Pirelli’s ‘Sexy Classic’ Calendar Returns to Nudity in Post-#MeToo Era

The photographer for the upcoming Pirelli calendar has promised to reintegrate sexiness into the project after the #MeToo movement led to a shift towards featuring fully-clothed subjects.

John Boyega is one of the stars in the 2025 edition, titled “Refresh and Reveal.” He poses flexing and crouching on a beach in the Florida Keys, with an assistant splashing water for added effect.

The calendar also includes Padma Lakshmi in a delicate tulle dress that reveals her breasts, and performance artist Martine Gutierrez, who poses naked with only a piece of driftwood covering her pelvis.

Ethan James Green, the photographer for this year’s calendar, believes it’s time for celebrities to undress and reveal themselves, aligned with the shifting definitions of sexiness influenced by #MeToo and social media.

“#MeToo really forced everyone to pause, which is advantageous,” Green stated. “Sexy has evolved into what we’ve been seeing on social media, often through selfies.”

He further explained, “People now have control over what they share, how they present their skin, and ensuring they don’t do anything they’re uncomfortable with. My work has always centered around collaboration with the subject.”

Green, 34, expressed that the aim of the shoot was to “start back at the beginning and figure out how it makes sense today.” He added, “We all come into this life naked. Capturing that essence feels like the truest form of self-expression.”

The return to more revealing imagery marks a pivotal shift for the Italian tire company, which had opted for clothed models in recent years. This change mirrors broader trends in fashion and pop culture, where exposed skin is increasingly celebrated.

This year’s Met Gala saw Rita Ora in little more than a string of beads and rapper Doja Cat in a wet, transparent T-shirt. After a five-year break, the Victoria’s Secret show is also returning, with organizers promising the comeback of the iconic wings.

Green drew inspiration from previous Pirelli calendars, such as Herb Ritts’ 1994 edition featuring Kate Moss and Cindy Crawford naked on a beach, and Richard Avedon’s 1995 version, depicting Christy Turlington in a metal corset. Green aimed for something both “classic and really sexy” using a combination of beach and studio settings.

Upon being approached by the Italian tire company, Green was determined to capture the essence of what Pirelli is known for.

“I thought, ‘If I’m doing Pirelli, I want to do Pirelli,’” Green said. “I wanted to return to the classic, sexy vibes that define the brand.”

During discussions, Pirelli’s team was on board with Green’s vision. “They wanted the same thing. It was perfect,” Green noted.

In recent years, the calendar has been revamped to distance itself from allegations of the male gaze, starting with Annie Leibovitz’s 2016 edition featuring clothed “sheroes” like Yoko Ono and Serena Williams.

In 2017, Dame Helen Mirren appeared wrapped in a blanket, and Uma Thurman was represented wearing a polo neck sweater. The 2018 edition featured an all-Black cast of models, activists, and actors, shot by Tim Walker.

Green maintains that there are various interpretations of what’s considered sexy, which can be explored in the right setting.

“But I think with nudity and sexiness now, at least from my experience, the subject has a greater role in the process,” Green explained. “When someone feels their best and most comfortable, that’s when I get the best picture.”

“My work has always been about collaboration. Satisfaction and comfort yield the best results,” he concluded.

Source: The Guardian, CNN News