Frankie Essex managed to successfully fool her fans and followers on social media by cleverly disguising her blossoming baby bump ahead of her surprise pregnancy announcement.
The 34-year-old model and TV star revealed the shock news she was expecting twins, due this summer, with boyfriend Luke Love in a sweet photoshoot in new! magazine.
Former The Only Way is Essex star Frankie managed to keep her growing bump hidden in the run up to her exciting announcement, hoodwinking her 230,000 followers who had no idea she was pregnant.
The soon-to-be-mum became the master of hiding her tummy in photos posted on Instagram, and in one snap at Christmas, Frankie’s bump is nowhere to be seen as she and Luke pose in loose checked pyjamas in a sweet festive snap.
She cleverly draws attention away from her tum by lifting her leg slightly and leaning into her personal trainer boyfriend, so her pyjama top doesn’t cling to her bump.
She even posted an old before and after photo showing her weight loss, in an effort to distract fans from speculating about her pregnancy.
And to celebrate her and Luke’s anniversary, she used a series of throwback snaps from earlier on in their relationship, meaning her followers had no clue she was sporting a pretty noticeable baby bump in real-life.
Another picture shows her wearing a winter outfit, complete with leather-look leggings and a huge puffer jacket and cosy scarf in front of her stomach, which discreetly covers any sign of a bump.
While another snap shows her posing near a decorated phone box, as she angles her pose so her stomach is away from the camera lens.
The expectant mum also shared a snap of her sitting down enjoying a coffee, with her tummy hidden beneath a table, and later posted a throwback photo of her and Luke with their backs to the camera while on holiday in Mexico last year.
But her fans were concerned when Frankie hadn’t posted anything on her Instagram grid since 16 January, but she alleviated their worries when she made her surprise pregnancy announcement.
“Roses are red violets are blue we’re not just having one baby we’re having two. Twinnies. I love you so much @lukeluv. HAPPY VALENTINES DAY," she captioned a photo from her new! photoshoot on Monday.
In the accompanying interview, Frankie said she and Luke were in tears when they found out their baby news.
“I was just so shocked!” she said. “I burst out crying, tears of happiness. It was just so beautiful. It was lovely.”
