search&p_maxdocs=200&p_topdoc=1&p_text_direct-0=0EAFE768CABF14E6&p_field_direct-0=document_id&p_perpage=10&p_sort=YMD_date:D&s_trackval=GooglePM|access-date=November 18, 2011|newspaper=San Antonio-Express News|date=July 18, 1995|url-access=subscription|archive-date=July 11, 2012|archive-url=https://archive.today/20120711233500/http://nl.newsbank.com/nl-search/we/Archives?p_product=SAEC&p_theme=saec&p_action=search&p_maxdocs=200&p_topdoc=1&p_text_direct-0=0EAFE768CABF14E6&p_field_direct-0=document_id&p_perpage=10&p_sort=YMD_date:D&s_trackval=GooglePM|url-status=dead}}</ref> The recording peaked at number one on the US ''Billboard'' Regional Mexican Albums chart for eight consecutive months;<ref>{{cite news|last=Burr|first=Ramiro|title=Awards recognize Latin musicians|url=http://nl.newsbank.com/nl-search/we/Archives?p_product=AASB&p_theme=aasb&p_action=search&p_maxdocs=200&p_topdoc=1&p_text_direct-0=0EAD91C1E2B25377&p_field_direct-0=document_id&p_perpage=10&p_sort=YMD_date:D&s_trackval=GooglePM|access-date=November 18, 2011|newspaper=Austin American Statesmen|date=May 20, 1993|url-access=subscription}}</ref> it was certified 10× platinum by the RIAA for sales of 600,000 [[album-equivalent unit]]s,<ref name="RIAA">{{Cite certification|region=United States|artist=Selena|Spanish=yes|access-date=September 5, 2015}}</ref> while in Mexico, the album sold 385,000 units.{{sfn|Arrarás|1997|p=104}} ''Entre a Mi Mundo'' became the first Tejano album by a female artist to sell over 300,000 copies.{{efn|According to a book written by Stacy Lee, she reported sales of 300,000 units,{{sfn|Stacy|2002|p=746}} while [[María Celeste Arrarás]] wrote in her book that the album sold 385,000 units in Mexico.{{sfn|Arrarás|1997|p=104}}}}

Selena was booked for a high-profile border press tour in [[Monterrey]], Mexico, with music media figures in a meet-and-greet conference. At the time, Tejanos were looked down on as "hayseed pochos" among Mexican citizens. The singer's Spanish was far from fluent;{{sfn|Patoski|1996|p=102}} EMI Latin executives were "terrified" about the singer's limited Spanish during the press conference for the album in Mexico.<ref>{{cite news |last=Deggans |first=Eric |date=July 21, 1995 |title=Latin Diva's Legacy Lives Through Music |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/asbury-park-press-latin-divas-legacy-li/169967625/ |access-date=2025-04-10 |work=[[Asbury Park Press]] |page=E5}}</ref> According to Patoski, Selena "played her cards right" during the conference and won over the Mexican media after newspapers hailed her as "an artist of the people". The newspapers found her to be a refreshing change from Mexican [[telenovela]] actors "who were fair-skinned, blond-haired, and green-eyed."{{sfn|Patoski|1996|p=103}}

After her publicity press, Selena was booked to play at several concerts throughout Mexico, including a performance at Festival Acapulco in May 1993, which garnered her critical acclaim.{{sfn|Patoski|1996|p=113}} Her performance in [[Nuevo León]] on September 17, 1993, was attended by 70,000 people, garnering her the title of the biggest Tejano act in Mexico.{{sfn|Patoski|1996|p=103}} The album produced four singles; "[[Como la Flor]]", "[[¿Qué Creías?]]", "[[La Carcacha]]", and "[[Amame (song)|Amame]]". "Como la Flor" became Selena's [[signature song|signature recording]];{{sfn|Clark|2013|p=120}} it was critically acclaimed by music critics as a career launcher for Selena.<ref>{{cite news|last=Tarradell|first=Mario|title=Selena's Power: Culture Fusion |url=http://nl.newsbank.com/nl-search/we/Archives?p_product=DM&p_theme=dm&p_action=search&p_maxdocs=200&p_topdoc=1&p_text_direct-0=0ED3D8F8378AECD7&p_field_direct-0=document_id&p_perpage=10&p_sort=YMD_date:D&s_trackval=GooglePM |access-date=November 18, 2011|newspaper=The Dallas Morning News|date=March 16, 1997|url-access=subscription}}</ref>

