The celebration may have looked a little bit different this year, but there is no shortage of excitement for the new Tulip Queen. Ashanti Bishop, 21 of Latham, was named Albany’s 2021 Tulip Queen.

“I was feeling really disconnected from the past year with everything going on,” Bishop said. “I heard about the Tulip Festival on the radio, I decided to check it out and my friends and family got involved, then somehow I ended up here.”

Bishop said the selection process involved numerous interviews and wasn’t always easy, but it’s been extremely fulfilling.

“They were looking for women that want to make a difference, looking for women that are dedicated to this community and we are those women; those tulips are these women, so it’s very exciting,” said Bishop.

Perhaps even more excited was Ashanti’s mom Flavia Barrett.

“She always makes me proud, honestly,” said Barrett. “I mean, this girl achieves. Overachiever in school, anything she does. She works hard; she’s determined and dedicated.”

The College of Saint Rose junior plans to use her new platform to encourage unity and raise awareness for mental health.

Ashanti will lead her four-member court in city volunteer projects, including the mayor’s literacy campaign. The court is made up of Loudonville native Aadya Kaushik, Sierra Liotta of Guilderland, Allison Moser of Guilderland and Albany native Andrea Thomas.

A one-year reign will earn Bishop a $5,000 scholarship and $1,500 will go to each court member.

“The five of us have made such great relationships and it really truly does represent all that we have to offer to the city of Albany as young, intelligent women,” said Bishop. “So this means to us that we do make a difference in this community and that young women specifically have a purpose here and that we are determined to make this place better for us.”