The 25-year-old made a stunning debut at Métiers d’Art 2026, becoming one of the season’s most-watched new faces

xMandava, a 25-year-old from Hyderabad, has become the first Indian model to open Chanel’s Métiers d’Art 2026 show — a breakthrough that has instantly positioned her as fashion’s newest global name.

Staged in New York’s subway under creative director Matthieu Blazy, the moment was both historic and deeply personal.

Trained as an architect and pursuing a master’s in assistive technology at NYU, Bhavitha wasn’t chasing runways; she was navigating classes, research labs and daily subway rides. It was on one such commute, at Brooklyn’s Atlantic station, that Showin Bishop of 28Models spotted her. Weeks later, she was walking as an exclusive for Blazy’s Bottega Veneta Spring/Summe

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