Yolanda Saldívar took Selena Quintanilla from us, but Artificial Intelligence (AI) returned her to us for a moment, even if it was only in photos. Today, 28 years ago, the whole world mourned the death of one of the most beloved singers, who not only possessed great talent but also immediately won you over with her charisma.
Despite the fact that she is no longer with us, we have kept her ‘alive’ through her music, which regardless of time, continues to be a favorite for partying, and now, thanks to AI, we can go further, leave our imagination aside and get a closer idea of what Selena Quintanilla would look like if Yolanda Saldívar had not killed her.
Through social media, some images created with Artificial Intelligence were disseminated to know what the so-called ‘Queen of Tex-Mex’ would look like. She would currently be 52 years old. The singer of “Como la flor” appears with features of a mature woman, highlighting expression lines and her thickened features.
Her hairstyle manages to show the style of the current era with a loose and wavy look, but also the one she wore in the 90s.
In addition, another photo recreated Selena Quintanilla’s portrait with one of her most popular outfits, but with a slight weight gain, rougher features, and the look of a mature woman. This image, in which we can get an idea of what she would look like today at 52, is compared to the base photo, where she was 23 years old, the age at which she was murdered.
The Death of Selena Quintanilla
On March 31, 1995, it was announced that Selena Quintanilla had died in the most unexpected way. The singer was the victim of Yolanda Saldívar, leader of her fan club, but also a friend and business partner. The real reason why Yolanda killed Selena remains a mystery. Her version suggests that it was an accident due to fear that a secret they both kept would be revealed.
“First of all, I didn’t pull the gun out. We had an argument and I told her to leave. She was crying deeply telling me that she loved me very much and that I couldn’t do that to her. Then I told her, ‘I will never reveal the secret.’ The gun was on the bed, I picked up the gun and said, ‘I’m not leaving you for anyone else.’ I put the gun to my temple and said, ‘I want you to go, my daughter, go.’ She didn’t want to leave. At that moment, the door was open. She was heading for the door and she said to me, ‘Mom, let’s close the door, let’s talk.’ Where she was going to the door, I told her, ‘Don’t close the door.’ Where I said that, the shot went off,” she told journalist Maria Celeste in an interview.
No one believed this story, not even the authorities, who concluded that Selena had discovered bad financial management by her biggest fan in business and had called her to a motel to dismiss her. In a fit of rage, she allegedly killed her. Yolanda Saldívar was found guilty and sentenced to life imprisonment for the crime against the interpreter of “Amor prohibido.”
Yolanda Saldívar Could Be Released From Prison
Despite her sentence for the murder, Yolanda Saldívar is on the “waiting list” to be considered for parole. The date on which we will know the fate of Selena Quintanilla’s murderer is not so specific, it was only announced that this decision will be announced in 2025.
Story originally written in Spanish by Nayeli Párraga in Cultura Colectiva.