"Como la Flor" helped Selena to dominate the Latin music charts and become immensely popular in Mexico—where Mexican-Americans were generally not liked among citizens—and was well received by critics.{{sfn|Malone|2003|p=158}} The track was nominated for [[Tejano Music Award for Song of the Year|Song of the Year]] at the [[1993 Tejano Music Awards]].<ref>{{cite news|title=Music Scene |newspaper=[[The Philadelphia Inquirer]]|url=http://nl.newsbank.com/nl-search/we/Archives?p_product=PI&s_site=philly&p_multi=PI&p_theme=realcities&p_action=search&p_maxdocs=200&p_topdoc=1&p_text_direct-0=0EB2A4E4926B97BE&p_field_direct-0=document_id&p_perpage=10&p_sort=YMD_date:D&s_trackval=GooglePM |access-date=November 18, 2011|date=May 23, 1993|url-access=subscription}}</ref> The single peaked at number six on the US ''Billboard'' Top Latin Songs chart.<ref>{{cite magazine|title=Billboard Charts > Selena > Top Latin Songs|magazine=Billboard|url=http://www.billboard.com/artist/278615/selena/chart?page=1&f=363 |access-date=January 30, 2015}}</ref> In 1994, ''Entre a Mi Mundo'' ranked as the second best-selling regional Mexican album of all-time.{{sfn|Lannert|Bronson|Mayfield|1995|p=72, 80, 82}}

Selena released ''[[Selena Live!|Live!]]'' a year after ''Entre a Mi Mundo''; it was recorded during a free concert at the [[Memorial Coliseum (Corpus Christi)|Memorial Coliseum]] in Corpus Christi, on February 7, 1993.{{sfn|Patoski|1996|p=135}} The album included previously released tracks that were sung live and three studio recordings; "[[No Debes Jugar]]", "[[La Llamada]]", and "Tú Robaste Mi Corazón"—a duet with Tejano musician [[Emilio Navaira]]. The tracks "No Debes Jugar" and "La Llamada" peaked within the top five on the US ''Billboard'' Top Latin Songs chart.<ref>{{cite web|title=Allmusic > Selena Awards |url=http://www.allmusic.com/artist/selena-mn0000004852/awards|website=[[AllMusic]]|access-date=June 21, 2012}}</ref> ''Live!'' won the [[Grammy Award]] for [[Grammy Award for Best Mexican/Mexican-American Album|Best Mexican/American Album]] at the [[36th Annual Grammy Awards|36th Grammy Awards]].{{sfn|Stacy|2002|p=746}}

