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Courtesy of Bhavitha MandavaDecember 10, 2025FashionQ+AFashion / Q+AMeet Bhavitha Mandava, the history-making, hobbymaxxing Chanel model

Scouted on the subway and originally reluctant to get into fashion, Mandava was chosen by Matthieu Blazy to become the first-ever Indian model to open a Chanel show

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Bhavitha Mandava was scouted across two continents and tapped up to sign a modelling contract multiple times before she finally relented and entered the fashion world earlier this year. Born and raised in India, she was more interested in completing her masters degree at NYU than she was setting foot on a runway. But when she struggled to find an internship as she came close to graduating, she thought she might as well give it a shot. Fast forward less than a year and, after making her debut at Bottega Veneta, Mandava was chosen to open Matthieu Blazy’s first-ever Chanel Métiers d’Art show, staged in an abandoned subway station in New York last week.

It was something of a full-circle moment for Mandava, since the chance encounter with a model agent that convinced her to give it a go happened on the subway when she was traipsing home from uni one night. Blazy even put her in a look that referenced that very moment, sending the rising star down the concrete platform in a half-zip sweater and stonewashed jeans that could have been pulled from her own wardrobe.

Monumentally, it was also the first time an Indian model had opened a Chanel show, with Mandava sharing a video of her parents reacting to the moment their daughter made history on social media in the hours after the show. “My Brown parents’ reaction to me opening the Chanel show”, she captioned the sweet clip, which went viral soon after.

More worried about making it to the show on time than taking in the moment’s gravity, it only really sunk in for Mandava afterwards. “Brown representation in fashion is lacking,” she says. “At castings I’d be waiting in line with another Brown model and we’d look at each other and know only one of us was getting the job. At Chanel, it was different. Matthieu made space for everybody.”

Now, with her masters degree under her belt, Mandava is intent on making a go of it in fashion, and with co-signs from Chanel, Bottega, and Dior already on her CV, it seems like she’s probably going to do pretty well off it. If not, a suturing kit acquired from Amazon and a self-confessed love of ‘hobbymaxxing’ might just keep her going. Get to know her better below.

Hey Bhavitha! First of all, let’s go back to the start. Were you always interested in fashion? And if so, when did you become aware of style as something personal and expressive?

Bhavitha Mandava: I was never actually a part of this world before! I was brought up in a very academic household where we were constantly told that the only way to succeed was to study well, get good grades, get a good job. But that said, when I got scouted my parents were completely supportive about what I was doing. It’s only since I started modelling that I’ve been learning the names of the brands. I didn’t have any clue about what Bottega Veneta was, which is where I made my runway debut.

In a weird twist of fate, given the Chanel show’s setting, you were scouted on the subway. How did it happen? What was your reaction?

Bhavitha Mandava: So I was scouted multiple times before, including before I moved to New York and was still living in India, but this time, it was different because I was getting close to finishing school, trying to get an internship, and life wasn’t exactly working out the way I wanted it to – because of the job market, or whatever reason, I was finding it really hard. Originally I didn’t really want to do modelling, and even when I finally gave in it was almost out of pure necessity – I needed money to study and finish my education! (laughs)

You went from walking at Bottega Veneta to opening a Chanel show, becoming the first Indian model ever to do so. How did you process that? Did you feel the weight of the moment before stepping onto the runway?

Bhavitha Mandava: I actually didn’t know that I was the first Brown model to open the show at that point. It was after the show that people started posting about it, which is when I was like, ‘Whoa, this is huge.’ It made me really happy, because I feel like Brown representation, especially in fashion, is lacking. At castings you see white people, you see Black people, you see East Asian people, and then I’ll often be one of only one or two Brown people. I’d be waiting in line with another Brown model and we’d look at each other and know only one of us was getting the job, you know? At Bottega, and at Chanel, I never felt that way, though. There was no rivalry involved – Matthieu made space for everybody.

With all the travel it was hard to balance getting assignments in on time, and I also had a job on campus as a lab coordinator

The destination shows are always crazy big productions. What was the vibe like backstage? Were you nervous?

