Chanel’s Newest Face Was Discovered on a New York Subway
By Kelli Luu | 15 Dec, 2025

Bhavitha Mandava was a Master’s student at NYU when she was discovered on a New York subway before becoming the first Indian model to open a Chanel runway.

In a span of two weeks, Bhavitha Mandava went from riding the New York subway to walking the runways of fashion’s biggest names. She is the very first Indian model to open a Chanel fashion show and her story is one that reads like destiny itself. 

Born and raised in Hyderabad, India, Bhavitha had never even thought about being a part of the fashion world. She earned a Bachelor’s Degree in Architecture at Jawaharlal Nehru Technological University in Belegavi before moving to the United States to pursue a further education. 

Bhavitha enrolled at New York University where she focused on her Master of Science in Human-Computer Interaction. It was clear that Bhavitha was actively prioritizing academics and her career, but sometimes life has its own plans. 

In late 2024 Bhavitha’s stunning beauty was noticed by fashion designer Matthieu Blazy, who was at the time, Bottega Veneta’s creative director, while at the New York subway station on Atlantic Avenue. Blazy approached Bhavitha asking her if she wanted to be a model. She politely declined, but when Blazy told her that she could potentially pay off all of her student debt, Bhavitha couldn’t resist. 

Two weeks later, she was making her runway debut at Bottega Veneta’s Spring/Summer 2025 collection and was even featured in the brand’s campaign. Bhavitha’s encounter with Blazy had her stuck between following her current path in tech or take an unexpected turn into an industry where South Asian women have very little representation. 

During the next few months, Bhavitha finished her Master’s Degree and Matthieu Blazy became Chanel’s new creative director and of course, brought Bhavitha with him, offering her an exclusive contract with Chanel, which solidified her decision.

In December 2025 Bhavitha opened Chanel’s Spring/Summer 2026 collection, making her the first Indian model to ever open a Chanel runway. The runway was designed to replicate the New York subway station to honor Bhavitha and her extraordinary discovery, marking a milestone in representation for the Indian and South Asian community all around the world. 

Bhavitha’s story is a reminder of how things can change for the better when preparation meets opportunity because in less than a year she became an international icon who was just a quiet student navigating the bustling streets of New York. As her career continues to blossom, Bhavitha Mandava is not only modeling, she is representing a community that the industry has too often overlooked.