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From Subway to Chanel: Bhavitha's Viral Moment
6 Dec, 2025
Summary
- Bhavitha Mandava, an Indian student, opened the Chanel Métiers d'Art Show 2026.
- She was discovered by Matthieu Blazy on the New York subway.
- Her parents' emotional reaction to her opening the show went viral online.
Matthieu Blazy's chosen muse, Bhavitha Mandava, is now a viral sensation after opening the Chanel Métiers d'Art Show 2026. This marks a historic moment as she is the first Indian model to lead a show for the esteemed French maison. Mandava's journey began unexpectedly; she was scouted on the New York subway while studying assistive technology at NYU.
Her fashion career launched as a Bottega Veneta exclusive, soon after being discovered by Blazy. He later invited her to walk for his debut Chanel spring/summer 2026 collection. The Métiers d'Art Show, held in an abandoned New York subway – the very place she was discovered – became a full-circle moment for the Hyderabad native.
A video capturing her parents' emotional joy at seeing her open the Chanel show rapidly spread online, attracting widespread celebrity support and highlighting the growing representation of South Asian talent. This breakthrough signifies a positive shift against the historical underrepresentation of models from diverse backgrounds in the fashion industry.
