Selena

She was a designer, singer and performer and broke barriers in the music industry. She was an Mexican American singer who was both traditional and modern. She brought together both worlds and helped bring Tejano music to the forefront. Like many times when an incredibly bright and genial star passes away far too early and unexpectedly, it caused her to lose the popularity she had been gaining. Many mourned all of the potential that was not fully realized. Fans have worked harder over the years in order to preserve her legacy. The tragic death of Selena by a gunman caused the outpouring of emotions within Latino communities similar the way people reacted following Elvis Presley's death and John Lennon's. Selena was an extremely loved Latino performer across North America. Her music transcended boundaries and brought joy to younger and more mature adults. Selena may have been hailed by certain people as the Latina Madonna, however she's still an excellent character model. Selena's family values off stage and involvement with AIDS awareness efforts make her a good example.