Ashley Alexandra Dupre: The Most Wanted Call Girl in America

From Obscurity to Celebrity at the Speed of Scandal

Ashley Alexandra Dupre became the center of media attention Wednesday evening (March 12) when the New York Times learned that she was the call girl, "Kristen", mentioned in the court document that implicated New York Governor Eliot Spitzer, known as "Client 9." Anderson Cooper mentioned on his news show on CNN that she was sure to get lucrative offers for her story. Being the center of a sex scandal-driven media frenzy tens to open doors of opportunity.

Since then, her MySpace page has received over five million hits. People have learned that Ashley Alexandra Dupre isn't her real name, her legal name, or her birth name, but it is the name that she goes by professionally. Dupre is an aspiring R&B singer and you can hear her song on her MySpace page. America has also learned that the 22-year-old has had some difficult times, being homeless at one point, on drugs, a high school drop-out, the product of abuse and a broken home, leaving that home when she was 17. Visitors to her site have found her profile upbeat, telling the reader that she is "all about my music and my music is all about me."

But could she make it big in the music business? Some say it is doubtful, although cashing in on her newfound fame and notoriety could net a venturesome label a few quick bucks. Major labels will probably stay clear of her, according to Susan Ferris, who manages an indie label. Ferris told the Associated Press that this was all part of the "trainwreck syndrome" and would quickly fade. With it would go the public's curiosity about Dupre.

But Dupre's song, "What We Want," has become a hit on New York's number one radio station, Z100 (WHTZ-FM), with listeners calling in to request it. "What We Want" can also be found on the Amie Street website, a music download service where artists post their music and receive 70% of the proceeds from each download. As of Friday, Dupre's two songs (another single, "Move Ya Body", is also listed) had been listened to nearly 300,000 times. The price for downloading her songs has risen from 16 cents to 98 cents as well.