“Anything for Selena!” cheered six Selena look-alike contestants after the epic contest they had just finished. And Remezcla was there.
The Selena in question is, of course, the one and only Selena Quintanilla—the queen of Tejano music and the first Mexican pop star to successfully cross over into the American market with her album “Dreaming of You.” A fashion icon, legendary performer, and breakthrough artist in a then male-dominated genre, Selena constantly redefined what it meant to be a Mexican American woman.
For many little girls in the ’90s, she represented the first person who looked like them reflected in mainstream media. Now, nearly 30 years after her untimely passing at the age of 23, Selena continues to inspire a new generation of Latinx baddies.
And make no mistake, the Tejano star’s lasting impact on culture was on full display on Saturday, March 15, in San Francisco, as dozens of fans gathered for a Selena Quintanilla look-alike contest. These types of contests are nothing new. They’ve been trending ever since Timothée Chalamet made a surprise appearance at his own look-alike contest in New York last year, sparking similar events across the globe. But this hits different.
It was a celebration of culture, community, and a love for Selena that continues to unite generations. From 1-year-old Natalie Reynoso walking the makeshift runway hand-in-hand with her mother to a dance-off between the top three Selenas as the crowd cheered them on, the pop star’s energy could be felt throughout the night.
The event, organized by Mission Lotería—a San Francisco-based event planning group that promotes Latine businesses in the Mission District—was initially scheduled for Dolores Park but moved to Bissap Baobab, where the after-party, the “Selena Pub Crawl,” was set to begin. However, the change in venue did nothing to dim the excitement or the sense of celebration.
Contestants paid tribute to Selena’s style with dazzling bedazzled bustiers and her iconic purple jumpsuit and even donned small touches like her signature red lipstick and hoop earrings.
Ultimately, Lili Bernardo took home a $200 prize, while the runners-up received a $50 consolation prize. But beyond the competition, most contestants could be found dancing together after the contest ended, even embracing on a nearby rooftop overlooking Mission Street—proof that Selena’s influence still shines just as brightly nearly three decades after her passing.
