Bhavitha Mandava Is British Vogue’s March Cover Star | PLUS First Thoughts From Dior

Summary

The Run-Through with Vogue

Episode: Bhavitha Mandava Is British Vogue’s March Cover Star | PLUS First Thoughts From Dior

Date: March 4, 2026
Hosts: Chloe Malle, Chioma Nnadi, and team
Major Theme:
This episode celebrates Bhavitha Mandava—British Vogue’s March cover star—delving into her remarkable journey in the fashion industry. The team also recaps first impressions from the Dior show in Paris, offering engaging insights into the show’s atmosphere, styling, and standout moments. The episode weaves together themes of representation, personal transformation, fashion’s evolving landscape, and the palpable excitement found at the center of global fashion’s marquee events.

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Highlights & Key Segments

1. Live from Paris: Dior’s Spring Show

[00:46–09:40]

• Arrival & Show Atmosphere

  • Chelsea Daniel and team drive past the Place de la Concorde, noting the “starry, chaotic arrival scene” characteristic of Dior in the Tuileries (01:15).
  • Chelsea shares her excitement about the rumored connection between the show's exterior and interior based on clues from the invitations (01:15).
  • Notable attendees include Greta Lee, Mikey Madison, Jennifer Lawrence, and Anya Taylor Joy.

• Set & Weather

  • The set resembles a greenhouse: “We were all baking under the sun in the glass… one of the sweatiest Dior shows ever. But sweat is in. Glossy skin is in.” — Arden Fanning Andrews, [04:02]
  • “People found a little exit ramp that they could stand half outside. Nora Milch, the fashion director at W, who's seven months pregnant, was like there until the very last minute.” — Chelsea Daniel, [08:21]

• Designs & Accessories

  • Lily pads and lilies are recurring motifs—accessories (shoes, earrings, bags) swept through the collection (04:19).
  • “I loved the lily pad shoes. They were my favorite accessories I’ve seen in a while and just so cute and special.” — Peter Phillips, [04:46]

• Beauty Direction

  • Beauty inspiration: “A Charlotte Gainsbourg type of French meets London girl… smudgy liner that was supposed to look slept in and cool.” — Arden Fanning Andrews, [05:44]
  • Models sported “wiglets,” small messy extensions for an undone effect (05:44).

• Music, Styling, & Casting

  • New electronic soundtrack by Frederic Sanchez, “had everyone bopping a little bit.” — Peter Phillips, [08:48]
  • Ashley Broca’s casting and Benjamin Bruno’s styling gave the show “an elegant insouciance” (09:09).
  • Ashley Broca cast Sunday Rose, Nicole Kidman's daughter, for one of her first big shows.

• Standout Looks

  • “I really liked the denim that had sort of this glittering bunting.” — Peter Phillips, [07:18]
  • “Tutu layers of sparkling skirts, topped with a bar jacket… some fun peplumming volume on jackets… lace pinned together in a haphazardly perfect way, like the Little Mermaid wrapping herself in a sail.” — Chelsea Daniel, [07:29]

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2. Bhavitha Mandava: On Becoming British Vogue’s Cover Star

[10:44–50:21]

Immediate Reactions to the Cover

• Inundated with positive feedback, Bhavitha describes the experience as “so surreal,” feeling gratitude for the support she’s received (10:49).
• Discusses a moving conversation with her close friend, designer Matthieu Blazy: “He always believed in me... it wasn’t because I was brown or Indian, it was because of who I am and what I brought to the room.” [12:35]

Family Pride

• Bhavitha shares her parents’ excitement:
  • “My dad already is collecting every newspaper article about me… Vogue’s going to be the first one that they get.” [14:39]
  • Plays a joyous, supportive voice note from her mother, which she translates: “She was just telling me I should always be happy, that I make her proud… and to watch out for Nazar—evil eye.” [16:08]

Coping with Social Media & Representation

• Suddenly went from 5,000 to 500,000 Instagram followers in six months (17:20).
• Discusses blocking terms like “ICE” and “visa” due to discourse around immigration, and clarifies misconceptions about being the first Indian on British Vogue’s cover:
  • “People took it… I didn’t claim anything. The article said model...” — Bhavitha, [19:04]
• On representation:
  • “The point was to keep the representation going. We all are in a way, like, first in our own way.” [19:50]
  • Chioma Nnadi: “Especially in a moment like this, when those values are under attack more than ever.” [20:05]

