In the Sun: French First Lady Carla Bruni in lacy lingerie – before she became the Next big thing in modeling.

The sexy snaps – including one of her in a floral bodice – were taken in 1989 for clothes giant Next's mail order catalogue. And they show why Carla – now the 41-year-old wife of President Nicolas Sarkozy – went on to be one of the Nineties' top models, reportedly earning £7.5million a year. The shots have been unearthed from the High Street chain's archives as Next celebrates its 21st anniversary.