‘Selena: The Series’: The True Story Behind that Wild Beyoncé Scene

Selena: The Series is already about one music icon, but Part 2 introduces audiences to a bunch more famous faces. Selena (Christian Serratos) and Suzette (Noemie Gonzalez) hobnob with Whitney and Gloria at the Grammys and brother A.B. (Gabriel Chavarria) gets to lunch with Diane Warren. However the biggest namedrop of Selena: The Series Part 2 happens in Episode 6, when none other than Beyoncé shows up. Yep, that little girl gawking at Selena at the mall was supposed to be none other than Beyoncé Knowles. So what gives? Was the moment based on a true story or did Selena: The Series just invent the scene to make Selena look cool? Did Beyoncé really meet Selena?

Selena: The Series is a limited series based on the life of Selena Quintanilla-Perez and produced by her sister, Suzette. Part 1 of Selena: The Series premiered on Netflix back in December 2020. This second half of the series, which debuted today, follows Selena’s biggest career moments and the events that led to her untimely death. We get to watch Selena marry the love of her life, Chris Perez (Jesse Posey), win a Grammy, and record what would have been her crossover album. We also get to see the impact she had on pop culture, specifically Beyoncé.

Okay, but did Beyoncé really gawk at Selena at a Texas mall or is the scene a total fabrication? Here’s what you need to know about Beyoncé showing up in Selena: The Series Part 2 Episode 6 “Lo mas bello.”

What is the True Story Behind the Beyoncé Cameo in Selena: The Series on Netflix?

So apparently Beyoncé did “meet” Selena at a Texas mall in the early ’90s. We put “meet” in quotes, because much like in the show, there wasn’t really an introduction. However, as Hola reports, Beyoncé has gone on the record in the past about seeing Selena and being inspired by the Tejano star’s music.

“I met Selena at the Galleria Mall in Houston. But I didn’t say much to Selena because I wasn’t famous back then,” Beyoncé said in an interview originally recorded by MTV. “I just saw her, greeted her and continued on my way.”

Which is…exactly what happens in Selena: The Series. Although in the Netflix show, Beyoncé doesn’t even get the nerve to greet Selena. She just gawks at her and freaks out.

While we have no way of knowing what exactly was or wasn’t said in real life, because Selena is sadly dead and Beyoncé is notoriously tight-lipped, the Selena: The Series scene seems to basically sum the interaction up.

Who Plays Beyoncé in Selena: The Series on Netflix?

Young Beyoncé is played by actress and singer Giovanna Bush in Selena: The Series. Bush even teased her cameo in the series back when Part 1 premiered on December 4. She posted photos from the show’s set, including one where she is getting a COVID test (to show off the safety protocols).

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Joining her in the scene were Nikki Crawford, who played Tina Knowles, and Kamorr Clark-McGeoy, who was a very quiet Young Solange.

Other major bit parts in the episode included Shaunte Massard as Whitney Houston and Gloria Pollock as Gloria Estefan. Both icons appear in the Grammys sequence.

Watch Selena: The Series on Netflix