Bhavitha Mandava

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Bhavitha Mandava
Born
Bhavitha Mandava

(2000-02-03) February 3, 2000
Hyderabad, India
Education
OccupationModel
Years active2024–present
Modeling information
Height1.75 m (5 ft 9 in)
Hair colorBlack
Eye colorDark brown
Agency

Bhavitha Mandava (born February 3, 2000) is an Indian fashion model. She gained global recognition in 2025 after being the first Indian woman to open a show for Chanel at the Métiers d'Art show 2026.

Early life

Mandava was born into a Telugu family and was raised in Hyderabad, India.[1] She studied architecture at Jawaharlal Nehru Technological University in Hyderabad. After earning her bachelor's degree, she moved to New York City to pursue a Master of Science in Integrated Design & Media/Human Computer Interaction from the New York University.[2][3]

Career

Mandava began her career after she was scouted on a subway station platform in 2024 in New York City.[4][5] In January 2025, she was selected to walk as an exclusive model in the Bottega Veneta Spring/Summer 2025 show under designer Matthieu Blazy and campaign advertisement.[6][7][8] She also appeared in campaigns and runway shows for brands including Christian Dior and walked major fashion weeks, while completing her studies.[9][10] In December 2025, she made history as the first Indian model ever to open a Chanel runway show the prestigious Métiers d'Art 2026 collection.[11] The show was held on a subway platform at Manhattan's Bowery station.[12]

In February 2026, Mandava made her debut magazine cover for British Vogue for March 2026 Vogue Cover Star.[13][14][15] In March, she was named the House ambassador for Chanel, became the first ever Indian model to be the House ambassador for the Chanel brand.[16][17][18] The same month, she also made her second magazine cover for I.D..[19]

Public image

Bhavitha made her debut for the Met Gala in May 2026, wearing Chanel "Haute Couture reinterpretation" of the look she wore to open Chanel’s Métiers d’Art show.[20][21][22]

References

  1. Cristino, Veronica (8 December 2025). "The Story Behind History-Making Model Bhavitha Mandava's Major Chanel Moment". British Vogue. Retrieved 31 December 2025.
  2. Chau, Matt (17 December 2025). "7 Things You Need To Know About Bhavitha Mandava". Vogue Hong Kong. Retrieved 31 December 2025.
  3. Napier, Caitlin (8 December 2025). "Who Is Bhavitha Mandava? The Student-Turned-Model Who Opened Chanel". Marie Claire. Retrieved 31 December 2025.
  4. "Hyderabad's Bhavitha Mandava just made global fashion history by becoming first Indian to lead Chanel's opening walk in New York". The Times of India. 8 December 2025. Retrieved 31 December 2025.
  5. "Meet Bhavitha Mandava, the history-making, hobbymaxxing Chanel model". Dazed. 10 December 2025. Retrieved 31 December 2025.
  6. "Hyderabad's Bhavitha Mandava becomes first Indian model to open a Chanel show". Mid-day. 8 December 2025. Retrieved 31 December 2025.
  7. Leslau, Tania (6 December 2025). "Meet Bhavitha Mandava - the Chanel model breaking the internet". HELLO!. Retrieved 31 December 2025.
  8. Chowdhury, Shubhangi (11 December 2025). "Indian immigrant Bhavitha Mandava's Chanel debut becomes a viral celebration for desi community". The American Bazaar. Retrieved 31 December 2025.
  9. More, Durva (19 December 2025). "Spotted on the subway to the Chanel runway: How Bhavitha Mandava became a fashion star". The Economic Times. Retrieved 31 December 2025.
  10. Lee, Matthew, Grace, Clarke (5 December 2025). "Who Is Bhavitha Mandava? Meet the Indian Model Who Opened Chanel's Métiers d'Art Show". L'Officiel USA. Retrieved 31 December 2025.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  11. Pillai, Pooja (6 December 2025). "Indian model Bhavitha Mandava leads Chanel's 2026 Manhattan runway". EasternEye. Retrieved 31 December 2025.
  12. Deshpande, Vaishnavi (8 December 2025). "Bhavitha Mandava is first Indian model to open for Chanel show in New York". Exchange 4 Media. Retrieved 31 December 2025.
  13. Nnadi, Chioma (11 February 2026). ""Who Could Go Back To A 9 To 5?" Fledgling Super Bhavitha Mandava Is Living A Fashion Fairy Tale". British Vogue. Retrieved 26 February 2026.
  14. Chowdhury, Shubhangi (13 February 2026). "'Cannot accept dusky skin tone': Chanel star Bhavitha Mandava on India's colorism". The American Bazaar. Retrieved 26 February 2026.
  15. Nnadi, Chioma (11 February 2026). "Bhavitha Mandava Is British Vogue's March 2026 Cover Star". British Vogue. Retrieved 26 February 2026.
  16. Elibert, Mark (8 March 2026). "Chanel Names Bhavitha Mandava House Ambassador". Complex. Retrieved 28 March 2026.
  17. Agnihotri, Akanksha (7 March 2026). "Bhavitha Mandava creates history, becomes the first Indian model to be named Chanel house ambassador". Hindustan Times. Retrieved 28 March 2026.
  18. Kallukaran, Gayathri (7 March 2026). "Bhavitha Mandava Named Chanel's First Indian House Ambassador". EasternEye. Retrieved 28 March 2026.
  19. Kaur, Ravinder (3 March 2026). "Bhavitha Mandava's Chanel Success Lands Her on i-D Cover". DESIblitz. Retrieved 10 May 2026.
  20. Newbold, Alice (5 May 2026). "Bhavitha Mandava Turned Up To Her First Met Gala In A Quarter Zip And Jeans". British Vogue. Retrieved 10 May 2026.
  21. Holzman, Sara (6 May 2026). "Bhavitha Mandava Didn't Wear Jeans to the Met Gala—So Why Was Everyone So Mad?". Marie Claire. Retrieved 10 May 2026.
  22. Mateen, Zoya (9 May 2026). "Bhavitha Mandava at Met Gala 2026: Indian model's outfit revives cultural representation debate". BBC. Retrieved 10 May 2026.