Selena Quintanilla-Pérez's iconic style became a signature part of her persona, reflecting both her creativity and confidence.
Image: Picture: X/MocaCity
I've always been fascinated by Selena, full name Selena Quintanilla-Pérez.
My first real introduction was the movie "Selena" with Jennifer Lopez (she did an amazing job, by the way). However, the Netflix documentary "Selena y Los Dinos," produced by her brother A.B. Quintanilla and sister Suzette Quintanilla, hits differently.
Watching it felt like peeking through someone’s personal scrapbook, only this one was full of music, family chaos, and pure magic. I was equal parts in awe and heartbroken.
How does someone so insanely talented, funny, and beautiful get snatched away so young? It’s just … unfair.
What grabbed me first wasn’t just her voice, which, let’s be honest, could literally make you stop breathing; it was her raw, effortless beauty. Even as a kid, shy and barely aware of her own genius at six, you could tell she was something special.
And watching her family work together reminded me of the Jackson 5. You could see talent in their DNA and dedication in every move. Music wasn’t just a hobby for this family.
The feature doesn’t hide the struggle. The Quintanillas had moments of struggle. The basics were a battle: rent, food, and everyday life stuff. Dad Abraham Quintanilla realised music was their only way out. He couldn’t find steady work, so he doubled down on the kids’ talent.
Abraham wanted his kids to perform and contribute to Latin music culture, even if they hadn’t grown up speaking Spanish fluently. He saw the business side, too. The documentary is filled with warmth and family love, yes, but it’s clear he knew music could bring in serious cash.
The documentary shows the Texas-born singer overcoming sexism, racism, and poverty to break into the male-dominated Tejano scene and become one of the first American Latino stars.
Image: Picture: X/@SelenaLaLeyenda
Then there’s Selena on stage - iconic doesn’t even begin to cover it. Her performance of “¿Qué Creías?” (What Did You Think?) is legendary. She’d grab a guy from the audience and school him on live TV; playful, fierce, and completely owning the room.
The song is all about knowing your worth and refusing to let a cheating ex back into your life. Onstage, she made it theatre. She strutted, teased, laughed, and every woman watching got the memo: confidence isn’t arrogance, it’s power. Pure empowerment wrapped in sequins and sparkles.
Speaking of sparkles, can we talk fashion? Selena went from punk-rock short hair and hairspray city to full-on style icon. Sparkly bras, high-waisted jeans, fitted jackets and a lot of it she designed herself. Honestly, I was living for it. Who didn’t want her wardrobe?
'Selena y Los Dinos' gives fans a front-row seat to the life of Selena Quintanilla-Pérez.
Image: Picture: X/@SelenaLaLeyenda
There’s also a cultural layer to her story that hits hard. Selena didn’t grow up speaking Spanish fluently.
Early interviews and a major concert in Mexico were rough; some people noticed she struggled. In the US, she was a foreigner. In Mexico, an outsider.
But she learned. She worked. She moulded herself to succeed in any language. And all of this while being ridiculously young.
She even admitted she didn’t spend time at school or make friends because music had taken over her life. As her dad highlighted in the series, music can be as addictive as any other drug, especially when the money started rolling in.
Through all this, her personality shines. The doccie captures her laugh, her teasing, her way of lighting up a room. You watch her as a kid, and at times you’re like, “She’s just a kid, remember that!” Yet she was already a performer with discipline and star power far beyond her years.
And when it comes to the tragedy of her death, the documentary handles it perfectly. Yolanda Saldívar, the fan-turned-murderer, is barely mentioned - one passing line. That choice rips the power away from the killer and keeps Selena firmly in control of her narrative. And that’s exactly how it should be.
Selena brought Tejano music to the mainstream. She broke barriers for Latin artists and was on the verge of becoming a major crossover star when her life was tragically cut short at 23.
Watching her story, the music, the style, the drive, the humour, the sheer force of personality, it’s clear why she’s unforgettable.
Rating: **** a standout film with exceptional qualities.