Rihanna has signed up to be an official ambassador for tourism in her home country of Barbados. The 23-year-old R'n'B star will be the face of the popular holiday destination for the next three years, having secured a marketing deal with officials at the Barbados Tourism Authority. In a press release posted on the authority's Facebook page, Barbados' Minister of Tourism, Richard L. Sealy, said, "In the hearts of every Barbadian, Rihanna is known as the girl down the road, but to the world she has become a musical sensation and social phenomenon. "She is a great source of national pride to Barbados and we are thrilled to enter into this formal partnership to promote Barbados as a leading tourist destination." And Rihanna echoed his excitement. "Barbados is a place like no other and one of the reasons for this is the spirit and national pride of our people," she said in a statement. "I want each and every visitor to this beautiful island to experience what makes this destination different from all others and that is the spirit and warmth of my fellow Barbadians."