Pirelli Calendar Ditches Models For Awesome Women Like Serena Williams

          • D'Arcy Maine
          Nov 30, 2015, 01:44 PM ET

          The 2016 Pirelli calendar was unveiled on Monday, and instead of naked supermodels, it features natural portraits of some really amazing women. Photographed by the legendary Annie Leibovitz, icons including Serena Williams, Amy Schumer, Patti Smith and Yao Chen are featured.

          Just look at this image of Serena, who is literally the picture of strength.

          If you've seen past issues of the calendar, you might recognize just how different the picture is from those in calendars past. "For 2016, we did something completely different, but it is still simple. It is a classic set of black-and-white portraits made in the studio," Leibovitz told Vogue UK.

          "When Pirelli approached me, they said they wanted to make a departure from the past. They suggested the idea of photographing distinguished women. After we agreed on that, the goal was to be very straightforward. I wanted the pictures to show the women exactly as they are, with no pretense."

          The amazing photos of Schumer, Smith and Chen are below.

          Well done, Pirelli. It's about time, but well done all the same.

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