Victoria Beckham debuts as underwear model for Armani

Not bad for a mother of three who insists that she looks "really awful" naked.

The first shots of Victoria Beckham advertising Armani underwear were released today and are soon to be plastered on billboards from London to Los Angeles, Paris to Tokyo.

They will also be prominently displayed in Milan, where Ms Beckham's footballer husband, David, is spending a few months on loan to AC Milan.

The new campaign, shot in the Beckhams' new home town of LA by fashion photographers Mert Alas and Marcus Piggott, features the Spice Girl-turned-fashion-designer perching on a unmade bed. In another shot for the Spring/Summer campaign, she reclines on the floor clad only in heels and underwear.

As the pictures were released today, designer Giorgio Armani described Ms Beckham as: "a stylish and intriguing woman," adding: "Great underwear is alluring and provocative, and so I wanted to work with someone who would make a real impression."

Victoria, 34, is being paid a reported £12 million to follow in David's footsteps as an Armani underwear model, which should help pay the bills in the Italian fashion capital.

Victoria is no stranger to designer campaigns. In March last year she appeared in Marc Jacobs advertisements. The shoot saw her adopting a number of unconventional poses, including one in which only her legs were visible, splayed out of a Marc Jacobs bag.

Victoria, who has carved out a successful career since her pop fame as a designer and muse, launched her own line of clothing at New York fashion week last year to critical aclaim, but clearly feels there is no conflict of interest with her latest venture.

Armani praised the former Spice Girl as "a style icon" who enjoyed international recognition. "I'm sure Victoria's presence will generate great excitement."