Selena Quintanilla-Pérez (Spanish: [seˈlena kintaˈniʎa ˈpereθ] or [seˈlena kintaˈniʝa ˈperes]; April 16, 1971 – March 31, 1995), known by the mononym Selena, was an American singer, songwriter, spokesperson, actress, and fashion designer. Called the Queen of Tejano music, her contributions to music and fashion made her one of the most celebrated Mexican American entertainers of the late 20th century. Billboard magazine named her the "top Latin artist of the '90s", the "best selling Latin artist of the decade". She is often called the "Mexican American equivalent" of Madonna for her clothing choices, by media outlets.[a] She also ranks among the most influential Latin artists of all-time and is credited for catapulting a music genre into mainstream