USA (Commonwealth Union)_ Bhavitha Mandava has made history by becoming the first Indian model to represent the opening of Chanel’s prestigious Métiers d’Art show. Unlike many others, her ascent is not a story of glamour or an overnight success but rather one of serendipitous meetings, diligent work, and careful thought. Growing up in Hyderabad, India, Bhavitha did not start out with aspirations of working in fashion. She received her bachelor’s degree in architecture from Jawaharlal Nehru Technological University before moving to the United States to pursue a master’s degree in assistive technology and human-computer interaction at NYU.
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Bhavitha’s life revolved around classes, part-time work, and adjusting to life far from home. Modelling was never part of the plan. But that changed unexpectedly in October 2024, during an ordinary commute through a New York subway station. Bhavitha was approached by a fashion scout connected to designer Matthieu Blazy. At first, she declined. The industry felt unfamiliar, and her focus remained on her studies. However, she later reconsidered after learning that modeling could help alleviate her student debt. Within weeks, she made her runway debut at Bottega Veneta’s Spring/Summer 2025 show. From there, opportunities followed steadily rather than explosively. Bhavitha returned for Blazy’s campaigns and went on to walk for Dior and Courrèges.
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When Blazy moved to Chanel, she became part of his casting vision, drawn by her calm presence, academic grounding, and understated confidence. That journey came full circle on a winter evening in New York, when the 25-year-old opened Chanel’s Métiers d’Art 2026 show at Bowery Station. Her opening look with jeans, a quarter-zip sweater, and minimal styling was deliberately simple. Blazy picked it to pay homage to the moment she was discovered, recognizing the truth of her beginnings. The event reverberated beyond the runway. A video of her parents watching the show, visibly emotional, soon went viral, touching millions online.
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Opening a Chanel show is considered one of the highest marks of trust in fashion, reserved for faces that carry meaning beyond aesthetics. The accomplishment of Bhavitha opening the elite show is not only her personal milestone but also a huge source of pride for Indian representation on the world stage. Today, she is represented across New York, Paris, Milan, and London. Through hard work and quiet determination, Bhavitha has created a career that holds great potential for her future. According to Bhavitha, casting director Anita Bitton deserves the majority of the credit for promoting inclusion in the industry. The Indian model acknowledges that everything she has achieved up until now is just a small step on a much longer journey ahead, which will require hard work, dedication, and vision to move forward.
