Amy Schumer Posed (Nearly) Nude Photo in an Empowering Photo Shoot

2 minute read

Four Olympic gold medals, a National Book Award and an Emmy may not sound like the qualifications required to land a page in the Pirelli Calendar, which since 1964 has paired top international models with renowned photographers to sell—however incongruously—tires. But this year’s calendar marks a dramatic shift in approach, with photographer Annie Leibovitz suggesting that models be selected on the merit of their accomplishments.

Behind the Scenes of the 2016 Pirelli Calendar Shoot

Amy Schumer and Annie Leibovitz behind the scenes for the 2016 Pirelli Calendar shoot.
Amy Schumer and Annie Leibovitz.Courtesy of Annie Leibovitz Studio
Yoko Ono behind the scenes for the 2016 Pirelli Calendar shoot.
Yoko Ono.Courtesy of Annie Leibovitz Studio
Serena Williams and Annie Leibovitz behind the scenes for the 2016 Pirelli Calendar shoot.
Serena Williams and Annie Leibovitz.Courtesy of Annie Leibovitz Studio
Patti Smith behind the scenes for the 2016 Pirelli Calendar shoot.
Patti Smith.Courtesy of Annie Leibovitz Studio
Kathleen Kennedy behind the scenes for the 2016 Pirelli Calendar shoot.
Producer Kathleen Kennedy.Courtesy of Annie Leibovitz Studio
Fran Leibowitz behind the scenes for the 2016 Pirelli Calendar shoot.
Author Fran Leibowitz.Courtesy of Annie Leibovitz Studio
Tavi Gevinson behind the scenes for the 2016 Pirelli Calendar shoot.
Writer and Editor Tavi Gevinson.Courtesy of Annie Leibovitz Studio
Annie Leibovitz and Shirin Neshat behind the scenes for the 2016 Pirelli Calendar shoot.
Annie Leibovitz and visual artist Shirin Neshat.Courtesy of Annie Leibovitz Studio
Natalia Vodianova behind the scenes for the 2016 Pirelli Calendar shoot.
Model Natalia Vodianova.Courtesy of Annie Leibovitz Studio
Yao Chen behind the scenes for the 2016 Pirelli Calendar shoot.
Yao Chen.Courtesy of Annie Leibovitz Studio
Ava DuVernay behind the scenes for the 2016 Pirelli Calendar shoot.
Director Ava DuVernay and Annie Leibovitz.Courtesy of Annie Leibovitz Studio
Mellody Hobson behind the scenes for the 2016 Pirelli Calendar shoot.
Businesswoman Mellody Hobson.Courtesy of Annie Leibovitz Studio
Agnes Gund behind the scenes for the 2016 Pirelli Calendar shoot.
Philanthropist Agnes Gund.Courtesy of Annie Leibovitz Studio

Amy Schumer, also known as Miss December, posted her portrait on Instagram Monday with the caption, “Beautiful, gross, strong, thin, fat, pretty, ugly, sexy, disgusting, flawless, woman. Thank you, Annie Leibovitz!” Schumer has been outspoken about body image in the past, with much of her comedy—most notably, her incisive parody of 12 Angry Men—holding up a mirror to the inordinate value placed on women’s appearance. In a video about the making of the calendar, she said, “I felt I looked more beautiful than I’ve ever felt in my life. And I felt like it looked like me.”

Of the twelve models, Schumer, along with Serena Williams, is in the minority in baring nearly all for her portrait. The rest of the women—among them singer/poet/author Patti Smith, Selma director Ava DuVernay, writer Fran Lebowitz, businesswoman Mellody Hobson and artist Shirin Neshat—posed for Leibovitz fully clothed. They range in age from 19 (Tavi Gevinson) to 82 (Yoko Ono) and include among them only one actual model (Natalia Vodianova, who is also a philanthropist). For many of them, Leibovitz’s participation, and the chance to signal a new moment in the recognition of women’s contributions, restored initially raised eyebrows back to their resting positions.

“You have to give them credit for being bold at this moment,” Hobson told the New York Times. “We have a long way to go, but this is part of that journey.”

 

Amy Schumer in the 2016 Pirelli Calendar.
Amy Schumer in the 2016 Pirelli Calendar.Annie Leibovitz for Pirelli
Patti Smith in the 2016 Pirelli Calendar.
Patti Smith in the 2016 Pirelli Calendar.Annie Leibovitz for Pirelli
Serena Williams in the 2016 Pirelli Calendar.
Serena Williams in the 2016 Pirelli Calendar.Annie Leibovitz for Pirelli
Yao Chen in the 2016 Pirelli Calendar.
Yao Chen in the 2016 Pirelli Calendar.Annie Leibovitz for Pirelli

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Write to Eliza Berman at eliza.berman@time.com