The iconic 2025 Pirelli Calendar, titled Refresh and Reveal by acclaimed photographer Ethan James Green, has just been unveiled at London’s Natural History Museum. Marking the 51st edition of the Calendar — also known as ‘The Cal’ — this latest release takes a reflective journey back to its roots, celebrating beauty through body, intimacy, and diversity. With a shoot set against Miami’s historic Virginia Key Beach and a customised studio setup, Green and his team redefined sensuality in 24 captivating images — a portrait in colour and one in black and white for each of the 12 subjects. This year’s theme offers a fresh perspective, a bold contrast to last year’s Timeless.
The cast is a tapestry of international talents: Euphoria star and activist Hunter Schafer, writer and presenter Padma Lakshmi, British talents Simone Ashley and Jodie Turner-Smith, French actor Vincent Cassel, and American model Jenny Shimizu, a nostalgic callback to her appearance in Pirelli’s 1997 Calendar by Richard Avedon. Also starring are South Korean actress Hoyeon, Italian singer and actress Elodie, British actor John Boyega, American artist Martine Gutierrez, and model and illustrator Connie Fleming. Green even made a bold cameo, the third photographer in recent years to appear in their own Calendar — a self-revealing touch he describes as “freeing” amid the intimacy he aims to capture.
Natural beauty was at the heart of this shoot, with Green and his team incorporating elements sourced directly from the shoreline. The wild allure of Miami’s sands and skies brought both opportunity and challenge. Unpredictable June rains layered moodiness into the imagery, contrasting with May’s clear skies for a rich tonal diversity. For Green, the varied scenes underscore a more nuanced beauty — one to last for generations. Reflecting on his approach, he notes, “I wanted to achieve something that people can look back on in 20 or 30 years that won’t feel dated.”
Tonne Goodman, former Vogue Fashion Editor and the Calendar’s fashion director, faced her own challenge: clothing as a subtle veil for revealing personal identity rather than trend. Goodman explains, “It was about creating freedom — to conceal in order to reveal.” Through careful fittings and model trust, her creative choices guided the cast in balancing vulnerability and boldness.
Adding an extra layer of engagement, model Alex Consani interviewed the cast during the shoot, bringing out personal stories and insights that enrich the calendar’s narrative. This behind-the-scenes glimpse provided an intimate look at the creative process and the diverse personalities involved.
Green’s touch is sensitive yet bold, embodying an intersection of elegance and queer visibility that he feels is essential today. His community-focused style, honed in New York, shapes every frame. His close rapport with models like Schafer, Gutierrez, and Cassel allowed them to collaborate freely, giving each subject room to reveal their truest selves. “The cast represents variety and diversity in all forms, with actors, artists, singers, and models of different ages and nationalities,” Green elaborates. “Casting has always been an important part of my work, and I’m lucky to have worked with many of the Pirelli models on different projects throughout my career.”
With its unfiltered embrace of contemporary beauty and profound visual storytelling, the 2025 Pirelli Calendar by Ethan James Green is an enduring celebration of human form, spirit, and self-discovery.
Discover more at pirellicalendar.pirelli.com.
photography. Ethan James Green
words. Gennaro Costanzo