Origin Story & Discovery

• Bhavitha was scouted at a subway station while waiting for biryani after a job interview rejection (21:11).
  • “I don’t know why… modelling was just like, huh? I’m not interested. But I had student debt, so… okay.” [22:13]
• Valued her mother agent’s professional approach, which allowed her to continue her studies:
  • “I only started enjoying studying when I went into architecture. I truly felt like, oh, wow, this is my calling.” [22:25]

Balancing Education & Fashion

• Worked an on-campus job to support herself while modeling:
  • “With modeling, even though I did Bottega, you don’t really earn money by walking a show… it’s other jobs that follow.” [24:03]
• Turned down lucrative gigs to attend exams; prioritized finishing her master’s degree (25:15).
  • “When I graduated, I did not have many jobs. It was only when Chanel approached… that things started turning around.” [25:17]

Learning Fashion After Entering the Industry

• Confesses that she didn’t know of many designer brands before modeling; was candid with Matthieu Blazy on their first meeting (27:38).
• On Blazy’s approach:
  • “I view him as a storyteller more than a designer… in the couture show, all the models had their initials embroidered into the outfit.” [30:08]

Becoming the Chanel Bride

• After being told she was going to be the Chanel bride, Bhavitha did in-depth research:
  • “I went to the library in Paris and started browsing books about couture, the techniques… and what it has evolved now into.” [31:42]
  • Sought to channel nervousness and excitement: “I was going to view the runway as if I’m walking down the aisle.” [34:00]

About the Clothes & Experience

• Describes the craftsmanship behind her couture outfit: mother-of-pearl used in the clothing, with substitutions for lightness (36:21).
• Featured a young couturier: “He was 20 years old, so emotional… his first show, his first job. This is how you preserve art, right? By teaching the youth.” [37:57]

Casting & Early Fashion Memories

• Early casting days: wore NYU T-shirts before realizing most models wore black mini-skirts.
  • “I just went back to wearing whatever I was wearing.” [40:09]
• On the intimidating experience: “You just walk for, like, 10 seconds… and that’s it. So I don’t have any chance to be a personality hire here!” [41:15]

What’s Next & College Friends’ Reactions

• Unsure about future paths, values flexibility:
  • “I feel like right now, my life’s a dream. But before, I was still leaning towards getting a corporate job… Now, there’s no safe path anymore, so might as well just pick the craziest.” [42:46]
• On college roommates:
  • “They’re just like, how did you go from getting fevers before presentations to opening shows?” [44:26]

The Power of Representation

• Talks about viral moments and emotional resonance for audiences not typically interested in fashion:
  • “A lot of moms wrote me emails saying they showed their daughters my photos and videos to help them be confident in themselves.” [45:24]
  • Draws parallels to the supermodel era, when fans felt a personal connection to models’ wins (46:54).

Reflection on Work at Chanel

• On fitting modeling at Chanel:
  • “Me working as a fitting model at Chanel has healed me… when I was working as an architect, it was a toxic environment—here, people are genuinely happy.” [47:55]

Making Custom Gifts

• Bhavitha shares she’s making artisan keychains as gifts for the team at Chanel:
  • “I’ve been working with a studio back home in Mumbai to make a keychain of a rat dressed in the look I opened with. It has a functioning bag, earrings dangling… making that for the whole team.” [49:44]
  • “I want one!” — Team reaction, [49:45]

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3. Notable Quotes & Moments

• “Sweat is in. Glossy skin is in.” — Arden Fanning Andrews, [04:02]
• “It wasn’t because I was brown or Indian… it was because of the person that I was and what I brought to the room.” — Bhavitha Mandava, [12:35]
• “We all are, in a way, first in our own way.” — Bhavitha Mandava, [19:50]
• “You just walk for, like, 10 seconds and they’re like ‘thank you for coming’… So I don’t have any chance to be a personality hire here!” — Bhavitha Mandava, [41:15]
• “I feel like right now, my life’s a dream… There’s no safe path anymore, so might as well just pick the craziest.” — Bhavitha Mandava, [42:46]
• “When I was working as an architect, it was a toxic environment—here [Chanel], people are genuinely happy… it’s healed me.” — Bhavitha Mandava, [47:55]

