From architecture classrooms in Hyderabad to the runways of Parisian haute couture, Bhavitha Mandava’s journey is one of serendipity, grit, and history-making triumph.
At just 25, Hyderabad-born Bhavitha etched her name into fashion history by becoming the first Indian model to open Chanel’s prestigious Metiers d’Art 2026 show in New York City, reported The Times of India.
The event, held in the disused Bowery subway station, marked a symbolic full-circle moment for the New York University (NYU) graduate student who was first scouted on a subway platform.
Bhavitha, who went to New York in 2022 to pursue a master’s degree in assistive technology and human-computer interaction at NYU, was initially focused on building a career in design and architecture.
A graduate of Jawaharlal Nehru Technological University in Hyderabad, she had no plans to enter the world of fashion.
That changed during a routine subway commute, when she was approached by a scout from 28Models, reported Vogue.
Though initially hesitant, the scout’s mention of helping pay off her student loans nudged her toward reconsidering.
The scout sent her photos to renowned casting director Anita Bitton, who passed them on to then-Bottega Veneta creative director Matthieu Blazy.
Bhavitha debuted at Blazy’s Bottega Veneta Spring/Summer 2025 show, followed by a campaign appearance. When Blazy was appointed creative director at Chanel, he took Bhavitha with him.
She soon walked in his debut Spring 2026 collection and, in an extraordinary moment of homage, was selected to open Chanel’s Métiers d’Art show – staged in a subway, the very space where her modelling journey began.
The outfit she wore – a simple jeans-and-sweater ensemble – mirrored what she had been wearing the day she was scouted.
“It felt crazy,” she said. “Because it looked exactly like that moment when my journey started.”
Bhavitha shared a video of her parents back in India watching the show online, overwhelmed with pride and emotion, reported NDTV.
Her mother, teary-eyed, repeated her name, while her father looked on silently, smiling with pride.
The video quickly went viral on social media, resonating with audiences worldwide.
“Can’t put into words how much this means to me,” she captioned the Instagram post, which has since garnered millions of views.
In another post, Bhavitha reflected on how her life has transformed over the past year.
“I left India two years ago for the first time with two suitcases, a heart full of hope and fear, and a massive student loan,” she wrote.
“I worked a job in the mornings, attended classes in the evenings, did homework at night, and flew to Europe every weekend to model.”
Her Instagram post also paid tribute to her support system – professors, friends, casting directors, and especially her parents.
“My parents never asked me to chase the extraordinary. They only wanted me to find happiness and peace in simplicity. Somehow, the extraordinary found me,” she wrote.
Bhavitha’s story is emblematic of a growing wave of Indian models making their mark on global fashion.
Her presence on one of the world’s most prestigious runways not only breaks cultural and geographic barriers but signals fashion’s increasing openness to diverse talent and narratives.
As she continues to walk for brands like Dior and Courrèges, Mandava’s rise marks more than a personal victory.
It is a watershed moment for Indian representation in the luxury fashion world – a moment that began, fittingly, in a New York City subway.
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11 Dec 2025 10:42