In May 1994, ''Live!'' was named Album of the Year by the [[Billboard Latin Music Awards|''Billboard'' Latin Music Awards]].<ref>{{cite magazine|last=Lannert|first=John |title=Latin Music Conference|magazine=Billboard|date=May 21, 1994|volume=106|issue=21|page=112 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=TAgEAAAAMBAJ&pg=PA49|access-date=November 6, 2011}}</ref> At the [[1994 Tejano Music Awards]], ''Live!'' won [[Tejano Music Award for Album of the Year — Orchestra|Album of the Year]],<ref name="TMAs">{{cite web|title=Tejano Music Awards Past Award Winners |publisher=TejanoMusicAwards.com |url=http://www.tejanomusicawards.com/winners.html |access-date=August 23, 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100815054136/http://www.tejanomusicawards.com/winners.html |archive-date=August 15, 2010 |url-status=dead}}</ref> while at the [[Premio Lo Nuestro 1994|1994 Lo Nuestro Awards]], it was nominated for [[Lo Nuestro Award for Regional Mexican Album of the Year|Regional Mexican Album of the Year]].<ref>{{Cite news |last1=González|first1= Fernando |title=Lo Nuestro, Billboard Honor Latin Singers |newspaper=[[The Miami Herald]] |date=May 16, 1994}}</ref> ''Live!'' was certified gold by the RIAA for shipments of 500,000 copies, while in Mexico it sold 250,000 units.<ref name="RIAA"/><ref name=phenomenon>{{cite magazine|last=Lannert|first=John|title=The Selena Phenomenon|magazine=Billboard |date=September 2, 1995|volume=107|issue=35|page=120|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=xw0EAAAAMBAJ&q=Selena+Live%21&pg=PA41|access-date=November 6, 2011}}</ref> Selena briefly appeared opposite [[Erik Estrada]] in a Mexican telenovela titled ''[[Dos Mujeres, Un Camino]]''. In 1995 she entered negotiations to star in another telenovela produced by [[Emilio Larrosa]]. She appeared in two episodes, which garnered record ratings for the series.{{sfn|Patoski|1996|p=134}}

=== 1994–1995: Fashion venture, film debut, and ''Amor Prohibido'' ===
[[File:Selena etc. Logo.jpg|thumb|upright|The logo used by Selena for her [[Selena Etc.|boutiques]]]]
Aside from music, in 1994 Selena began designing and manufacturing a line of clothing; she opened two boutiques called [[Selena Etc.]], one in Corpus Christi and the other in San Antonio. Both were equipped with in-house beauty salons.{{sfn|Patoski|1996|p=120}} By the end of 1994, Selena Etc. had held two fashion shows to showcase their clothing line. Selena (alongside her band, Selena y Los Dinos) held a concert after Selena Etc.'s second fashion show on December 3, 1994, at the Hemisfair Arena in San Antonio. She was in negotiations to open more stores in [[Monterrey]], Mexico, and [[Puerto Rico]].{{sfn|Jasinski|2012}} Saldívar managed both boutiques after the Quintanilla family were impressed with the way she managed the fan club.{{sfn|Patoski|1996|p=146}}

''Hispanic Business'' magazine reported that the singer earned over five million dollars from these boutiques.<ref name="Fivemillion">{{cite web|url=http://www.caller.com/ccct/home/article/0,1641,CCCT_800_3654650,00.html |title=Selena&nbsp;– Life Events |website=Corpus Christi Caller Times |date=March 27, 2005 |access-date=June 7, 2006 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060513034837/http://www.caller.com/ccct/home/article/0%2C1641%2CCCCT_800_3654650%2C00.html |archive-date=May 13, 2006 |url-status=dead }}</ref> She was ranked among the twentieth-wealthiest Hispanic musicians who grossed the highest income in 1993 and 1994.{{sfn|Arrarás|1997|p=51}} Selena released her fourth studio album, ''[[Amor Prohibido]]'', in March 1994.<ref>{{Cite magazine |last=Roiz |first=Jessica |date=2019-03-14 |title=Selena's 'Amor Prohibido' Celebrates 25 Years |url=https://www.billboard.com/pro/selena-amor-prohibido-album-celebrates-25-years/ |access-date=2025-02-08 |magazine=Billboard |language=en-US}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=2024-07-23 |title=Selena's 'Amor Prohibido' lives on in chart-topping success |url=https://www.latimes.com/delos/story/2024-07-23/selena-amor-prohibido-lives-on-in-chart-topping-success |access-date=2025-02-08 |website=Los Angeles Times |language=en-US}}</ref> The recording debuted at number three on the US [[Billboard Top Latin Albums|''Billboard'' Top Latin Albums]] chart<ref>{{cite magazine|title=Top Latin Albums > Week of April 9, 1994|url=http://www.billboard.com/charts/1994-04-09/latin-albums|magazine=Billboard|access-date=January 29, 2012}}</ref> and number one on the US ''Billboard'' Regional Mexican Albums charts.<ref>{{cite magazine|title=Regional Mexican Albums > Week of April 9, 1994|url=http://www.billboard.com/charts/1994-04-09/regional-mexican-albums|magazine=Billboard|access-date=January 29, 2012}}</ref> After peaking at number one on the Top Latin Albums, the album remained in the top five for the rest of the year and into early 1995.<ref name=albumsales>{{cite magazine|last1=Lannert|first1=John|title=Selena's Albums Soar|magazine=Billboard|date=April 22, 1995|volume=107|issue=16|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=5QsEAAAAMBAJ&q=Selena|access-date=March 9, 2015}}</ref>

