New York-based Indian model Bhavitha Mandava expressed gratitude to Chanel creative director Matthieu Blazy following her debut at the Met Gala, even as the French luxury house continues to face criticism online over the outfit it chose for her on fashion’s biggest night.
In an Instagram post shared on May 7, Mandava thanked Blazy for supporting her growth in the fashion industry and for giving her the opportunity to attend the prestigious event for the first time. She didn’t address the controversy, though.
“From watching me figure out walking in heels for the first time to giving me the opportunity to walk the Met Gala stairs. You gave me space to grow, and find my place in fashion and beyond, always welcoming me with open arms,” Mandava wrote. “Forever grateful for you.”
Blazy has played an important role in Mandava’s modelling career right from the beginning. After being scouted at a New York subway station, her first major breakthrough came when she walked in Matthieu Blazy’s final Bottega Veneta show for Spring/Summer 2025. The two later collaborated on Bottega campaigns and other projects, and when Blazy moved to Chanel, Mandava became part of his debut at the French fashion house as well.
In her Instagram post, Mandava also thanked Anna Wintour, Vogue staff members, and the Chanel ateliers involved in creating her outfit, including artisans from Le19M and the house’s Haute Couture teams.
The heartfelt post, however, comes amid mounting backlash directed at Chanel for doing her dirty. You can read more about the controversy here, but in short, here’s what happened: Mandava attended fashion’s biggest red carpet in a jeans-and-top-inspired look. The outfit was a recreation of the one she wore while becoming the first Indian model to open a Chanel show, which itself was inspired by the clothes she was wearing when she was discovered at a subway station in New York.
The outfit choice was underwhelming, and the jeans-and-top reference felt redundant because it had already been explored when she opened the Chanel show in December 2025. The fact that the other Chanel guests and ambassadors were dressed in glamorous dresses and gowns made the contrast impossible to ignore.
Social media users questioned why one of Chanel’s newest global faces was styled so differently from the rest of the brand’s contingent, with some calling the decision “tokenistic” and others describing it as a “microaggression.” Bhavitha Mandava, however, didn’t address it in her post.
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