Bhavitha Mandana – The Incredible Story Behind This Chanel Model

Bhavitha Mandana Chanel show—remember this phrase, because it marks a turning point in fashion history. At the latest Chanel Métiers d’Art show in New York, staged in an abandoned subway station, the first figure stepping out of a train carriage wasn’t a Parisienne, a Hollywood starlet, or a runway veteran.
It was Bhavitha Mandana, 25 years old, Indian-born, with long loose hair, bare-minimum make-up, a quarter-zip jumper and jeans.

And with that quiet, confident walk, she became the first Indian model ever to open a Chanel show.

A historic moment, made even more magical by the fact that Bhavitha’s modelling career also began in a New York subway, when designer Matthieu Blazy spotted her in the crowd. Cinema couldn’t script it better.

Bhavitha Mandana – A Fashion Fairy Tale in Real Time

Bhavitha Mandana didn’t come to New York to become a model.
Born and raised in India, she earned a Bachelor’s degree in Architecture, then moved to NYC for her Master’s in Interactive Design and Media at NYU. A brilliant, studious life track, until destiny intervened underground.

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One subway ride later, Matthieu Blazy (then at Bottega Veneta) approached her.
A few days after that, she made her runway debut for Bottega Veneta, followed by a campaign.
Then came Dior, Courrèges, and now, like a narrative that loops elegantly back to the person who discovered her, she reunites with Blazy at Chanel.

Fashion loves an origin story. But this one? This one glows.

The Quarter-Zip Look Everyone Is Talking About

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If you’ve been anywhere near social media, you’ve seen the #quarterzip movement gaining momentum. Matthieu Blazy didn’t just notice the trend; he elevated it.

For Chanel, he opened the show with Bhavitha wearing a camel quarter-zip jumper layered over a white tee, paired with jeans, walking through a gritty subway set that felt both cinematic and refreshingly real.
This styling choice wasn’t accidental. It planted Chanel firmly in the conversation about Gen Z’s new luxury codes: relaxed, relatable, but still exquisitely crafted.

Among luxury creative directors, Jonathan Anderson at Dior, Demna at Gucci, Blazy is arguably the one who has found the fastest, cleanest route to a modern Chanel that feels future-ready without betraying its essence.

From Student to Supermodel – What Her Family Thinks

Leaving home to study abroad always shapes a person, and Bhavitha’s humility and emotional depth show how rooted she remains in her family.

After completing her Master’s, she wrote on Instagram:

“Thank you to my family for always believing in me even when I was struggling to do so. Your love got me through the sleepless nights, the long flights, the hard semesters and the calm moments filled with doubt.”

@Chanel

When the Chanel moment arrived, her family’s reaction became a viral treasure.
Bhavitha posted a tender video of her relatives watching the show, her mother repeating her name with overwhelming pride. It was a reminder that behind every fashion milestone, there is a real human story, pulsing with emotion.

Her clean beauty, radiant smile and magnetic gaze, combined with this sincerity, are exactly why many in the industry already whisper she might be the model of the moment.

Backstage Beauty

On the backstage, Mandana’s skin was prepped with the powerhouse quartet: Sublimage L’Extrait de Nuit, Sublimage La Crème Texture Universelle, Sublimage L’Extrait Huile Lèvres, and a mist of Sublimage La Brume for that soft, hydrated glow. Find the products here.

For complexion, makeup artists used La Base Matifiante, followed by Les Beiges Water-Fresh Complexion Touch and Ultra Le Teint Le Correcteur to achieve that natural-but-polished finish. A touch of Les Beiges Healthy Glow Bronzing Cream warmed the face, while Baume Essentiel Transparent added a whisper of sheen—so subtle it looked like great genetics.

Brows were brushed into soft structure with the Dual-Ended Brow Brush N°207 and Stylo Sourcils Haute Précision, keeping everything airy and real. And in the final act of minimalism, makeup artists applied Baume Essentiel Transparent again—this time on the lips only—to keep them natural, hydrated and quietly radiant.

The effect? A beauty look that felt modern, democratic, and deeply human—exactly the energy Matthieu Blazy brought to Chanel this season, and exactly why Bhavitha Mandana is the face everyone is talking about.

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Feature Image @Chanel