''Amor Prohibido'' became the second Tejano album to reach year-end sales of 500,000 copies, which had previously only been accomplished by [[La Mafia]].{{sfn|Patoski|1996|p=152}}<ref name=soared>{{cite news|last=Tarradell|first=Mario|title=Singer soared beyond traditional limits on Tejano music|url=http://nl.newsbank.com/nl-search/we/Archives?p_product=DM&p_theme=dm&p_action=search&p_maxdocs=200&p_topdoc=1&p_text_direct-0=0ED3D5B623415D08&p_field_direct-0=document_id&p_perpage=10&p_sort=YMD_date:D&s_trackval=GooglePM|access-date=November 4, 2011|newspaper=The Dallas Morning News|date=April 1, 1995|url-access=subscription}}</ref> It became one of the [[List of best-selling Latin albums in the United States|best-selling Latin albums in the United States]].{{sfn|Parédez|2009|p=47}}{{sfn|Arrarás|1997|p=34}} ''Amor Prohibido'' spawned four number-one singles; the [[Amor Prohibido (song)|title track]], "[[Bidi Bidi Bom Bom]]", "[[No Me Queda Más]]", and "[[Fotos y Recuerdos]]".{{efn|"Fotos y Recuerdos" peaked at number one posthumously in April 1995.<ref>{{cite magazine|last=Lannert|first=John|title=Beloved Selena Enters The Latin Music Hall of Fame|magazine=Billboard|date=June 10, 1995|volume=107|issue=23|page=112|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=0QsEAAAAMBAJ&q=Selena+songwriting+controversy+fotos+y+recuerdos&pg=PA58|access-date=December 26, 2011}}</ref> "Amor Prohibido", "Bidi Bidi Bom Bom", and "No Me Queda Mas" peaked at number one before Selena's death.<ref name=charthistory>{{cite magazine|title=Selena's Chart Performance|url={{BillboardURLbyName|artist=selena|chart=all}}|magazine=Billboard|access-date=November 23, 2011}}</ref>}} ''Amor Prohibido'' was among the [[List of best-selling albums in the United States|best selling U.S. albums]] of 1995,<ref name="bestseller">{{cite news |title=Five Selena albums reach Billboard 200 |first=Ramiro|last=Burr |url=http://nl.newsbank.com/nl-search/we/Archives?p_product=SAEC&p_theme=saec&p_action=search&p_maxdocs=200&p_topdoc=1&p_text_direct-0=0EAFE755195D0535&p_field_direct-0=document_id&p_perpage=10&p_sort=YMD_date:D&s_trackval=GooglePM |newspaper=[[San Antonio Express-News]] |date=April 14, 1995 |access-date=August 14, 2011|url-access=subscription}}</ref> and has been certified 36× platinum by the RIAA for sales of 2.16 million album-equivalent units in the United States.<ref name="RIAA"/> The album was named on Tom Moon's list of the ''1,000 Recordings to Hear Before You Die: A Listener's Life List'' (2008).{{sfn|Moon|2008|p=990}}

