Editing Selena (section)

== Public image ==
Quintanilla Jr. sought to maintain Selena's image clean and family-oriented.{{sfn|Peña|1999|p=206}} In 1989, she was offered sponsorship from beer companies but her father turned them down.<ref name="Selena ''Biography''" /> Selena was often refused gigs at Tejano venues because she was a female singer in a male-dominated music scene.{{sfn|Pilchak|2005|p=39}} Manuel Peña wrote that after 1989, Selena's popularity increased and she became a sex icon following the release of her debut album.{{sfn|Peña|1999|p=206}} Charles Tatum said Selena drew most attention from her "beauty, sexuality, and youthful impact on the Tejano music scene".{{sfn|Tatum|2013|p=1032}}

Selena said she never wanted to record explicit songs because of her upbringing and because her fan base consisted largely of young children, who regarded her as a role model. She further commented on the question of her [[sexual appeal]] to men during her crossover attempt, asserting that she will "stay the same" and that her English-language recordings will refrain from foul language and sexual themes.{{sfn|Parédez|2009|p=141}} In 1997, [[María Celeste Arrarás]] wrote in her book about Selena's death that the singer was a "sweet and charismatic girl".{{sfn|Arrarás|1997|p=23}} According to Arrarás, Selena "trusted everyone"; she often went shopping alone, despite her father's concerns over her safety.{{sfn|Arrarás|1997|p=38}}

Betty Cortina of ''People'' magazine said Selena's provocative choice of clothing was an acceptable emulation of Janet Jackson and Madonna, and that she wore "sexy outfits that [accentuated] a body of a Latina woman".<ref name="Selena ''Biography''"/>{{sfn|Foley|1997|p=16}} Cortina also stated that Selena had a "flamboyant style, an unbelievable body, curves and booty".<ref name="Selena ''Biography''"/> Arrarás wrote that Selena "began wearing clothes designed to emphasize her curvaceous figure" and that she "never came across as cheap—simply sexy". She also said Selena's makeup regimen was not being "painted up or vulgar".{{sfn|Arrarás|1997|p=59}} Arrarás also noted Selena's "fun-loving stage manner" and said she was "playful onstage and off".{{sfn|Arrarás|1997|p=60}}

Matt S. Meier wrote in his book ''The Mexican American Experience: An Encyclopedia'' (2010) that Selena exhibited "contagious energy" during her concerts and said she displayed "warmth, passion, and sexuality" while exuding a "down-to-earth persona of the wholesome young girl next door".{{sfn|Meier|2003|p=372}} Selena wore outfits that accented her physical attributes and was not afraid to wear outfits she liked,<ref name="Selena ''Biography''"/> despite criticism from parents who thought Selena's choice of outfits were inappropriate for young girls, who began emulating Selena.{{sfn|Foley|1997|p=24}} Her views on public image in the fashion industry were bothersome; she said she was opposed to the image that all woman should be "rail-thin" and the notion that they must wear certain outfits and be "super-young to be beautiful".{{sfn|Tiscareño-Sato|2011}}

In the early 1990s, Selena began wearing decorative [[bustier]]s, spandex or tight pants, and attractive, unbuttoned jackets during her concerts. She was inspired by Paula Abdul, Janet Jackson, and Madonna.{{sfn|Foley|1997|p=24}} During a 1992 interview, Selena said her choice of clothing does not reflect her personality.<ref name="Selena ''Biography''"/> [[NBC News]] called Selena's outfit "provocative".<ref>{{cite news|last1=Reyes|first1=Paul|title=Still Missing Selena: Here Are 6 Reasons Why|url=https://www.nbcnews.com/news/latino/still-missing-selena-here-are-6-reasons-why-n66031|access-date=February 28, 2015|publisher=[[NBC News]]|date=March 31, 2014|ref=image}}</ref> Because of her choices of outfits and dance moves, she was named by her fans as the "Mexican Madonna".{{sfn|Espinosa|2009|p=359}}{{sfn|Jones|2013|p=88}} According to Suzette, Selena often designed and sewed her outfits backstage with her designers, moments before she was due on stage. Quintanilla Jr. disapproved of Selena's outfits, but he later accepted it when Selena discussed it being a fashion trend.<ref name="Selena ''Biography''"/>

Selena became an inactive member of the [[Jehovah's Witnesses]] due to her exotic clothing.{{sfn|Patoski|1996|p=167}} During the photo shoot for ''Entre a Mi Mundo'' (1992), a photographer remarked on the ways Selena's choice of clothing affected Quintanilla Jr. tremendously; he often left sessions when Selena appeared in revealing outfits.{{sfn|Patoski|1996|p=117}} Selena was credited as the first woman to change public perceptions of feminine beauty in the Tejano market; a [[Feminist movement|feminist]], she blazed a trail for other female artists during her career.<ref name="Selena ''Biography''"/>{{sfn|Jasinski|2012|p=457}}

Following Selena's death, some celebrities questioned her status as a role model among Hispanic women.  In her [[Corpus: A Home Movie About Selena|1999 documentary]] about the singer, filmmaker [[Lourdes Portillo]] expressed concerns whether Selena was a great role model for young women.<ref>{{cite web|title=Corpus: A Home Movie For Selena|url=https://www.pbs.org/pov/corpus/interview.php|website=[[PBS]]|access-date=March 9, 2015|date=January 14, 1999|archive-date=March 28, 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150328164554/http://www.pbs.org/pov/corpus/interview.php|url-status=dead}}</ref> Portillo believed Selena was sending the wrong message to young girls by dancing in clothing that suggested hypersexualization.{{sfn|Fregoso|2010|p=20}} American author [[Sandra Cisneros]] agreed with Portillo's assessment that Selena was "not a good role model to Latina women".{{sfn|Rebolledo|2005|p=126}} Media outlets also shared Portillo's views; they said the "fairy tale story" of Selena was one that her family would want to preserve, questioning Quintanilla Jr.'s role for pushing an image that Selena had "never made mistakes" into the media, calling it "lies" and "not the real story".<ref>{{cite news |last=Persall |first=Steve |date=March 21, 1997 |title=Selena becomes more saint than singer |url=https://www.tampabay.com/archive/1997/03/21/selena-becomes-more-saint-than-singer/ |access-date=2025-04-10 |newspaper=St. Petersburg Times}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last=McLane |first=Daisann |date=March 18, 1997 |title=Santa Selena Does The Movie's "Official" Version of The Slain Tejano Singer's Life Show's The True Picture? |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/south-florida-sun-sentinel-santa-selena/169969011/ |access-date=2025-04-10 |newspaper=Sun Sentinel |page=E1 |via=[[Newspapers.com]]}}</ref>