Selena Quintanilla-Perez was a Mexican American singer who began her career at a young age by joining her family's band, Selena y Los Dinos. She became known in Texas in the late 1980s and earned several awards, including Female Vocalist of the Year from the Tejano Music Awards. Her 1991 hit "Buenos Amigos" reached number one on the Billboard Latin charts and helped her breakthrough. She was fluent in both English and Spanish, which allowed her to communicate with audiences on both sides of the border. Tragically, at the age of 23 while working on her first crossover album, she was shot and killed by the former president of her fan club in 1995.

1. Role models & Leaders By Tania Contreras