Amy Schumer's Naked Photoshoot
Famed photographer Annie Leibowitz was tasked with shooting the prestigious Pirelli Calendar in 2016. Work began in late 2015, and among Amy's fellow calendar girls were the likes of Serena Williams, Patti Smith, Yoko Ono, Mellody Hobson and Kathleen Kennedy. The 2016 calendar was a landmark edition, as Annie Leibowitz was the first lone woman to shoot the calendar in over 25 years. The concept revolved around depicting accomplished, trailblazing women in striking black-and-white, but unlike previous editions of the calendar all the participating women remained clothed or in their underwear. This wasn't technically the naked photoshoot the world had come to expect from Pirelli, but regardless, it became clear very early on that Amy's pictures were a stand-out.
Video: The Making of the 2016 Pirelli Calendar
Video: The making the 2016 Pirelli Calendar. Amy Schumer's segment begins at the 17:50 minute mark
Annie Leibowitz was keen to work Amy. "I admire comedy so much. It's like the original performance art," Annie said. "Amy Schumer, she is on an amazing wave right now. Amy just takes things straight on, she's chartering a course in areas that people were afraid to touch before." Annie's concept for Amy's pictures was that they'd shoot her as if she didn't get the memo that the calendar was not going to be a topless one that year. This is why the end result was the comedian, slumped on a stool with a coffee cup in hand, wearing nothing but a bra and pants set and high heels.
Amy treated the entire experience was a once in a lifetime opportunity. "I am so excited to be a part of the Pirelli family," the comedian said. "It's not something I ever thought I would have the chance to do and to hear that Annie Leibowitz was doing the photoshoot, after I Googled her - no just kidding! She's like the most amazing person, you don't dream that you are ever going to be able to work with her."
Amy's picture is not what you call conventionally 'flattering'. Because she's sitting in a relaxed position, her stomach has multiple folds. "I'm sitting in a chair, and so my instinct is to try and make things look like they look in magazines and images we've seen," the star recalls. "And she's [Annie Leibowitz] is like 'No, kind of slump over and let your stomach out.' I felt I looked my beautiful than I've ever felt in my life and I felt like it looked like me."
Amy took to Twitter to share her photo, captioning it:
"Beautiful, gross, strong, thin, fat, pretty, ugly, sexy, disgusting, flawless, woman. Thank you @AnnieLeibowitz"
The public reaction was overwhelmingly positive, and the photo kickstarted many conversations about how women subconsciously police their own bodies even though things like have stomach rolls when you slouch is perfectly natural. Comments on Amy's tweet ranged from "Thank you. I'm really tired of hating my body and feeling like I'm unloveable" to "Finally, a picture of how women look without Spanx or liposuction or photoshop! Love it!". There was also many comparisons between Amy's body in the photoshoot and what was considered the epitome of beauty during different eras.
Amy was so touched by this collage that she reposted it to her personal Instagram account (you can follow her @amyschumer). That same year, her memoir 'The Girl With The Lower Back Tattoo' hit the shelves and she's gone from strength to strength ever since. The 37-year old is now a mum, but thankfully she's showing no signs of a desire to reign it in or tone it down. Amy Schumer has remained as unapologetic, brash and down to earth as ever. Here our favourite Amy Schumer nudes and nearly-nudes.
1. Nice (Hotdog) Buns!
Date: 24 August 2017
Overview: Around mid-year 2017, rumours surfaced that Amy Schumer had demanded she'd be paid the same amount of money as fellow comics Chris Rock and Dave Chapelle did for their Netflix stand-up specials. This wasn't completely out of the realm of possibility, as Amy is a well-known feminist and campaigner for both human and women's rights. In fact, while Amy did negotiate more pay for her Netflix special, she didn't outrightly demand that she be paid the same as Rock and Chapelle. And what better way to quash rumours than to take a picture with a giant plush hot dog covering your boobs.
2. When You Gotta Go,You Gotta Go!
Date: 6 February 2018
Overview: We all get caught short at times, but not all of us are game to upload proof to Instagram! Amy had to stop for a quick off-road wee whilst walking her beloved dog Tati - careful of snakes girl!
3. Amy Schumer Gets Wet'N'Wild
Date: 20 April 2018
Overview: In I Feel Pretty (2018), Amy Schumer plays the role of Renee Bennett, an insecure woman who, after a head injury, gains an extreme level of self-confidence regarding her appearance. Amy posted this teaser clip of her character at a wet t-shirt competition to psych up her fans for the film's release.
4. The Girl With The Lower Back Tattoo
Date: 26 September 2018
Overview: Arguably one of the greatest plays on words of all time, 'The Girl With The Lower Back Tattoo' was comedic, autobiographical book released in 2016. It's cover featured a sultry looking, naked Amy Schumer. The book tackled issues many issues that Amy was passionate about head-on: gun control, domestic violence, sexual assault and the importance of consent. It held top position on The New York Times Non-Fiction Best Seller for two weeks.
5. Amy's Infamous Ink
Date: 14 July 2018
Overview: Amy relaxes in her bikini bottoms and gives us look at her infamous lower back tattoo, which she herself claims "sucks".
6. A Troublesome Bun In The Oven
Date: 31 March 2019
Overview: Amy's hashtag #didnotpuke is a reference to the dreaded hyperemesis gravidarum that she suffered throughout her pregnancy. Yep, that's the same thing Kate Middleton had during all three of her pregnancies - extreme, persistent vomiting during pregnancy that can lead to dehydration, salivating more than usual, weight loss and the inability to eat or drink an adequate amount. Amy was forced to cancel and refund tickets to many of her live shows because even travelling in a car was enough to send her reaching for a sick bucket.
7. Duck, Duck, Goose.
Date: 13 March 2019
Overview: In a pregnancy photoshoot like no one, naked Amy Schumer chases ducks during a cold drizzly evening. Later in this series, she poses in a green dress with a plunging neckline, and then topless with handfuls of moss covering her nipples. It sounds extra weird when we write it down, but have a look for yourself, the end result is on point.
8. Pump It (The Black Eyed Peas ft Amy Schumer)
Date: 19 May 2019
Overview: Talk about keeping it real! Amy shared this breast pumping video on her Instagram and we're here for it! The comments on this post from both fellow famous people and fans were overwhelmingly positive. We're especially living for the comment left by Selma Blair, who just wrote "Milk It".
9. Amy Schumer for British GQ
Date: 22 September 2016
Overview: In October 2016 Amy Schumer, as the magazine's Woman of The Year, was the cover of British G. She posed in some cute but classic boy-leg undies, white heels and an oversized men's white business shirt.
10. This Girl Is On Fire
Date: 26 April 2016
Overview: Another amazing Amy Schumer x Annie Leibowitz collaboration. Amy suggests in the caption that she had to really push Annie to take this bold shot - we'd have loved to have been a fly on those walls!
11. Say Goodbye To Chaffing
Date: 3 May 2016
Overview: We love the juxtaposition between the glamour of Amy's red carpet dress and the reality of having thighs. Amy reefs up her dress with no hesitation and shows us a brilliant life hack - stick-deodorant on the inner thighs will stop pesky chub-rub!
