Pregnant Ashanti Flaunts Baby Bump for the First Time in Blue Bodycon Dress: Photos

Ashanti is showing off her baby bump for the first time.

The singer, 43, stepped out to attend the POSSIBLE marketing conference in Miami on Wednesday, April 17, her growing baby bump on full display. After taking the stage for an event, Ashanti stood up to show off her belly, which was prominently displayed in her figure-hugging royal blue dress with a caped sleeve.

The star accessorized the glamorous maternity look with oversize bangle bracelets and metallic earrings. Her hair was styled into a sleek, long ponytail.

Ashanti and Nelly, 49, announced they were expecting their first baby together in an interview with Essence published on Wednesday, April 17. They also announced their engagement.

“This new year of my life is such a blessing full of love, hope and anticipation,” Ashanti told Essence. “Motherhood is something that I have looked forward to, and sharing this with my family, fiancé and loyal fans, who have been so supportive of my career, is an amazing experience.”

The couple started dating in 2003 and split in 2013. In September 2023, Nelly confirmed that they were back together during an appearance on the Boss Moves with Rasheeda show, saying the reconciliation “surprised both of us.”

“It wasn’t anything that we planned. We both were pretty much doing what we do,” the rapper explained. “But sometimes, being separate, you understand one another more. You could be like, ‘Well yo, let me exactly see maybe what they see.’ We all can be defensive sometimes in our own relationships. We know we wrong but we going to stand on it, you know what I mean? But we all a victim to that.”

That same month, Ashanti told PEOPLE she and Nelly were “in a great space” at the 2023 MTV Video Music Awards. She added, “Everything is positive. [We’re] having a lot of fun.”

The couple sparked pregnancy rumors at the 11th Black and White Ball in December 2023. When they were both onstage, Ashanti rested her hands on her stomach. Nelly noticed and did the same, after which they made eye contact and burst into laughter, making fans think they were hinting at baby news.

This will be Ashanti’s first child. Nelly is already dad to son Cornell III (who goes by Tre), 21, and daughter, Chanelle (who goes by Nana), 26, and helped raise niece Sydney and nephew Shawn after his sister, Jackie Donahue died of leukemia at 31 in March 2005.