The Lavazza calendar turns 20 next year, and to celebrate its big birthday, the 2012 edition has taken quite a special turn.

Meet The Lavazzers – that is, the people who have made the calendar so successful for the past two decades.

For the 20th anniversary calendar, Lavazza’s invited 12 of its most iconic contributors of the past 20 years back to create self-portraits that represent their relationship with the coffee company.

And how the cameras have turned. The likes of Elliot Erwit, Ellen Von Unwerth, Annie Leibovitz, Mark Seliger, Miles Aldridge and David LaChapelle have all taken images for the 2012 edition that, whether through humour or vanity, express their one-of-a-kind vision.

From Erwit’s comical paper bag head to Leibovitz’s simple self-portrait and Finlay MacKay’s digitally-enhanced human dog, the results are varied to say the least, but they each share a surreal quality and a sweet story of Lavazza’s journey to legendary status.

And fronting it all? 20-year-old (sense a theme?) Dutch model Valerie van der Graaf, who was shot by Ellen Von Unwerth blowing out birthday candles on the cover. It’s her biggest scoop to date, but with her buxom curves and big blonde hair, we’ll tell you now it won’t be long before you see this girl everywhere.

Flick through our gallery below to see the 20th anniversary calendar images, and stay tuned for all the goss from launch party…

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