Twenty-six-year-old architect-turned-model from Hyderabad, Bhavitha Mandava, found a mention in French President Emmanuel Macron’s speech in Mumbai on February 18.
Macron, who is on a three-day visit to India, praised India’s growing influence in global leadership at the India–France Innovation Forum in Mumbai, where he highlighted Indian-origin CEOs leading major multinational companies, from IBM to Microsoft. He also mentioned the CEO of the French luxury fashion house Chanel, Leena Nair, who hails from Kolhapur.
But that was not all. He also mentioned Bhavitha Mandava in his speech. The 26-year-old made headlines after being spotted at a subway station and later becoming the first Indian model to both open and close a Chanel show.
“And the CEO of Chanel, one of the most iconic houses in France, is Leena Nair – from Kolhapur, right here in the state. And if I would add to that, three months ago, Matthieu Blazy, Chanel’s new creative director, chose a young woman from Hyderabad, Bhavitha Mandava, to open his show in New York, and she was the first Indian model ever to open a Chanel runway,” Macron said.
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“She was discovered on the subway platform and she walked into a subway station in front of the world. So India does not just participate in global innovation, India leads it from Silicon Valley,” he added.
Bhavitha Mandava’s story, which feels straight out of a movie, has struck a chord around the world. Her modelling career, which is reaching great heights – she was just on the cover of British Vogue, by the way – began almost by accident. Modelling was never part of her plan.
A little over a year ago, Bhavitha was yet another New York University student navigating the NYC subway system, completely unaware that a single ride in October 2024 would change the course of her life. She was scouted by a talent representative on that subway, setting off a whirlwind modelling journey that has since taken her to some of fashion’s most iconic runways and has now also found a mention in French President Emmanuel Macron’s speech.
As for Nair, she has been leading Chanel for four years now. She officially took charge of the luxury house in January 2022.
