The 2016 Pirelli Calendar Is Here

The Pirelli calendar, known for it’s glamorous nude portraits, not to mention, its exclusivity, received a makeover for the 43rd edition. Today in London, photographer Annie Leibovitz and Pirelli unveiled their new concept highlighting 13 influential women across all different backgrounds and achievements, whom were photographed wearing more clothing past calendars: Yao Chen, Natalia Vodianova, Kathleen Kennedy, Agnes Gund with her granddaughter Sadie Rain Hope-Gund, Serena Williams, Mellody Hobson, Fran Leibovitz, Ava DuVernay, Tavi Gevinson, Shirin Neshat, Yoko Ono, Patti Smith and Amy Schumer. “We needed more than 12 months,” said Leibovitz, who had full control of the casting, “there’s no beginning or end, we could’ve gone on and on.”

While Pirelli has had a reputation for producing super sexy calendars, and enlisting fashion photographers and top models, Leibovitz noted that the Italian company was the driving force behind the departure. “They came to me with the mandate that they would like to do something different but I didn’t let them in the door once I started shooting,” Leibovitz revealed on having full creative control. For more, see the behind-the-scenes shots from all 13 women featured in the 2016 calendar.

Foreword: Yao Chen

With over 70 million social media followers in China, Chen is easily one of the most famous women on the planet. The film/TV actress who started out microblogging on the Chinese website Weibow, now uses her influence as the first Chinese Goodwill Ambassador to the United Nations, and meets with refugees from Myanmar, Somalia and Syria.

March: Agnes Gund and Sadie Rain Hope-Gund

An enthusiasm for art clearly runs in the Gund family. Agnes is currently president emerita and chairman of MoMA’s international council as well as chairman of MoMA PS1. Meanwhile, her granddaughter Sadie is a student at Brown University where she studies photography and media.

April: Serena Williams

Williams has helped to change women’s tennis over the years—with 21 Grand Slams now under her belt, and the first African-American to be ranked number one, Serena is undeniably the most recognizable face in the game.

August: Tavi Gevinson

At the age of 12, Gevinson launched her own blog Style Rookie, where she put her knowledge of fashion to good use, as well as photos of herself wearing her favorite thrifted finds in her backyard. At 15 she launched Rookie, an online-only magazine as a safe space for teenage girls to connect. The teenager is now focused on a blossoming acting career, after being casted in Kenneth Lonergan’s play This is Our Youth, which opened in Chicago and moved to Broadway.

November: Patti Smith

One of the most iconic faces in American music, Smith embarked on a journey over 40 years ago to save rock ‘n’ roll. She was an important figure in New York clubs including CBGB and her first record, “Horses” is known as one of the most influential rock albums.

December: Amy Schumer

The stand-up comedian and actress has become known for operating on the extreme edge of feminism with her award-winning TV series Inside Amy Schumer.

Leibovitz on getting Schumer to pose in her underwear, “She got that it was a concept. It was going to be an important aspect of the pictures. She was willing to play that role. I was worried for her, I asked, ‘are you self-conscious?’ And she said, ‘are you kidding? I love my body!'”