The 2015 Pirelli Calendar Features a Plus Size Model For The First Time

The Pirelli Calendar - or the Cal as it's often known - is a trade publication first launched in 1964 by the Italian tyre company. In case you're not familiar with the Pirelli Calendar, each year it features nearly-naked supermodels doing the glamour thing.

These calendars are a fashion industry yearbook of sorts, including the work of the world's greatest photographers and models from the past 51 years. Think Kate Moss, Naomi Campbell, Helmut Newton, Cindy Crawford, Patrick Demarchelier and more. To summarise, it's a big deal.

Last year for their 50th birthday instead of producing a new calendar they used never-seen-before archive shots. But this year they're back with a new cast of supermodels. Here's what we know about the Pirelli calendar so far...

1. Introducing this year's chosen 12...

Karen Elson and Gigi Hadid [Pirelli 2015]

The model line up this year is.... drumroll please ... Adriana Lima, Natalia Vodianova, Raquel Zimmermann, Isabeli Fontana, Sasha Luss, Anna Ewers, Carolyn Murphy, Cameron Russell, Gigi Hadid, Candice Huffine, Karen Elson and Joan Smalls.

2. Candice Huffine is the first plus size Pirelli model...

And she looks SMOKIN'.

[Pirelli 2015]

3. Joan Smalls is a boxer for her close up...

[Pirelli 2015]

Joan Smalls is a dominatrix boxer in next year's calendar. She said to* WWD*: “I loved the character I had to play. I used to box and it was related to boxing, but they didn’t have me box. It was character-driven — like a boxer mixed with a dominatrix.” So how did the supermodel prep for her Pirelli moment? She followed a strict regime with no dairy, because "it makes me bloated."*

4. The Carine Roitfeld touch...

Adriana Lima [Pirelli 2015]

This time the calendar is styled by Carine Roitfeld, with photography by Steven Meisel. Carine added her new 19-year-old muse Hadid to the Pirelli roster. The model, who is a student at NYU, said toWWD: “When I heard I was being a part of this, I thought they were kidding. I was like, ‘They want me in it?’ I guess there has to be that next generation. Carine Roitfeld has been so supportive with my career. She really pushed for me. I’m so grateful to have her in my life.”

The entire calendar will be released in November. Until then see iconic Pirelli shots in the gallery above...