American photographer Annie Leibovitz, who’s behind the shoot, described it as a “departure” from recent years.
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Every year, Italian tire company Pirelli releases a limited edition calendar featuring artful nudes (and a few scantily clad bikini and lingerie shots) of the world’s most attractive women.
Instead of the usual line-up, Pirelli has now confirmed that the 2016 calendar will feature 13 strong and influential women who have helped shaped our world for the better.
Talking about the project, Annie Leibovitz said: “I started to think about the roles that women play, women who have achieved something”. “This calendar is so completely different”, continued Leibovitz. “The idea was not to have any pretense in these pictures and be very straightforward”, Annie Leibovitz said of the Pirelli calendar’s chosen ladies.
The line up comprises a long list of 12 kick-ass women ranging from sportstars to artists, philanthropists to social activists, and singers to bloggers-Patti Smith, Serena Williams, Fran Lebowitz, Yoko Ono, Amy Schumer, Tavi Gevinson, Ava DuVernay, Natalia Vodianova, Agnes Gund, Kathleen Kennedy, Mellody Hobson, Shirin Neshat, and Yao Chen. “I have no idea what the average recipient would [think], but I think that they should appreciate a bold move”.
No images of the calendar are out yet, but we did get our hands on some behind-the-scenes shots while we wait until November 20, when the calendar will be presented at the Roadhouse in London. “I think it’s hard to deny Annie’s invitation”, explained Chinese actress and Weibo’s most-followed user, Yao Chen, through a translator.
Serena has already confirmed her involvement in the project on Twitter, writing on Friday: ‘Guess what??
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What do you think of the new vibe of the Pirelli calendar?
