Hyderabad’s Bhavitha Mandava Becomes First Indian to Lead Chanel’s Opening Walk in New York
Young woman from Hyderabad, Bhavitha Mandava, took the global fashion world by storm after leading the prestigious opening walk of French luxury brand Chanel’s “Métiers d’Art 2026” fashion show in New York. The video of her parents watching her walking on the catwalk with great joy went viral on social media.
Bhavitha’s journey into modeling was completely accidental. While waiting for a train in a subway station in the US, wearing casual jeans and a T-shirt, she was approached by the famous French-Belgian designer Matthieu Blazy. Impressed by her natural charm, he invited her to model. What sounded like a movie scene turned into reality for Bhavitha, who had no background in modeling, cameras or luxury fashion.
A native of Hyderabad, Bhavitha completed her bachelor’s degree in Architecture from JNTU-Hyderabad before moving to the USA to pursue a master’s degree in Interactive Design and Media. In 2024, after Matthieu Blazy offered her a modeling opportunity, she tried it out and in just two weeks, she made her debut as a model in Italian luxury brand Bottega Veneta’s Spring/Summer 2025 fashion show. It received considerable praise upon its debut. She continued modeling alongside her studies, balancing academics and campus work; She has attended major shows in New York, Paris, Milan and London and worked with top brands such as Dior.
Chanel recently held its major Métiers d’Art fashion show in New York; This is the first time this has happened in the city since 2018. The opening walk is considered the most impactful part of any major fashion show and sets the tone for buyers, media and industry insiders. Bhavitha became the first Indian model to receive this honor at such a prestigious event.
The theme of the show was inspired by where her modeling story began: the subway station. Fittingly, she walked the runway in a simple jeans and T-shirt look. This was her second appearance, following her walk in Chanel’s Spring 2026 fashion show. Getting the opening walk opportunity so early in his career made it particularly memorable for him.
From an ordinary student with no modeling aspirations to a global fashion phenomenon in just a year, Bhavitha’s remarkable journey shows how a chance encounter can change a life. As her inspiring story goes viral, many are celebrating the rise of this Telugu girl on the international fashion scene.
