Jovan Arriaga is Suzette Quintanilla’s son and Selena Quintanilla’s nephew, born on March 5, 1998. Now 28 years old, he grew up inside one of Texas’s most famous music families but chose a quiet path as a hydraulic engineer after studying at Texas A&M University.
People searching for him want clear facts: his age, birthday, family, education, job, net worth, girlfriend, and Instagram.
Here you get all of that in one place, from his height and weight to his relationship with Mallory Smith and the way he keeps his private life away from the spotlight. It also explains how he connects to Selena, the Queen of Tejano Music, even though he never met her.
Jovan Arriaga Quick Bio
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Full Name | Jovan Arriaga |
| Known For | Suzette Quintanilla’s son |
| Birth Date | March 5, 1998 |
| Age (2026) | 28 years |
| Birthplace | United States |
| Nationality | American |
| Ethnicity | Mexican and Cherokee |
| Religion | Christianity |
| Zodiac Sign | Pisces |
| Height | 5 ft 10 in (178 cm) |
| Weight | 154 lb (70 kg) |
| Hair Color | Black |
| Eye Color | Dark Brown |
| Parents | Suzette Quintanilla, Bill Arriaga |
| Aunt | Selena Quintanilla |
| Uncle | A.B. Quintanilla III |
| Education | Texas A&M University |
| Degree | Hydraulic Engineering |
| Profession | Hydraulic Engineer |
| Relationship | Dating Mallory Smith |
| Children | None publicly confirmed |
| Net Worth | About $1.5 million (est.) |
| Private account |
Who Is Jovan Arriaga?
Jovan Arriaga is an American engineer best known as Suzette Quintanilla’s son. Suzette is the older sister of Selena Quintanilla, the singer widely called the Queen of Tejano Music.
That makes Jovan Arriaga Selena Quintanilla’s nephew, and it is the main reason people look him up.
Unlike many relatives of famous stars, he did not follow his family into entertainment. He built an independent career in engineering, and he stays out of the media.
He is 5 ft 10 in (178 cm) tall, weighs 154 lb (70 kg), and has black hair and dark brown eyes.
Public details about him are limited because his family values privacy, which is why he is often described as someone with a quiet life.
Read more: Lynda Carter Measurements: Height, Weight, Bra Size, Age, Net Worth, and Bio
Jovan Arriaga’s Family and Famous Relatives
The Jovan Arriaga family is closely tied to Tejano music history. Tejano is a Texas-born music style that blends Mexican folk sounds with pop, country, and rock. The following people make up the core of his family and his famous relatives:
- Suzette Quintanilla: His mother and Selena’s older sister. She played drums in Selena y Los Dinos, the family band, and later helped manage the family’s business and Selena’s legacy.
- Bill Arriaga: His father and Suzette’s husband.
- Selena Quintanilla: His aunt, the Grammy-winning singer who rose to fame in the 1990s and remains a cultural icon.
- A.B. Quintanilla III: His uncle, Selena’s brother, who played bass and wrote and produced songs for Selena y Los Dinos.
- Abraham Quintanilla Jr.: His grandfather, who formed the family band, managed Selena’s career, and guided the family’s music business.
Together, these relatives explain why the name Quintanilla carries so much weight in Texas and across Latin music. Even so, Jovan Arriaga’s famous relatives are a background detail in his own life story, not the focus of it.
Jovan Arriaga’s Early Life
Details about Jovan Arriaga’s early life are limited, but public information shows a Texas childhood shaped by family and sports. He was born in 1998, three years after his famous aunt’s death, and grew up in Texas among relatives who kept her memory alive.
Jovan Arriaga’s childhood included baseball. He played four years of high school baseball, a commitment that usually teaches:
- Teamwork: Working with teammates toward one shared goal.
- Patience: Waiting for the right moment, whether at bat or in the field.
- Discipline: Practicing regularly and showing up even on hard days.
These habits often carry into demanding careers such as engineering. He also earned high school honors and finished school in 2017, which set the stage for college.
Jovan Arriaga’s Education and College Life
After high school, he enrolled at Texas A&M University, a large public university in Texas known for its engineering programs.
He studied Hydraulic Engineering, a branch of civil engineering that deals with how water moves and how people can control and use it.
Choosing this field showed a practical, technical mindset. Hydraulic engineering demands strong math, physics, and problem-solving skills, so it takes steady effort to complete.
His college years appear to have been low-key, with no public scandals or media attention, which matches his general preference for privacy.
What Does Jovan Arriaga Do for a Living?
Jovan Arriaga works as a hydraulic engineer. This Jovan Arriaga career centers on the systems that move and manage water. Hydraulic engineers typically work on:
- Water systems: Designing networks that deliver clean water to homes and businesses.
- Dams: Planning structures that store water and control river flow.
- Pipelines: Mapping and testing pipes that carry water over long distances.
- Flood protection: Building drainage and barriers that reduce damage during heavy rain and storms.
