On the anniversary of her debut album, we come together to remember Selena

Today, the word “Quintanilla” is abuzz on the internet, as we honor the late Selena Quintanilla, and celebrate the anniversary of her first studio album release, the 1989 self-titled Selena.

Even Google’s face image is a cartoon video of the Mexican superstar, a tribute to her life and short career at the top of the pop music game.

Her sister, Suzette Quintanilla, offered her support for a team of designers to create the video short. She shared with Billboard,

“Google came to us with this idea of telling a story. The little girl who had a dream and she became who she became. They already had the content pretty much done, but they knew that family was everything. The little details I gave…That Selena had red nail polish on instead of bright pink. That she had hoop earrings. They even put red on the microphone the way she used to have it.”

Google has also launched an online exhibit in their Arts and Culture section, further exploring the singer’s life.

As the youngest child in her family, Selena always had a knack for the spotlight. Her parents and siblings supported her throughout her come-up, even helping her with her songwriting.

As with every new artist, the struggle was very real. Winning the Tejano Music Award in 1987 and Female Vocalist of the Year, Selena went on to win nine consecutive times after that. Because of this, she was given the title, “Queen of The Tejano.”

It was no shock, then, when the singer won a Grammy in 1994, for Best American/Mexican Album of the Year.

And who could forget, “Dreaming of You,” the hit single that had all of us misty-eyed at 12 AM, pressing rewind on our CD players?

Last month, a rare 1994 Selena interview video was released, showcasing the starlet in her final year before her untimely death.

“The first thing that came to my mind is I have to take a camera so I can take a picture with all these stars… It didn’t hit me later ‘What if we win?'”

Humble and beautiful as ever, it really brings a knot to your stomach watching the star flash her award-winning smile on the screen and discuss her feelings during her rise to fame.

She was considered a “beacon of hope” for bi-cultural people, as the “Queen of Tejando,” blended her two cultures into one mix of musical genius that shall be revered for years and year to come.

Today, Google’s Selena legacy has lived on, and rightfully so. The singer is still adored by fans all over the world, namely leaving her mark in Latin American communities and giving hope to artists of Latino heritage.