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Summary Table of Key Timestamps

| Timestamp | Segment | Highlights | |--------------|------------------------------------------------|----------------------------------------------------------------| | 00:46–09:40 | Dior Paris Show Coverage | Set, styling, beauty, attendees, standout looks | | 10:44–16:54 | Bhavitha Mandava reaction & family pride | Cover response, family reactions, cultural rituals | | 17:00–20:05 | Social media & representation discourse | Navigating fame, dealing with identity discourse | | 21:11–26:42 | Discovery story & balancing school/modeling | Subway scouting, education, early hardships, perseverance | | 27:29–31:42 | Relationship with designers, fashion research | Blazy’s mentorship, learning fashion from scratch | | 34:00–37:55 | Walking as the Chanel Bride, set intricacies | Channeling emotions, craftsmanship, honoring artisans | | 40:09–41:15 | Castings & early astonishment | Fitting in, embracing authenticity | | 42:46–44:26 | Career reflections & college friends | Future, professional flexibility, dramatic transformation | | 45:24–47:55 | Representation’s impact | Viral moments, community inspiration, feedback | | 49:44–50:21 | Keychain project for Chanel team | Custom mementos, appreciation, gratitude |

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Final Thoughts

This episode offers an inspiring, humanizing glimpse into the world of high fashion through Bhavitha Mandava’s eyes. It spotlights her quick ascent, the support of family and mentors, and her recognition of the power and responsibility of representation. With engaging recaps of the Dior show and behind-the-scenes insights, “The Run-Through with Vogue” continues to blend humor, candor, and trend-savvy reporting — making fashion both aspirational and deeply personal.

Transcript

[Arden Fanning Andrews]

Hi, I'm Arden Fanning Andrews, Vogue's beauty editor at large. My husband and I talk a lot of ebay strategy together because it is something that we have bonded over since the beginning of our relationship. We've known each other for 20 years, and we've been using ebay for even longer than that, both of us. He's very proud of his five star review, which I have the same. We're pretty popular. We have a really good reputation on ebay.

[Interviewer]

Hi, Chloe.

[Chelsea Daniel]

Number one, park to your left in front of the number 27, which is.

[Peter Phillips]

Kevin.

[Bavitha Mandava]

Kevin, so nice to meet you.

[Chelsea Daniel]

I'm four week.

[Bavitha Mandava]

Oh, nice to meet you, too. Nice to meet you. Nice to meet you, too.

[Chelsea Daniel]

Okay, so, Kevin, I know there were very specific instructions about where to enter.

[Bavitha Mandava]

Yeah. The greed on air.

[Chelsea Daniel]

Okay.

[Bavitha Mandava]

It's basically the main entrance. I mean, if you're dealing with the French, it's definitely going to be complicated. It's true.

[Interviewer]

So true. It's going to be papu sible.

[Bavitha Mandava]

Remember to kiss. Keep it simple.

[Interviewer]

Stupid.

[Bavitha Mandava]

You know,

[Chelsea Daniel]

Chelsea, we are driving past the Place de la Concorde and the obelisk is gleaming because it's such a beautiful spring day, sunny in Paris, and we are going into the. The Dior show is always in the Tuileries, and they always build a huge sort of white box in the middle of the Tuileries Gardens. But this season, I have a suspicion because of the invites referencing the chairs, that there will be more of a connection between exterior and interior, and I'm very curious to see what that will be. Dior is always sort of the first big show of Paris, even though there's a few cool shows before. Dior has a very deep bench of celeb ambassadors, and that always makes it a very starry show. And Starry Reid, chaotic arrival scene, but I'm excited to see, you know, Greta Lee, for the Dior couture show in January, wore a fresh off the Runway men's look. So I love seeing how people are using all of Jonathan's collection sort of interchangeably. But Greta Lee, Mikey Madison, Jennifer Lawrence, Anya Taylor, Joy, he really has a. An interesting roster of women.

[Arden Fanning Andrews]

Okay, off we go.

[Bavitha Mandava]

Chelsea, can you open your door?

[Chelsea Daniel]

Yeah, sure.

[Bavitha Mandava]

It's okay.

[Arden Fanning Andrews]

Can you?

[Interviewer]

Yeah, yeah.

[Chelsea Daniel]

All right, Kevin.

[Interviewer]

Thank you, Kevin. Okay, so I'm going to wait outside

[Arden Fanning Andrews]

the show and try to meet up

[Interviewer]

with Chloe and hopefully our amazing beauty

[Arden Fanning Andrews]

editor and friend Arden Fanning Andrews right after the show ends.

[Bavitha Mandava]

Yay.

[Interviewer]

Found you.

[Chelsea Daniel]

Let's try and find Kevin.

[Bavitha Mandava]

Oh, there you are.

[Arden Fanning Andrews]

Perfect.

[Bavitha Mandava]

Hi, Kevin.

[Peter Phillips]

How are you?

[Arden Fanning Andrews]

Oh, I see fiberglass.

[Interviewer]

Oh, should we can. Gabriel.

[Chelsea Daniel]

Yeah, sorry, Kevin, can we stop for one sec?

[Arden Fanning Andrews]

Yeah.

