Jenni Rivera Facts: 10 Surprising Details About ‘La Diva De La Banda’ On Her 2 Year Death Anniversary

Today marks the 2 year anniversary of Jenni Rivera's death, she along with six others died in a plane crash near Iturbide, Nuevo León, Mexico, on December 9, 2012. In an attempt to celebrate Rivera's life instead of mourning, we have complied a list of 10 surprising facts that will make you feel like "La Diva de la Banda" is still with us! Rivera, who tragically died at age 43 did not have an easy life, from the womb she was striving for more.

Rivera's parents, Rosa Saavedra and Pedro Rivera, discovered they were expecting while illegally crossing from Mexico into the United States. Rosa delivered a baby girl on July 2, 1969 in Los Angeles, and a star was born. Despite being born in the United States, Rivera's young life was anything but easy, at a mere 15-years-old Rivera discovered she was pregnant by Trino Marin, who she later married in 1984. Despite having 2 more children, Rivera and Marin's union was not a happy one.

In her autobiography, "Unbreakable: My Story, My Way," Rivera revealed surprisingly candid anecdotes about her dark past, including being physically abused by her first husband, with her only option being to turn to God. The singer, who was known to face challenges head-on, also revealed that she had been raped in the tell-all book. Rivera recounted the painful memory from 1997 in which she was raped in the backseat of a car right after she filmed her first music video. "I silently thanked God as I was slammed onto the sidewalk, realizing that it was finally over," wrote Rivera, as reported by NBC Latino. "But the damage was done. I sat on the curb, numb. I couldn't cry. I was just relieved to be alive. I vowed that I would never tell anyone of my shame."

Despite Jenni's personal life sinking, her professional career soared. Rivera signed with the label Fonovisa, and her first record, "Que Me Entierren con la Banda," was a hit. Her growing and devoted fan base soon began to refer to her as "La Diva de la Banda." In 2010, Jenni's popularity increased when she transitioned her career from a singer into a TV entertainer, in addition she married former baseball player Esteban Loaiza. The new couple starred in several reality-TV series with her family: "Jenni Rivera Presents: Chiquis & Raq-C," "I Love Jenni" and "Chiquis 'n Control."

Although Jenni celebrated professional success during this time, her marriage once again failed. Regarding the split, Rivera said in a press conference, "I am a woman like any other, and ugly things happen to me like any other woman. The number of times I have fallen down is the number of times I have gotten up." This quote is a great reminder of the woman Jenni Rivera was, a fighter, a dreamer and most of all an inspiration.