Following an initial exclusive debut with Bottega Veneta in Milan, Mandava made fashion history by becoming the first Indian model to open a runway show for Chanel during its Métiers d’Art 2026 presentation. In March 2026, the French luxury house deepened this relationship by appointing her as its first Indian House Ambassador. Her career has also expanded through editorial covers for British Vogue and Numéro France, establishing her presence across multiple facets of global fashion media.
Key points
Mandava transitioned from a New York design student to Chanel's first Indian House Ambass…: Mandava transitioned from a New York design student to Chanel's first Indian House Ambassador in under two years.
Her professional ascent was heavily supported by designer Matthieu Blazy across his tenur…: Her professional ascent was heavily supported by designer Matthieu Blazy across his tenures at both Bottega Veneta and Chanel.
Beyond runway success, she secured international fashion covers and built a substantial d…: Beyond runway success, she secured international fashion covers and built a substantial digital following through her backstage design insights.
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A chance encounter on a New York subway platform changed the course of
Bhavitha Mandava’s life. At the time, she was a student with no professional modelling experience. Today, the Hyderabad-born model has walked for some of the biggest names in international fashion, opened a Chanel runway show and become a Chanel House Ambassador. Now, she has another achievement to add to her growing list: being named one of the 25 global winners of Instagram’s Rings Award 2026.
The 26-year-old model has attracted attention not only for her runway appearances but also for the unusual path that brought her into the fashion industry. Her journey began far from fashion studios and modelling agencies, with an encounter that eventually introduced her to the world of luxury fashion.
A subway encounter that changed everything
Born into a Telugu family in Andhra Pradesh and raised in Hyderabad, Bhavitha did not initially set out to become a model. She studied architecture at Jawaharlal Nehru Technological University before moving to New York to pursue a Master of Science in Integrated Design and Media, with a…
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