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A researcher of how death is represented in media, York Blaine says that, much like other celebrities who died a violent or tragic death — such as Tupac Shakur, Marilyn Monroe and Princess Diana — Selena presents both a perfect story and even a perfect victimhood.

In her research, York Blaine has created death categories that explain how a celebrity’s death carries meaning within culture.

“We like sentimental deaths, where we can go, ‘Oh, she was so beautiful, so young, so tragic, so sad,’ right?” said York Blaine — who added that in her research on JonBenet Ramsey’s death, she found that people enjoy feeling bad.

As York Blaine explained, her death being unnatural “permits us to have a distance, a kind of power over death” in different ways.

“She is reassuring proof to us that life goes on after death,” said York Blaine.