Selena

She was a performer as well as a designer, and music innovator. She was both an American-Mexican traditional singer who brought together the two worlds in a singular way--and delivered incredible Tejano music to a mainstream crowd. In the same way that many people mourn a star who died too early, her passing was not a good time and ended an energizing career. Fans have worked harder through the years to preserve her legacy. The tragic death of Selena by a gunman caused an outpouring of emotion in Latino communities similar the way people reacted following the deaths of Elvis Presley as well as John Lennon's. Selena was a hugely well-known singer for Latinos across North America. But her songs touched the hearts of both young and the old. Selena may have been hailed by some as the Latina Madonna, but she's still an excellent example to follow. Selena's off-stage family values and her participation in AIDS awareness programs are exemplary.