''Amor Prohibido'' popularized Tejano music among a younger and wider audience than at any other time in the genre's history.{{sfn|Miguel|2002|p=110}}<ref>{{cite news|title=Born on the Border|work=[[Newsweek]] |date=October 22, 1995|url=http://www.newsweek.com/born-border-184270|access-date=February 28, 2015}}</ref> The two singles, "Amor Prohibido" and "No Me Queda Más", were the most successful US Latin singles of [[Billboard Top Latin Songs Year-End Chart|1994 and 1995]], respectively.<ref name="billboardmag">
{{Cite magazine
| date = November 28, 1998
| title = Topping The Charts Year By Year
| magazine = Billboard
| volume = 110
| issue = 48
| page = LMQ3
| url = https://books.google.com/books?id=MAoEAAAAMBAJ&q=rudy+la+scala&pg=RA1-PA38
| access-date =March 3, 2010}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |title=Remembering Selena's Trailblazing Music |author=Rivas, Jorge |url=http://colorlines.com/archives/2011/03/16th_anniversary_of_selenas_death.html |newspaper=Colorlines |date=March 31, 2011 |access-date=April 14, 2011 |archive-date=July 1, 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170701170710/http://www.colorlines.com/articles/remembering-selenas-trailblazing-music |url-status=dead }}</ref> The album's commercial success led to a Grammy nomination for Best Mexican/American Album at the [[37th Grammy Awards]] in 1995.<ref>{{cite news |last=Valdes |first=Alisa |date=April 7, 1995 |title=Loving Selena, fans loved themselves |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-boston-globe-loving-selena-fans-lov/169967690/ |access-date=2025-04-10 |newspaper=[[Boston Globe]]}}</ref> It won Record of the Year at the [[1995 Tejano Music Awards]]<ref name="TMAs" /> and Regional/Mexican Album of the Year at the [[Premio Lo Nuestro 1995|1995 Lo Nuestro Awards]].{{sfn|Patoski|1996|p=152}} Selena was named "one of Latin music's most successful touring acts" during her ''Amor Prohibido'' tour.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Harrington|first1=Richard|title=Slain Tejano Singer's Album Tops Pop Chart |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-srv/style/longterm/movies/review97/selenaalbum.htm|access-date=February 28, 2015|newspaper=[[The Washington Post]]|date=July 26, 1995}}</ref>