This Jovan Arriaga profession is important in Texas, where storms and flooding can affect entire communities. His work is technical and behind the scenes, and he does not promote it on social media.
Read more: Who Is Marian Mapother? Meet Tom Cruise’s Sister
Jovan Arriaga’s Net Worth and Lifestyle
The estimated Jovan Arriaga net worth is about $1.5 million as of 2026. That figure is an estimate, not a confirmed number, and it likely reflects his engineering career and any family support or assets.
The following points explain how his money and habits fit together:
- Income source: Steady pay from an engineering career.
- Public spending: No known flashy purchases or luxury posts.
- Approach: A practical Jovan Arriaga lifestyle built around work, family, and privacy.
His private life stays out of the tabloids, and he leads a quiet life compared with celebrity relatives. That choice makes the $1.5 million estimated net worth more believable than the inflated numbers that often appear for famous families.
Is Jovan Arriaga Dating Anyone?
Yes. The Jovan Arriaga girlfriend is Mallory Smith. Their Jovan Arriaga relationship began, according to public reports, and they have been dating since late 2019.
Mallory is reported to be a teacher in Corpus Christi, Texas, connected to the School of Science and Technology at Texas A&M University-Corpus Christi.
Corpus Christi is the coastal Texas city where Selena lived and where the family’s history runs deep, so the setting is meaningful.
On the family side, there are no confirmed Jovan Arriaga children, and there is no Jovan Arriaga wife. He is not married. The couple shares little publicly, which fits their private approach.
Jovan Arriaga and Selena Quintanilla’s Special Connection
The bond between Jovan Arriaga and Selena Quintanilla is emotional rather than personal.
Selena passed away in 1995, and Jovan was born in 1998, so he never met Selena. He knows her through family stories, Selena’s music, and the family’s efforts to protect her memory.
This Selena Quintanilla connection shows up in several ways:
- Family storytelling: Relatives share memories of her as a sister, daughter, and performer.
- Selena’s music: Her songs continue to play at family events and around the world.
- Selena Museum: The museum in Corpus Christi, run by the family, displays her costumes, awards, and personal items.
For Jovan, Selena’s memory is part of everyday family life, not a public role he plays.
Is Jovan Arriaga on Instagram?
Yes, but you cannot see his posts easily. The Jovan Arriaga Instagram account is a private Instagram account, so only approved followers can view photos and updates. He does not use social media to build fame or promote a brand.
This matches his choice to keep a low profile and protect his family’s privacy, especially given the constant public interest in the Quintanilla name.
Where Is Jovan Arriaga Now?
Jovan Arriaga is living in Texas and continues to work in engineering. He values family privacy and has kept himself away from the spotlight, focusing on an independent career instead of using his family’s fame.
By 2026, he remains a working professional who is respected within his circle and largely unknown to the wider public. That is exactly how he seems to want it.
Suzette Quintanilla’s Life Today and Her Son
Suzette Quintanilla today remains one of the most important guardians of Selena’s legacy. She has worked on major projects, including:
- Selena: The Series: A Netflix drama about Selena’s life, which Suzette helped produce so the family’s story was told accurately.
- MAC x Selena makeup collection: A limited-edition beauty line released with MAC Cosmetics that honored Selena’s signature style and sold out quickly.
- Selena Museum: The family’s tribute space in Corpus Christi, Texas, that welcomes fans from around the world.
Her son appears at family events but does not share the stage. Suzette’s public work and Jovan’s private career show two different ways of honoring the same family.
Read more: Who Is Carlos Scola Pliego? The Full Story of Sade Adu’s Ex-Husband
Final Thoughts
Jovan Arriaga is more than a famous family name. Born on March 5, 1998, he is a 28-year-old hydraulic engineer with a Texas A&M degree, an estimated net worth of about $1.5 million, and a long-term relationship with Mallory Smith. He is Suzette Quintanilla’s son and Selena Quintanilla’s nephew, yet he chose a private path built on discipline, education, and steady work. His story shows that a person can respect a legendary family without living in its spotlight.
FAQs
How old is Jovan Arriaga, and when is his birthday?
Jovan Arriaga was born on March 5, 1998, so he is 28 years old in 2026. His March 5, 1998 birthday makes him a Pisces.
Is Jovan Arriaga married? Does he have a wife or children?
No. Jovan Arriaga is not married and has no wife. There are no confirmed children publicly, and he is currently dating Mallory Smith.
How is Jovan Arriaga related to Selena Quintanilla?
He is Selena Quintanilla’s nephew. His mother, Suzette Quintanilla, is Selena’s older sister, which makes Selena his aunt and A.B. Quintanilla III his uncle.
Does Jovan Arriaga have Instagram?
Yes, he has an Instagram account, but it is private. Only approved followers can see his content.
Who is Mallory Smith, and does Jovan Arriaga have a baby with her?
Mallory Smith is Jovan Arriaga’s girlfriend, reported to be a teacher in Corpus Christi, Texas. They have been dating since late 2019, and there is no public confirmation that they have a baby.