Bhavitha Mandava: Backstage was interesting this time, because we were getting ready in a different location and we had quite a big journey to get to the actual subway station. It was raining, and of course it’s New York, so there was a lot of traffic – we were running late and I was a little stressed about it to be honest. But then I saw Matthieu backstage and he said what he always says to us: “Enjoy it, and have fun”. He never gives us tips on how to walk, or a character to embody, or anything like that. It’s kind of crazy because he’s been working on the collection for, like, eight months or whatever, alongside hundreds of people, and he holds your hands and tells you only to have a good time. There was no pressure and my nerves immediately calmed down.

You’ve graduated now, but was it tricky balancing modelling and university?

Bhavitha Mandava: It was a bit, yeah! I had to travel to Europe a lot because I wasn’t really modelling in the US. This was my first US job, actually, because I had to get a visa. With all the travel it was hard to balance getting assignments in on time, and I also had a job on campus as a lab coordinator. I wanted to hold on to it as that’s where all my friends were, and while I ended up doing three things at once, I’m really glad I managed to. It was overwhelming, but between that and modelling, I managed to fund my way through uni.

You’ve got Bottega Veneta and Chanel under your belt now, but who else would you love to walk for?

Bhavitha Mandava: If I could do Chanel forever, I’d be very happy and grateful, But otherwise I’d have to say Saint Laurent for sure, and Jacquemus, too.

Chanel Métiers d’Art 2026Courtesy of Chanel

When you’re on the runway, are you walking as you, or do you create a character to embody?

Bhavitha Mandava: Usually I don’t think that much to be honest (laughs). I’m just like, ‘you need to stomp.’ I learned by looking at what the other girls were doing, because I never really sat and practiced walking or posing since I sort of fell into modelling. But with the Chanel show, my look was actually lowkey inspired by what I was wearing when I was scouted, so I was just trying to be myself, thinking how I’d normally walk, not exaggerating it or anything really. I suppose most of my walking practice came when I’d be waiting on the subway home from school, and I’d walk up and down the platform, back and forth, back and forth. I’d take the subway at least four times a day, so actually by the end of my education I guess I had a lot of practice after all.

What’s your biggest obsession right now that would surprise people?

Bhavitha Mandava: I have some weird hobbies now that I have so much time on my hands after graduating. I’ve always liked to optimise my time as much as possible, so I’m hobbymaxxing right now. I started learning the Indian flute and ukulele. And then the other day, I had a dream that one of my loved ones was hurt, and all I had was a suturing kit. So I went on Amazon, bought one, and now I’m learning to suture. I also bought a stick-and-poke tattoo kit, a crocheting kit, and I love to knit. I started to learn to sew, and even made a dress.

So you might make the move from model to designer?

Bhavitha Mandava: Oh I don’t know about that when people like Matthieu exist (laughs). But I love creating.

I’ve always liked to optimise my time as much as possible, so I’m hobbymaxxing right now. I started learning the Indian flute and ukulele

If your life had a soundtrack right now, what would be on it?

Bhavitha Mandava: Oh my god. I'm gonna say all the Chanel songs from the last two shows. I love “Rhythm is a Dancer” and “Happy Days”. I haven’t been able to stop listening to Le Motel [who created the soundtrack for the Métiers d’Art show and the accompanying Michel Gondry film starring Margaret Qualley and A$AP Rocky).

What’s the weirdest or most unexpected thing that you keep in your bag during fashion month?

Bhavitha Mandava: When I was still in school, I would always take my laptop and I would do my homework as I waited for the casting to maximise my time. Usually you’re just scrolling – all the models are just scrolling. But I needed to get my homework done! Now it would be one of my hobby kits. I’ll be backstage practising my suturing.

What fictional character do you most identify with?

Bhavitha Mandava: Oh, that dude Hiccup, from How To Train Your Dragon. The first time I watched him, I was like, ‘yeah, we kind of are alike.’ He’s kind of the odd one out of the Vikings, this thin, kind of awkward guy. His whole vibe, his values. He’s just me.

Scroll through the gallery above to see this year’s Métiers d’Art show

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