LOOKING incredibly sexy in a skimpy, chic swimsuit, Michelle Keegan stunned fans with her latest viral post.

Just 24 hours later the short video and pictures showing off one of Michelle’s new costumes from her swimwear line, Orfila Bee, had disappeared from her Instagram Stories, possibly to the delight of her husband Mark Wright.

The former Coronation Street star had worked hard to ditch her lads’ mags image, which was prominent during her time on the cobbles in the 2000s, but her stunning figure has turned heads once again as Michelle enters a new era – and not everyone is happy about it.

A source close to the couple told The Sun: “Michelle and Mark are the talk of Essex at the moment.

“Nobody is claiming to know exactly what’s going on behind closed doors, but the apparent change in her behaviour hasn’t gone unnoticed. She’s loud and proud.

“Michelle has never posted sexy photos like that. She’s always been incredibly careful about her image and has never wanted to appear as sexy; she has always been the beautiful, down-to-earth girl-next-door.

“When she suddenly posted those glamorous shots, everyone was talking about them and the local WhatsApp group was pinging off the hook, everyone was saying, ‘Look at Michelle, what’s she doing?!’ She ditched that sexy lads’ mag image years ago when she wanted to become a serious actress.”

Michelle’s swimwear brand, Orfila Bee, went live in February, but until now, she has used other models to show off her stunning collection.

However, the former Our Girl star’s latest sex snap has drawn comparisons to Euphoria actress Sydney Sweeney, who models her own underwear line SYRN.

But like The White Lotus star Sweeney, Michelle’s decision to showcase her swimwear brand’s offerings could be a genius business move.

Another source said: “She’s taken a leaf out of Sydney Sweeney’s book and is modelling her own range – she knows she’s the best person to boost it.”

Michelle, 39, posted the sexy picture during a well-deserved day off from filming Harlan Coben’s new Netflix drama The Woods, which will see her appear opposite suave star Tom Bateman, 37.

Mum-of-one Michelle – who has 15-month-old daughter Palma with Mark, 39 – tends to be more covered up in her Instagram photos, and it was noted that she didn’t go all the way by posting the swimwear picture to her grid.

Which was some consolation for Mark.

A source said: “Michelle is getting more attention than ever before, and she is completely unfazed by it. She looks happier, more confident and more self-assured than she has been in years and has rediscovered a side of herself that has been hidden away for a long time.

“Whether it means anything for her marriage is anybody’s guess – people suspect the last thing Mark wants is everyone ogling his wife, and talking about it.

“As one of the most talked-about couples around, the curtains are twitching.”

In one of Michelle’s mirror selfies, she was wearing a white dressing gown, draped off her shoulders.

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But she whipped the gown off for a picture purely in her elegant, £85 one-piece, which is “designed to glow against sun-kissed skin”, according to her Orfila Bee website.

Michelle’s scantily-clad snap comes just months after her mother-in-law Carol Wright, 66, and sisters-in-law Jess, 40, and Natalya Wright, 25, were left red-faced when they were forced to backtrack on comments slamming people who wear skimpy swimwear.

The trio branded thong bikinis “gross” and “unsexy” on their podcast, with a number of listeners hitting out at their views.

Carol said on the pod: “What I don’t understand … I really do think that this is not sexy for men to look at. Leave something to the imagination.”

Following the backlash, the embarrassed Wrights made a grovelling apology to fans, saying in a statement: “In response to comments we made on our podcast.

“We’ve listened, we hear you, and we want to say sorry.

“Our judgement was wrong, and we take full accountability and will do better moving forward. Love Jess, Natalya & Carol.”

Michelle is no stranger to a thong bikini, after she was previously pictured wearing one on a yacht, alongside Mark, in 2023.

And she has several skimpy offerings on her Orfila Bee website, including black thong bikini bottoms.

While Carol, Jess and Natalya may not be investing in such an item from Michelle’s website, they will no doubt be pleased to see their relative’s company has a Resortwear section, featuring a maxi dress and sarong, among other items.

But Carol might be pleased Mark is with Michelle rather than his ex Lauren Goodger, who she previously clashed with on Towie, including an infamous “mother-in-law encounter” when they awkwardly ran into one another in a shop.

As well as other business moves, Lauren isn’t leaving much to the imagination nowadays by selling scantily-clad pictures on OnlyFans.

Michelle’s swimsuit picture is thought to have brought back memories of Mark’s time with his ex and former Towie co-star.

The source added: “Mark doesn’t like gratuitous sexy snaps – it reminds him of OnlyFans stars, like his ex Lauren Goodger, and he loves the fact Michelle has always kept it classy. “

Whether or not Michelle needs to show off her own swimwear line, she is clearly keen to reap the rewards of her company’s offerings.

And it wouldn’t be a surprise if similar snaps followed in the near future, because the confident star is on the up.

Another source added: “Michelle feels sexier than ever right now, she’s happier than she’s ever been. She’s a mum, and her career is soaring, so she’s loving herself and wants to show the world.

“She’s at the peak of her career; she’s successful, beautiful and constantly in demand, and after becoming a mum, she’s remembering just how powerful she is.

“Michelle is entering a whole new era and isn’t looking for anyone’s approval anymore.

“This wasn’t just any old  snap – it was a statement.”

Mark and Michelle’s reps have been approached for comment.