The women’s rowing team of Warwick University has once again turned heads and sparked debate with the release of their 2015 naked calendar, aimed at raising funds for charitable causes in the United Kingdom.
The calendar, described by its creators as “tasteful and discrete,” has faced criticism and censorship from social media giant Facebook, which labelled promotional images for the calendar as “inappropriate content.”
Despite the pushback, the team remains resolute. Sophie Bell, a featured participant in the calendar, told HuffPost UK, “We haven’t changed our approach towards the calendar dramatically this year. We’re proud of what we have achieved, which includes raising over £5,000 for Macmillan, promoting gender equality, and providing healthy, athletic role models for young women.”
Bell also acknowledged the scrutiny the calendar has faced, adding, “Having said this, we have endeavoured as always to make sure that the calendar is as tasteful and discrete as possible, and I think the pornography criticism has made us ensure we continue to maintain high standards.”
The calendar has already pre-sold 200 copies and is available for purchase on WarwickRowing.org.
Proceeds from sales will support cancer charities such as Macmillan, further solidifying the team’s dedication to combining athleticism with philanthropy.
The initiative echoes the university’s male rowing team, which has been producing its own naked calendar since 2009 to raise funds for charities fighting homophobia.
In addition to the calendar’s sales, fans can interact with the women behind the project via their official Twitter account, @nakedgirlsrow.
Though Facebook’s ban has brought challenges, the team’s efforts to promote inclusivity, gender equality, and charitable giving underscore a growing trend of activism through unconventional yet impactful methods.
