It was never a question as to whether Steve McCurry would bring something different to the 2013 Pirelli Calendar. The question was always what. Those expecting the usual display of nudity and sexuality Pirelli is famous for may be in for a surprise: initial behind-the-scenes images show something else entirely. McCurry’s calendar focuses on the humanitarian efforts of 11 women from Petra Nemcova to Liya Kebede, a brave new direction that – we assume – aims to use the calendar’s popularity to raise awareness of the issues they support and show another side of the models to the public.

The calendar also includes an eight-months-pregnant Adriana Lima. View the behind-the-scenes images by Alessandro Scotti for Vanity Fair Italy at the gallery above.