After ''Amor Prohibido''{{'}}s release, Selena was considered "bigger than Tejano itself", and broke barriers in the Latin music world.<ref name="Newsday">{{cite news |last=Schone |first=Mark |date=April 20, 1995 |title=A Postmortem Star In death, Selena is a crossover success |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/newsday-a-postmortem-star-in-death-sel/142411788/ |access-date=2025-04-10 |newspaper=Newsday |page=B3 |via=[[Newspapers.com]]}}</ref> She was called the "Queen of Tejano Music" by many media outlets.{{efn|Outlets describing Selena as "Queen of Tejano Music" include: ''[[Entertainment Weekly]]'',<ref>{{cite magazine|last=Cortina|first=Betty|title=A Sad Note|magazine=[[Entertainment Weekly]]|date=March 26, 1999|issue=478|url=https://ew.com/article/1999/03/26/four-years-after-selenas-death/|access-date=September 11, 2012|archive-date=June 23, 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110623104918/http://www.ew.com/ew/article/0,,274898,00.html|url-status=live}}</ref> ''Billboard'' magazine,<ref>{{cite magazine|last=Lannert|first=John |title=Tejano Music Awards: Bigger, But Not Necessarily Better |magazine=Billboard|date=April 6, 1996 |volume=108|issue=14|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=Tw0EAAAAMBAJ&q=Selena+Queen+of+Tejano+Music&pg=PA37 |access-date=September 11, 2012}}</ref> ''[[Los Angeles (magazine)|Los Angeles Magazine]]'',<ref>{{cite magazine |last=Katz|first=Jesse|title=The Curse of Zapata|magazine=[[Los Angeles (magazine)|Los Angeles Magazine]] |date=December 2002 |volume=47 |issue=12 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=7V0EAAAAMBAJ&q=Selena+Queen+of+Tejano+Music&pg=PA104|access-date=September 11, 2012}}</ref> ''[[Vibe (magazine)|Vibe]]'' magazine,<ref>{{cite magazine|title=The Year In Review|magazine=[[Vibe (magazine)|Vibe]]|date=September 1998|volume=6|issue=7|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=lywEAAAAMBAJ&q=Selena+Queen+of+Tejano+Music&pg=PA167|access-date=September 11, 2012}}{{Dead link|date=January 2023 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}</ref> ''[[The Huffington Post]]'',<ref>{{cite news|last1=Hernandez|first1=Lee |title=Selena Quintanilla: Remembering The Queen Of Tejano Music On Her Birthday|date=April 15, 2012 |url=http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/04/15/selena-quintanilla-birthday-tejano_n_1425195.html |access-date=January 30, 2015 |work=[[The Huffington Post]]}}</ref> and ''The New York Times''.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Verhovek|first1=Sam|title=Grammy-Winning Singer Selena Killed in Shooting at Texas Motel |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1995/04/01/obituaries/grammy-winning-singer-selena-killed-in-shooting-at-texas-motel.html|access-date=January 30, 2015|work=[[The New York Times]]|date=April 1995 }}</ref>}} ''Billboard'' magazine ranked ''Amor Prohibido'' among the most essential Latin recordings of the past 50 years<ref>{{cite magazine|title=The 50 Greatest Latin Albums of the Past 50 Years |url=http://www.billboard.com/photos/6686047/50-most-essential-latin-albums-past-50-years/45 |magazine=Billboard |date=September 17, 2015 |access-date=August 19, 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160604223334/http://www.billboard.com/photos/6686047/50-most-essential-latin-albums-past-50-years/45 |archive-date=June 4, 2016 |url-status=live}}</ref> and included it on its list of the top 100 albums of all-time.{{sfn|Roiz|2015 (b)}} In 2017, [[NPR]] ranked ''Amor Prohibido'' at number 19 on their list of the 150 greatest albums made by women.<ref>{{cite news|last1=Diaz-Hurtado |first1=Jessica|title=The 150 Greatest Albums Made By Women |url=https://www.npr.org/2017/07/20/538317263/turning-the-tables-150-greatest-albums-made-by-women-page-14 |work=[[NPR]]|date=July 24, 2017|access-date=July 24, 2017}}</ref> Sales of the album and its titular single represented Tejano music's first commercial success in Puerto Rico.<ref name=Newsday /> Selena recorded a duet titled "[[Donde Quiera Que Estés]]" with the [[Barrio Boyzz]], which was released on their album of the same name in 1994. The song reached number one on the Top Latin Songs chart,<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.allrovi.com/name/The-Barrio-Boyzz-p448538?r=allmovie |url-status=dead|archive-url=https://archive.today/20130116171505/http://www.allrovi.com/name/The-Barrio-Boyzz-p448538?r=allmovie |archive-date=January 16, 2013 |title=Chart history > Selena > Donde Quiera Que Estes|website=[[AllMusic]] |access-date=July 13, 2011}}</ref> which enabled Selena to tour in New York City, Argentina, Puerto Rico, the Dominican Republic, and Central America, where she was not well known.{{sfn|Patoski|1996|p=123}}{{sfn|Jones|2013|p=14}}

In late 1994, EMI chairman Charles Koppelman decided Selena had achieved her goals in the Spanish-speaking market. He wanted to promote her as an English-language solo pop artist. Selena continued touring while EMI began preparing the crossover album, engaging Grammy Award-winning composers.{{sfn|Patoski|1996|p=115}} By the time Selena performed to a record-breaking, sold-out concert at the [[Houston Astrodome]] in February 1995, work had already begun on her crossover album.{{sfn|Patoski|1996|p=115}} In 1995, she made a [[cameo appearance]] in ''[[Don Juan DeMarco]]'', which starred [[Marlon Brando]], [[Johnny Depp]], and [[Faye Dunaway]].<ref>{{cite news |last=Dollar |first=Steve |last2=DeVault |first2=Russ |date=April 5, 1995 |title=Selena: Singer was on the verge of mainstream stardom |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-atlanta-journal-selena-singer-was-o/169967816/ |access-date=2025-04-10 |newspaper=The Atlanta Journal |via=[[Newspapers.com]]}}</ref>