Friends: Fergie Swamped with Job Offers in U.S.

Sarah Ferguson is finding the United States very inviting despite the scandal engulfing her in her native Britain, reports CBS News Correspondent Elaine Quijano.

Getting caught on hidden camera in England telling a newspaper reporter posing as a businessman she wanted $700,000 in exchange for access to her ex-husband, Prince Andrew, "may have cemented her sordid reputation overseas, but the attention may have helped her here," Quijano says.

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In fact, she adds, "The Duchess of York might as well be known as the Duchess of New York" as she makes a round of well-received public appearances after the scandal that "all but destroyed her reputation in the U.K."

"Fergie" continued her tour of New York Wednesday, promoting her latest children's books in seemingly good spirits, Quijano observed, "alluding to her latest scandal casually. And comically."

She quipped during a speech, "It was quite difficult for me to get to the Javits Center (for an appearance at the Book Expo there). (There were) one or two people in the way!"

Fergie says scandals of the past - specifically, when she was snapped topless in 1991, getting her toes sucked by her then financial adviser -- taught her something: When you feel bad about yourself, do something for someone else.

She says her work for others is for kids, and for literacy. "I'm a children's book author. I'm Sarah Ferguson. I'm a mom. And I'm very, very proud of that."

But, Quijano points out, if you listen to friends, she'll have plenty of opportunities beyond book-writing.

"She's shocked with the generosity and support in New York," says Popeater.com's Rob Shuter. "Not only has she been flooded with well-wishes, she's been flooded with job opportunities."

Industry insiders tell CBS News Ferguson is courting a number of lucrative offers in the U.S. -- including some from TV reality shows, prompting speculation she may move here.

And CBS News contributor and longtime royals-watcher Neil Sean says Fergie's more popular in the U.S. than the U.K. "In America," Sean says, "I believe they'll just reembrace her, and I think she'll become bigger than ever. You're lucky to have her, actually!"