Amy Schumer, Serena Williams Pose Nude for Pirelli’s 2016 Calendar

Serena Williams, one of the few women who pose topless in the Pirelli calendar, is April. Photo: Annie Leibovitz

Even if you’re unfamiliar with the Pirelli calendar’s origin story, it’s pretty easy to guess its history. Starting in 1964, the Italian tire company tapped top models to pose provocatively for famous photographers with the finished product — an overtly sexual flavor-of-the-month compilation — hanging in garages, repair shops, and boys’ bedrooms around the world. Not only an influential form of advertising, many also believed that it empowered women throughout the sexual revolution.

Up until last year, they stuck with the half-a-century-long theme: Steven Meisel shot Joan Smalls, Adriana Lima, Isabeli Fontana, Gigi Hadid (with her legs spread!) in a BDSM-themed editorial styled by Carine Roitfeld. But for the brand’s 51st calendar, not a single one of these top models were re-cast. Instead, Pirelli tapped role models, who (mostly) kept their clothes on.

Patti Smith, in skinny jeans, a white blouse, black vest, and lace-up boots, is featured for November. Photo: Annie Leibovitz

Serena Williams, Patti Smith, Tavi Gevinson, Fran Lebovitz, Natalia Vodainova, president of Ariel Investments Mellody Hobson, Amy Schumer, Yoko Ono, Iranian activist Shirin Neshat, filmmaker Kathleen Kennedy, Chinese actress Yao Chen, Ava DuVernay, and Agnes Gund, art collector and chairman of MoMA PS1, with granddaughter Sadie Rain Hope-Gund were all chosen for the coveted slots based on their achievements, not their ability to rock PVC lingerie (although many of them could pull it off if they really wanted).

Amy Schumer wears just her underwear and heels for December. Photo: Annie Leibovitz

Annie Leibovitz didn’t just photograph the project, she was also granted creative control over the whole thing, including the cast. “Pirelli came to me and told me they wanted to shift this year to something different. I made the suggestion that they do women performance artists or women comedians, almost a take-off. I just thought of women I admired and I didn’t let anyone in the studio from Pirelli. It became a very strong set of very simple portraits,” she said in a press conference in London on Monday. “No one was supposed to look like they tried in these pictures.” She added, “I still can’t believe the women who agreed to do it, did it. I felt a big responsibility to that. It shouldn’t be a big step, but it is a big step.”

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