Famous Texans: Selena

Born Selena Quintanilla on April 16, 1971 in Lake Jackson, Texas, a town of about 27,000 in the Houston area (and also hometown to country singers Cole Deggs and Shade Deggs from Cole Deggs & The Lonesome). Selena attended Oran M. Roberts Elementary School in Lake Jackson before her family moved to Corpus Christi.

On April 2, 1992,Selena wed band member Chris Perez at the Nueces County Courthouse in Corpus Christi. That same year, she started her own line of clothing and in 1994 Selena opened Selena Etc., boutique-salons in Corpus Christi and San Antonio.

As her popularity grew, Selena played to ever-larger audiences including 61,000 fans at the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo held in the Houston Astrodome in February 1995.

On March 31, 1995, Selena was fatally shot in the back by the president of her fan club and the manager of her Corpus Christi boutique. Over 30,000 fans came to view Selena's casket at the Bayfront Plaza Convention Center in Corpus Christi before her burial in the city's Seaside Memorial Park. Soon after, then Texas Governor George W. Bush proclaimed April 16, the star's birthday, "Selena Day."

Today Selena's legacy is remembered in Corpus Christi at the Selena Museum and at the People's Street T-Head at the Mirador de la Flor where a life-size statue of the star is visited by thousands of tourists every month.

Corpus Christi Sites Associated with Selena

Selena Museum Owned and operated by Selena's family, this museum includes clothing, awards, and even Selena's auto.

Photos of Selena Memorial

Photos of Selena's Grave

Selena Etc. The Corpus Christi boutique started by Selena remains open.

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