Selena

She was a singer, performer and designer and broke down barriers in the music industry. She was the first Mexican American performer who was both traditional and modern. She brought together both worlds and brought Tejano music into mainstream culture. In the same way that most people grieve a celebrity who has died far from their prime, the death of her was premature and destroyed an energizing career. Over the years, the fans became inspired to work even harder in order to ensure that her accomplishments would not go unnoticed. The tragic shooting death of Selena provoked a response from the Latino community that was similar as the reaction to deaths of Elvis Presley or John Lennon. Selena is a hugely popular Latino musician throughout North America, Selena's music has influenced many people across cultures. Selena was an asexual and flamboyant stage performer who was sometimes known as her as the Latina Madonna. On stage, Selena was an outstanding role model, as she actively participated in antidrug and AIDS campaigns.