Denise Van Outen, 52, displayed a confident and glamorous appearance in a recent night out, sporting fishnet tights and mini shorts. The actress and singer shared images of her ensemble on social media, declaring she feels "sexier than ever."
Van Outen's outfit included a semi-sheer, glittering top and a faux-fur jacket. She posted the photos on Instagram from her hotel room, captioning them, "Loved staying @no131cheltenham ✨ Comfiest bed and the Sunday roast was so tasty. Even squeezed in a little shopping✨"
Earlier in the summer, Van Outen spoke about a significant increase in her self-assurance as she entered her fifties. "I feel sexier now than I did in my twenties in a bikini," she told The Sun. "So much more. I love the fact I've got curvier and my hips have expanded. I prefer my shape now to the way it was in the Nineties. The secret to feeling confident in a bikini is that I've learned to accept myself. I feel quite free when I'm wearing one."
The recent social media post follows her discussions about regaining personal freedom as her daughter, Betsy, has grown older. Van Outen welcomed Betsy in 2010 with ex-husband Lee Mead. The couple, who married in 2009, separated in 2013, citing demanding work schedules and diverging paths.
While Van Outen described their co-parenting as "brilliant," she acknowledged the challenges of raising Betsy largely on her own. Now that Betsy is 16, the presenter feels a sense of renewed independence.
"I just turned 52, and I think you just get to an age where I think most of my focus has been on my daughter for quite a long time," Van Outen told the Daily Mail. "She's just turned 16, she's only just got to an age where I sort of give her a little bit more slack, and she's really independent in certain areas of her life.
"I think that brings with it a bit of peace and a bit of, you know, I can sort of relax a little bit, because anyone who's got children and has had kids would relate to the fact that it's a constant worry. So I think my concerns have been more about raising my daughter well and keeping her safe."
She added, "And I think now she's just a little bit older, and I kind of stepped back a little bit. So I think this is actually a really nice age. I feel like you get your freedom back a little bit. You get a bit of a second wind."
Van Outen recalled instances from Betsy's younger years when leaving for work would cause distress. "I remember when Betsy was four, and I'd feel terrible the minute I left the house because she'd be crying at the door, going, 'please don't go to work, mummy'." She noted that her mother would assist with childcare, and Betsy would typically settle down shortly after she departed. "But I could then go on a work trip or be away for like a night or two nights, feeling so guilty. Whereas now she's 16, she's happy to see the back of me. She's like, 'come on, off you go'."