Maria Menounos straddles blow-up whale in bikini

Maria Menounos has been having a whale of a time – and quite literally. The 43-year-old media personality and 2021 “Live! With Kelly and Ryan” fill-in is fresh from wowing fans with a bikini-clad and very humorous set of photos. Posting to her Instagram, the fashionista garnered celebrity praise for straddling a massive blow-up whale from a sun-drenched pool, and it looks like the caption was the cherry on the cake.

Maria, who has been keeping her chin up since the loss of mom Litsa this year, told fans: “You’re whale-come!” See what went down below.

Maria Menounos Has A Whale Of A Time In Bikini

The photos, below, were posted for Maria’s 959,000 followers. The “Better Together With Maria” podcast host, who has been flaunting her massive cucumbers with plenty of humor as she celebrates her Greek heritage, updated from the middle of a swimming pool and with her legs either side of an inflatable whale.

The Dunkin’ Donuts face, this year revealing she was a former employee of the fast-food snack chain, was shot far out and wearing a bright yellow bikini, also sporting a large floppy hat and shades. Despite them, the smile was visible as Maria sent out good vibes and multiple angles for anyone swiping right.

“I’m still laughing at my shamu photo shoot hope it makes you giggle too,” the star wrote, and it would appear that fans alongside celebs were impressed. Leaving likes were 29-year-old former Miss Universe Olivia Culpo and 47-year-old reality star Larsa Pippen, with Britney Spears’ little sister Jamie Lynn doing the same.

“#FreeWilly,” one fan replied, with another calling Maria “so freakin cute.” “Your backyard looks like a beautiful oasis,” a third said. Others, meanwhile, noting the recent loss – mom Litsa passed this year from both brain cancer and COVID – sent their best, with one fan hoping that Maria’s “heart is healing.”

Elsewhere, Maria has been busy denying that she and husband Keven Undergaro are expecting, this after the couple has been vocal about their infertility struggles and IVF attempts. In fact, back in 2018, Maria revealed she’d turned to reality star Kim Kardashian for advice – the 40-year-old welcomed her two latter children Chicago and Psalm via surrogate, although the KKW Beauty founder’s issues were with carrying babies, not conceiving them.

“Miss Kim K. has connected me with all of her people,” Maria told Us Weekly. “We are going to Greece this fall and we’re going to do another [wedding] ceremony. Once we get back, we’ll do it.”