Hyderabad’s architect Bhavitha Mandava makes history as 1st Indian to open Chanel show in NYC

In a story that seems straight out of a movie, 25-year-old Bhavitha Mandava from Hyderabad made headlines after opening the Chanel Metiers d’Art 2025-26 show in New York City. Just over a year ago, Bhavitha was a student navigating the New York City subway , unaware that a routine ride in October 2024 would change her life forever. Scouted by a talent representative, she quickly embarked on a modelling journey that has now brought her to one of fashion’s most iconic runways.

Bhavitha, who moved to New York to pursue a master’s degree at New York University , became the first Indian model to open a Chanel show . The event marked Chanel’s return to the city after a seven-year hiatus, and creative director Matthieu Blazy staged the show on a subway platform, a full circle moment for Bhavitha. To pay tribute to the day she was discovered, Blazy even recreated her original subway outfit: a simple beige quarter-zip sweater and classic denim jeans. Walking the runway in that look, Bhavitha described the experience as “surreal.”

Her first major break came when she walked in Blazy’s final Bottega Veneta Spring/Summer 2025 show , which led to campaigns and collaborations. When Blazy moved to Chanel, Bhavitha naturally joined him for his debut at the French fashion house.

Interestingly, Bhavitha had no initial plans to become a model. She is a licensed architect with a degree from Hyderabad, and her entry into the fashion world was almost accidental. “When I first started, I did not know much about the brands I worked with. This world was completely new to me,” she told Harper’s Bazaar India .

Balancing a fast-rising modelling career with her postgraduate studies came with its challenges. Bhavitha revealed on Instagram how she managed a surgery, heartbreak, campus job, and back-to-back classes , yet graduated with her degree and a heart “full of gratitude.”

After her Chanel debut, Bhavitha shared an emotional video of her parents cheering her on , which quickly went viral with over 18 million views and 1.4 million likes on Instagram.

From a subway platform in New York to the world’s most prestigious runways, Bhavitha Mandava’s journey is a testament to how extraordinary opportunities can emerge from the most ordinary places.