25-year-old Bhavitha Mandava, originally from Hyderabad, has emerged as a rising star in the fashion world after opening Chanel’s Métiers d’Art 2026 show in New York City.
Bhavitha Mandava, a 25-year-old model from Hyderabad, has captured the spotlight in the fashion industry after making her debut as the opening model for Chanel’s Métiers d’Art 2026 collection in New York City. The show, designed by Matthieu Blazy, has been hailed as one of the most significant moments of the fashion season, with Bhavitha at its forefront.
Before embarking on her modeling career, Bhavitha pursued a degree in architecture in India. She later relocated to the United States to study assistive technology at New York University, where she skillfully balanced her academic pursuits with a burgeoning interest in fashion.
Her journey into modeling took an unexpected turn due to a chance encounter in a New York subway station.
According to reports from models.com, Bhavitha was discovered in a subway station just two weeks prior to the Spring/Summer 2025 fashion season. Fashion influencer Viren H Shah shared insights on December 4, noting that Matthieu Blazy, then at Bottega Veneta, was the first designer to cast her.
Bhavitha made her runway debut as an exclusive for Bottega Veneta, which was followed by a campaign with the brand. Blazy’s mentorship played a crucial role in her early success, helping to shape her career in the competitive fashion landscape.
With Blazy’s recent appointment as the creative director at Chanel, Bhavitha continued to be one of his preferred models. She walked in his debut Chanel collection for Spring 2026, and in a poetic twist, she opened his second Métiers d’Art show, which took place in a New York City train station—an echo of the very place where her modeling journey began.
Bhavitha’s emotional connection to her family was highlighted when she shared a touching video on December 3, capturing her parents’ reaction as they watched her walk the runway. The clip shows her parents cheering with tears of joy as she descends the steps of Bowery Station. Her mother, overwhelmed with emotion, repeatedly calls out Bhavitha’s name, while her father beams with pride. Bhavitha captioned the video, “Can’t put into words how much this means to me. Thank you @chanelofficial @matthieu_blazy.”
As Bhavitha Mandava continues to rise in the fashion world, her story serves as an inspiring testament to the power of perseverance and seizing opportunities. Her journey from a subway discovery to the runway of one of the most prestigious fashion houses in the world is a remarkable achievement that resonates with many aspiring models.
This article is republished with permission from The Free Press Journal.