R&B Singer Ashanti Turns Into Tourism Ambassador

July 23, 2008

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Ashanti arrives at the BET Awards ‘08 Pre-Party in Los Angeles
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Ashanti poses for a picture backstage at ‘TRL’
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Ashanti hangs at ‘TRL,’ June 3, 2008
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Ashanti and rapper Nelly at the EW Island Def Jam party in Los Angeles

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ORIGINAL ARTICLE: July 23, 2008

LONG ISLAND, New York --

Grammy-winning singer and Long Island native Ashanti has a new gig: tourism ambassador.

The R&B singer was introduced Tuesday at a news conference as one of nine ambassadors who will promote tourism in Nassau County on Long Island.

County Executive Thomas Suozzi placed an orange blazer with a tourism patch over her white dress at the event at Rockefeller Center in Manhattan, where 16 tourists were offered an all-expenses-paid tour of Nassau. Ashanti sang at Suozzi’s two mayoral inaugurals in her native Glen Cove.

Ashanti says it’s “amazing” to be asked to “give something back to the community.” The singer recently released her fourth studio album, “The Declaration.”

The tourism campaign pitches Nassau as “The Island Next Door” and is targeted at visitors to the city.