Bare Essence: Pirelli's 2025 Calendar Celebrates Beauty And Boldness

White sandy beaches, breathtaking Atlantic views, and a fearless embrace of self-expression define the 2025 Pirelli Calendar.

Writer and model Padma Lakshmi was one of the stars who posed beachside for the 2025 Pirelli calendar.

This year’s edition of “The Cal,” produced annually by Italian tire giant Pirelli as an exclusive luxury item for its elite clientele, boasts a star-studded lineup from the worlds of film, music, television, and fashion. Over the years, icons like Naomi Campbell, Cindy Crawford, and Kate Moss have graced its pages, captured by legendary photographers such as Terence Donovan, Richard Avedon, and Herb Ritts.

For this year’s calendar, New York-based photographer Ethan James Green brings his unique vision to life with stars like Hunter Schafer, John Boyega, and Simone Ashley. They’re joined by artist Martine Gutierrez, model and illustrator Connie Fleming, and model Jenny Shimizu, among others. The 51st edition, aptly titled “Refresh and Reveal,” emphasizes a natural, unguarded beauty, with the models appearing in various states of undress.

Actor and film producer John Boyega featured in the calendar, which alternated between beach and studio.

Shot along the pristine beaches and seasides of Miami, the models use beachcombed items as props to cover their modesty. The visual aesthetic is softer and more subdued than last year’s “Timeless” theme, shifting from bold hues to tranquil, beach-inspired tones in both black-and-white and soft color palettes.

As the title suggests, “Refresh and Reveal” draws from the calendar’s 1964 roots, which featured British photographer Robert Freeman’s iconic seaside shoot with models Jane Lumb and Sonny Drane in Majorca, Spain. The “Reveal” nods to the calendar’s celebrated tradition of tasteful, artful nudity.

Actor Simone Ashley poses for the 51st edition of the calendar, which first published in 1964.

“There’s no truer way to express ourselves than in our natural state,” Green told CNN, underscoring the calendar’s embrace of authenticity and vulnerability.

Green, who initially rose to fame with intimate, black-and-white portraits of New York’s youth for Vogue, Harper’s Bazaar, and i-D, approached casting in a very personal way. He invited past collaborators, including Fleming, Gutierrez, and Schafer—whom he first photographed for Teen Vogue in 2017. Tonne Goodman, former fashion director of American Vogue, joined as the calendar’s fashion director and creative consultant.

In a unique twist, Green himself makes an appearance in the calendar, becoming only the third photographer to feature as a model. Having started his own career in front of the camera, he used his experiences to build trust and comfort among his subjects. “As a model, you’re in a vulnerable position, especially when revealing more of yourself. I knew I had to make everyone feel at ease,” he said.

Model and actor Hoyeon Jung struck a delicate pose in a flowing sheer outfit.

Shooting across Miami’s beaches and a studio from May through June, Green and his team faced challenges, from tropical storms to studio flooding. “We’d rush out to shoot when the sun appeared and move inside when it rained,” he recalled. “At one point, we had to evacuate because the studio started flooding.”

For Green, the 2025 calendar was a collaborative effort. “Everyone brought their own vision to it,” he said, noting how the models, consultants, and organizers each contributed. “It was about discovering what each person wanted their Pirelli experience to be.”

Actor Vincent Cassel opts for a fighting pose in the 2025 edition.

Green’s work reflects an evolution in style while staying true to a collaborative spirit. “That approach has always led me to the shot,” he said.

The 2025 Pirelli Calendar celebrates both bold vulnerability and the beauty of self-expression—marking another chapter in its storied history of artistry and allure.