“Wow! The Google Doodle today celebrates Selena! I was so moved by this, I cried,” said Favianna Rodriguez, an activist and artist with the art collective >Culture/Strike. Rodriguez was one of many who woke up to an animated Google Doodle honoring Selena Quintanilla, “The Queen of Tejano.”
The release of the doodle on October 17, celebrates the 28th anniversary of the release of Selena’s debut studio album, “Selena.”
The animation includes her 1994 No. 1 single,“Bidi Bidi Bom Bom,” and the images celebrate Selena’s love of music. The cartoon shows a montage of her as a young girl practicing with her dad and growing up to become Selena the artist. The animation elevates the dedication placed on becoming the Selena fans grew to know.

“It’s so rare that Latinxs artists get such widespread recognition. Although we make up about 17% of the national population, there are few stories of Latinx artists in the mainstream.” Rodriguez told Latino USA.
Perla Campos, Google Doodle’s Global Marketing Lead, spearheaded Google’s Selena homage, which was two years in the making. As a Latina from Texas, she has a special connection to the doodle’s release. Campos is the daughter of a Mexican immigrant single mother, when recalling Selena’s influence she wrote in a letter on the Google Doodle page, “Selena taught me that being Latina was a powerful thing, and that with hard work and focus, I could do whatever I set my mind to.”
The doodle is accompanied by a virtual exhibit that offers an in-depth look at Selena’s iconic outfits, awards, and fan art. The Selena exhibit can be found on Google’s Arts and Culture site. The exhibit was curated by The Selena Museum. The museum is operated and curated by the Quintanilla family.
In a statement to the media regarding the Google Doodle, Suzette Quintanilla, Selena’s sister said of the project, “This [is] a testament to the power of Selena’s legacy, which is still going strong 22 years later. Selena has always transcended cultural boundaries and having this Doodle featuring a strong, Latina woman on the homepage of Google around the world is a perfect example of that.”
Here are some of the social media reactions about the Selena doodle:
This is truly amazing. Never forget the legend Selena, queen of tejano music released her first album on this day October 17, 1989 #selena pic.twitter.com/S1dEq72FUo
— spøøky a (@amysbadlands) October 17, 2017
I saw the #SelenaDoodle #GoogleDoodle and I screamed!
Here's an illustration I created on her birthday #selena #laleyenda #lereina pic.twitter.com/6RAWaRT9pD
— aaron bowersock (@abowersock) October 17, 2017
I'm not crying you're crying! The #Selena #GoogleDoodle got me right in the feels ? Got to spin away so y'all don't see me cry pic.twitter.com/hCN4SRwrLd
— Claudia Tristán (@ClaudiaKFOX_CBS) October 17, 2017
For many Mexican American & #Latina Women #Selena was the affirmation that being bicultural is powerful & beautiful. #RepresentationMatters pic.twitter.com/KoHenP9Hzc
— Dr. Nayeli Chavez (@NYChavez) October 17, 2017
Just about cried when I saw the #Selena Google Doodle. An honor long overdue and well-deserved. pic.twitter.com/YNd30r0LEh
— Boo-anna ? (@yummyreads) October 17, 2017
The #Selena Google Doodle is fire! pic.twitter.com/c2hZrf1yff
— Bianca Alysse (@B_Alysse) October 17, 2017
The latest #GoogleDoodle celebrates the legendary Selena and I am in tears. pic.twitter.com/NnzcS4oUAM
— Gabe Ortíz (@TUSK81) October 17, 2017
Today's Google doodle is everything.#Selena Quintanilla released her debut album on October 17, 1989. #SelenaForever pic.twitter.com/vfbhcDLv3E
— Women's March (@womensmarch) October 17, 2017
Google created a doodle to celebrate the anniversary of Selena Quintanilla's debut album in 1989. Tearing up.?? #RIPpic.twitter.com/io8e980s47
— Ricky Davila ?? (@TheRickyDavila) October 17, 2017
What I loved about Selena was that she didn’t seem to try to be someone she wasn’t and not only was that OK, it was welcomed.
— Cristela Alonzo (@cristela9) October 17, 2017