Singer/songwriter Selena has held the hearts, and minds of Latinos, and other ethnic groups for over three decades. She was a shining star who’s untimely passing caused a wave of sadness within communities all around the world. Though she was proudly Mexican-American, the lack of representation for Latinx communities has allowed her story to resonate with many who are not of Mexican descent. Her story was a literal dream come true: a young brown girl who came from nothing and went on to become a superstar despite life’s harsh limitations.
Now, the streaming giant, Netflix, has assumed the ultimate task of depicting her life in a manner that tells her story in an accurate manner. But the resilient, bold, and thought provoking Selena is non-existent in Selena: The Series. According to fans, her voice was muted and buried in order to preserve one of the most destructive elements in Latino culture: an unquestioning allegiance and devotion to machismo.
According to an article by Elle magazine:
“Despite the show being named for the late singer, her character is a supporting role at best. Not once do we see the passionate entrepreneur who launched her own boutique, salon, and clothing store independent of her father’s overreaching hands. Nor do we see the woman who fell in love, defied her family, and stood her ground to marry Chris Pérez, the love of her life. It’s almost as if her defiance had to be erased from the Quintanilla legacy. The character is stripped of any personality whatsoever..”
Ultimately, viewers never get to the bottom of who Selena is, what drives her or even scares her, because she’s never afforded the same amount of attention or character development as the men behind her career.
One would need to search for a while to find a positive comment or review (from a fan specifically) on social media, and it is easy to understand why. The true story of Selena is never fully told, unlike we all so eagerly expected.
However, it is up to you to draw your own conclusions about Selena: The Series. Watch the trailer below!
