After opening Chanel’s Métiers D’Art show in New York last December, Bhavitha Mandava is now set to feature on the cover of British Vogue for March 2026, making her the second Indian woman to achieve this milestone after Priyanka Chopra Jonas in January 2023.
The cover photoshoot features Bhavitha against a bright blue backdrop, wearing a flamboyant feathery jacket and skirt set in shades of orange, yellow, and brown from Chanel, accessorized with Chopard emerald earrings. Her windswept voluminous hair and wide smile perfectly captured her spirited personality as she posed confidently with hands on hips.
Industry Praise and Social Media Buzz
Fashion insiders and peers applauded the cover. Bollywood stylist Rhea Kapoor commented, “Supermodel!” while Victoria’s Secret model Neelam Kaur Gill wrote, “This makes me so proud 🥹🤎 brown joy to the world!” The post sparked wide appreciation from the fashion community globally.
On Colourism and Cultural Conversations
In the cover interview, Mandava reflected on opening the Chanel show, describing it as a deeply personal experience that unexpectedly became symbolic of broader cultural discussions.
“In the West, it raised questions about who gets to be included in the idea of beauty, and whether Indian women are even allowed to be seen as traditionally beautiful,” she shared. Acknowledging India’s deep-rooted colourism, Bhavitha added, “People said I looked like ‘any girl on the street’ because fair skin is often treated as the default. I don’t think it’s really about me—it’s culture renegotiating itself.”
Who Is Bhavitha Mandava?
Originally an architecture student at Jawaharlal Nehru Technological University, Hyderabad, Bhavitha moved to New York University for a Master of Science in Integrated Design & Media/Human-Computer Interaction, graduating in 2025. She was scouted for Bottega Veneta’s Spring/Summer 2025 show while waiting at Atlantic Avenue subway station. When Matthieu Blazy moved to Chanel, she followed and opened the Métiers D’Art show in December 2025, later closing his first haute couture show at Paris Couture Week in January 2026.
Historic Solo Lead Feature
Although she is not the first brown woman on the British Vogue cover—preceded by figures like Malala Yousufzai, Priyanka Chopra Jonas, Jameela Jamil, Saffron Vadher, and Simone Ashley—Mandava’s solo lead feature is historic. It reflects a cultural shift redefining beauty standards, emphasizing inclusivity and celebrating diversity in the fashion industry.
