Third generation mexican-american, raised in Texas. She becomes a pop star in her late teens among mexicans and mexican-americans. She had begun to successfully cross over into american pop, but was tragically shot to death at the age of 23, in 1995.
- key figure in american acceptance of latino culture as a part american culture
- top-selling Latin artist of the 90s, worldwide
- to date, #15 top-selling Latin artist, worldwide
- released first spanish-language album to be the #1 US Album