Years after fearing the picture would leak, the now-51-year-old shared it herself this week — as part of the the viral Instagram challenge featuring black-and-white selfies in the name of women supporting women.

“I was nervous to take [the photo] and then when I was asked to do #RHOBH I was nervous to accept doing the show because I was worried this photo would surface,” she captioned the sultry snap, in which she artfully covers up her private areas. “I thought it was THAT risqué!! How scandalous!”

The “Real Housewives of Beverly Hills” star of a decade said the image was originally a sexy Valentine’s Day gift for her husband, Mauricio Umansky.

Years later, the photo brings her confidence instead of fear.

“Now here I am posting it because it DOES make me feel empowered! I am proud to come from a family of all women, fortunate to be surrounded by such amazing women in my life,” she wrote.

She explained why she opted for this shot over a selfie, saying: “I struggled to post a photo because I didn’t understand what’s so ‘challenging’ about posting a black and white photo of ourselves.”

Richards was encouraged by pals including co-star Lisa Rinna to say #ChallengeAccepted and post a black-and-white photo.