BRIDGETOWN, Barbados —

Barbadian pop singer Rihanna has signed a three-year contract with the Barbados Tourist Authority (BTA) to promote the island.

According to BTA chairman Adrian Elcock, production on the promotional campaign is expected to begin soon and will be launched in September, in time for the winter tourist season. Elcock made the announcement Saturday, during the Crop Over press conference at the Hilton Barbados Hotel.

RIHANNA… signed a three-year contract with the Barbados Tourist Authority (BTA) to promote the island

The BTA chairman said that Rihanna is already in Barbados. She will be interviewed by talk show host Oprah Winfrey about her life in Barbados for Winfrey’s television show, Oprah’s Next Chapter.

“Apart from Rihanna, we will also be working closely with other celebrities like Barbadian artiste Shontelle and R&B group Cover Drive in addition to actors Vanessa Williams and Malik Yoba,” Elcock said.

He added that the BTA had spent over Barbadian $250,000 promoting the annual Crop Over festival which he said has been a major success.