MUMBAI: Avon Products, Inc. has signed Academy Award winner Jennifer Hudson to be the exclusive spokesperson for the Imari fragrance brand, including the newest scent, Imari Seduction.

The classic Imari scent has been Avon’s best selling fragrance since it launched 20 years ago. Imari Seduction will go on sale in August 2007 in the United States, Canada, Puerto Rico and the Dominican Republic.

Hudson, who recently won the Oscar for Best Supporting Actress for her show-stopping performance in Dreamgirls, will serve as the face of Imari under the new agreement. She will make her first Avon appearance at the Global Summit for a Better Tomorrow, presented by the Virtue Foundation in partnership with Avon, happening at the United Nations in New York City.

Held on the eve of International Women’s Day, the event will spotlight women’s rights issues worldwide, and will mark the creation of the Avon Hello Tomorrow Fund to benefit women worldwide who are making a difference in their communities.

The rollout of the new Imari Seduction will be supported by a national print advertising campaign in the United States. Hudson will also appear in the company’s brochure for both the classic Imari scent and the new Imari Seduction, which is distributed through Avon Representatives to over 15 million customers bi-weekly.

“We are thrilled to partner with Jennifer Hudson at this very exciting time in her career. Avon is a company dedicated to empowering women, and we believe that our Avon Representatives and their customers will be truly inspired by Jennifer’s dream-come-true success story,” said Avon executive vice president, president North America and Global Marketing Liz Smith.

“This is an honor for me and very flattering. With the success of Dreamgirls and now an Oscar, it’s been an incredible few months. And now, to partner with Avon is really a dream come true for me. It’s exciting to be representing the Imari brand, which really embodies confidence and femininity,” said Hudson.