Hyderabad Pride: Bhavitha Mandava Opens Chanel's 2026 Show in New York, Parents Get Emotional in Viral Video

Bhavitha Mandava reached a defining milestone in New York City as she opened Chanel's Metiers d'Art 2026 presentation led by Matthieu Blazy.

The powerful moment gained widespread applause after a video captured her parents cheering from the staircase at Bowery Station, their pride turning the historic runway debut into a deeply personal triumph.

A Family Moment That Touched the Internet

Bhavitha later posted the clip on Instagram, showing her mother clapping and calling her name while her father watched her walk with visible emotion. The video spread quickly and drew reactions from Pooja Hegde, Rhea Kapoor, Aditi Rao Hydari and other well known personalities.

Sharing her gratitude, Bhavitha wrote, "Can't put into words how much this means to me. Thank you @chanelofficial @matthieu_blazy."

She appeared shortly after the show in a walk and talk video with creator Dylan Kelly, where he introduced her as the model who opened Chanel. With a playful smile she added, "I did get my masters, though."

How a Chance Encounter Changed Everything

Bhavitha spoke about the unexpected beginning of her career. "I was discovered in Atlantic Avenue. A scout stopped me and he was like, do you wanna be a model? I was like, no. But then he told me that I can potentially pay my student debt, and I was like, okay, let's try."

Her first major assignment surprised her as much as anyone else. "Well, I did not know what Bottega was. In my defence, I come from a middle class family, so far from fashion and couture. I only realised how big of a deal it was when I went back to my class. Everybody was like, did you just walk the Bottega show?" she said.

Choosing Between a Tech Career and Fashion

Bhavitha had completed her degree at NYU and found herself weighing a stable path in tech against the uncertainties of modelling. Her parents helped her navigate the decision.

"Well, my parents have always been very supportive in anything that I did. And Chanel came through with an exclusive contract. That is when I was like, the bigger the risk, the bigger the reward," she said.

Ahead of the show, Matthieu Blazy kept his guidance simple for his cast. "Matthieu always tells us just to have fun. That is something that he always told all the models before we start walking," she added.

A Historic First and a Moment of Representation

Becoming the first Indian model to open a Chanel show is a milestone Bhavitha is still taking in. She expressed heartfelt thanks to casting director Anita Bitton for advancing inclusive representation in the industry.

"I wanna give a shout out to Anita Bitton, the casting director who has dedicated her life to representation. Reading all the messages and emails has been absolutely surreal. People telling me that this feels like a personal win and how the representation has healed them. Is this so incredible? Wow, this is just the beginning," she said.

Bhavitha Mandava, born and raised in Hyderabad, is 25 years old and now stands among the most celebrated new faces in global fashion.