Besides her unforgettable Tejano music, Selena Quintanilla was also known for her sense of style that she exhibited onstage with her unique fashion designs.
One of Selena’s many outfits is now on display at the Smithsonian National Museum of American History in Washington, D.C. The piece is a part of the museum’s new exhibition, Entertainment Nation/Nación del Espectáculo, which opened this past Friday (December 9).
“We’re so thrilled to welcome you to our newest exhibition,” reads a tweet posted by the museum. “Through our collection, the exhibition will feature a powerful, ever-changing selection of objects and interactive experiences.”
Selena’s outfit on exhibit is the black leather jacket and satin bustier she wore at the 1994 Tejano Music Awards in San Antonio, Texas. During the evening, Selena performed the songs “Donde Quiera Que Estés” and “Bidi Bidi Bom Bom.” The outfit was donated to the museum by the Quintanilla family. It is the same outfit depicted on the Selena Memorial statue in Corpus Christi, Texas.
“This costume is on display on a red carpet, so it’s kind of a spotlight moment to explore Selena, her legacy, the impact that she had,” curatorial assistant Ashley Mayor, told Billboard. “It’s important to explore the impact of Selena on a generation of young Latinos who dreamed of being like her. She affected so many people with her music and brought Tejano music to a national and international level. She became a phenomenon.”
Many of Selena’s other famous outfits, including her iconic purple jumpsuit, can be found at the Selena Quintanilla Museum in Corpus Christi.