Meet Perla Campos. She’s the Global Marketing Lead for Google Doodles and one of the many people behind the Doodles you see nearly every day on the Google Homepage.
Photo Cred: Google
Pretty cool, right? Perla is a first-generation American and a Stanford grad. She works with doodle managers and cultural consultants all over the world to launch 400+ Google doodles per year.
The Selena Doodle was born when a team lead asked Perla who she’d pick if she could see anyone she wanted on a Doodle.
Photo Cred: Google
Perla said “Selena” without hesitating and when they asked her why, her answer was simple: “I’ve never seen myself on the homepage for Google before.”
After months of work, the Selena doodle premiered on October 17, 2017 in honor of the anniversary of her first studio album release.
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Selena’s doodle was developed in close collaboration with the Quintanilla family. Google will also be hosting an online collection of the Selena museum on their Google Arts & Culture site where fans can relive our favorite Selena outfits and moments. If you’ve never checked out a Google Arts & Culture center, that would be the one to check out. It’s a virtual museum with gorgeous photos and information you probably didn’t know about a particular artist, in this case, Selena.
Selena’s Google Doodle had this adorable video clip attached which takes us through a mini history of Selena y Los Dinos’ trajectory.
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We can watch this over and over and over and over and…
After this debuted, fans were struggling to hold back their tears.
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
*I’m not crying, you’re crying*
Because after 20+ years since her death, her legacy continues to live on.
I was wondering why Selena Quintanilla was in my google browser and when I clicked it, it was a trip. 22 years and counting.. #SelenaDoodle pic.twitter.com/2Rr3hXEHJs
— Brian Zaléz (@Gonzalezbrian_) October 17, 2017
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Even Suzette Quintanilla gave her seal of approval.
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Perla knew this moment would have special significance for her and millions of other Selena fans.
Photo Credit: Perla Campos
Selen has always held a special place in her life. Perla grew up in the small town of Granbury, Texas idolizing Selena and even sang Selena classics in talent shows across North-East Texas — so cute and relatable!
Perla says that her childhood idol taught her a lot about stepping into her power as a woman and as a Chicana.
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“Watching 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. Watching her showed me that this hybrid cultural identity of mine was a valuable gift I should embrace. Watching her made me proud of being Mexicana.”
Doodle is a labor of love Perla calls the “combination of art and culture.”
Photo Credit: Google
Some of her favorites include: Fred Koremastsus, Bessie Coleman, Gloria Anzadulas, and the Birth of Hip-Hop doodle that took over 1 ½ years to create.
When mitú asked Perla what was next she replyed: “I’ve literally been working up to Selena my entire life and I have no idea what comes after it — but the sky’s the limit.”
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