[Chelsea Daniel]

You see her, Arden?

[Arden Fanning Andrews]

Yay.

[Chelsea Daniel]

So everyone was. You know, I'm not a big gardener. I hope to be one day, but I do understand now the power of what a greenhouse does in the winter. It really. We were all baking under the sun in the glass. Arden Fanning, do you agree with that?

[Arden Fanning Andrews]

Correct. You could see the flutter of invitations

[Peter Phillips]

being used as fans and the reflections everywhere. It was one of the sweatiest Dior shows ever. But sweat is in. Glossy skin is in.

[Chelsea Daniel]

Oh, sweat is in. Heard it here first with Arden Fanning.

[Peter Phillips]

Enjoy the glow, you know? Enjoy the glow.

[Arden Fanning Andrews]

Don't be afraid.

[Peter Phillips]

Don't be ashamed.

[Chelsea Daniel]

I do want to know what the lily pads and lilies were made out of. It looked like some kind of fiberglass. But then what was so beautiful about the show, which was so varied and had so many different themes and ideas, but also had accessories that were lily pads and lilies, including on the shoes, earrings, on the bags. It felt like such a nice motif to see coming throughout.

[Peter Phillips]

I loved the lily pad shoes. They were my favorite accessories I've seen in a while and just so cute and special. And it was something that Peter Phillips had talked about backstage that he was excited about and why some of the beauty was so pared down. So Peter Phillips is the creative director of makeup for Dior and the makeup artist who has been with the house for years and creates the makeup formulations and also the makeup looks on the Runway. And Jonathan Anderson has been very involved in the direction of the makeup since he's taken over at the helm of the house. And for this one, he was inspired by a kind of Charlotte Gainsbourg type of French meets London girl. And so you could kind of see that in, like, it was just a little bit of, like, smudgy liner that was supposed to look slept in and cool. And then Guida Pilau did these little ponytails with lots of little fuzzy pieces or actually wiglets on the ear so

[Chelsea Daniel]

that it looks like these wiglets.

[Peter Phillips]

Little wiglets.

[Chelsea Daniel]

I've never heard this word before. Arden. That is a ridiculous word.

[Peter Phillips]

Maybe extensions is another of putting it, but just kind of tiny, tiny hair pieces of hair that they added to models so that they would, like, push it forward and give it just, like, a little bit more of, like, a

[Chelsea Daniel]

messy God, the more, you know, wiglet. Well, the set was spectacular. People were really struggling with the heat, but it was, in my opinion, completely worth it. They had an incredible front row. A big ooh ah moment for a lot of people was Dree Hemingway, who plays Daryl Hannah in the Love story show, and Pa Kelly, who plays JFK Jr. Were both there. They were very excited to greet each other. And then, you know, it's always fun to see designers who come to other designers shows. Pharrell Williams was sitting next to Anna.

[Peter Phillips]

Also, Paul Kelly was dancing to the beat, and I could see him in the reflection because they had put plexiglass in the set. There was plexiglass in front of us. And so you really could see the people around you while you were looking at the clothes. And Paul was dancing to the beat.

[Interviewer]

But it did.

[Chelsea Daniel]

It felt like one of those kind of shows. Like my friend Ricky texted me in the middle.

[Bavitha Mandava]

Wow.

[Chelsea Daniel]

And that. And I left with Laura Ingham, who's our global fashion director. And she just was agape. Favorite look.

[Peter Phillips]

I really liked the denim that had sort of this glittering bunting.

[Arden Fanning Andrews]

You was

[Chelsea Daniel]

classic art and fanning favorite embellished in them.

[Peter Phillips]

I liked the sort of tutu layers of sparkling skirts that would then just be topped with sort of like a bar jacket. A lot of standing collars that we saw in the.

[Chelsea Daniel]

There was some fun peplumming volume on jackets that I loved. I loved that a lot of the lace felt kind of haphazardly pinned together, but in just sort of the perfect way. It was very. It felt elegant, but also kind of like the Little mermaid when she emerges and wraps herself with a sail.

[Peter Phillips]

Great reference because that was. Even there was like a pretty white lace dress that could almost be for a really cool bride, but on the side you could just see a hint of her lacy white underwear. So the party girl bride and then a lot of silk covered buttons and like delicate little rows on jackets that I feel like we'll see a lot of now too.

[Chelsea Daniel]

Just to really bring home to everyone how warm it was. People found like a little exit ramp that they could stand half outside. And Nora Milch, the fashion director at W, who's seven months pregnant, was like there until the very last minute. I was taking pictures of the Lily Pad shoes and at one point my phone said, please wait until the phone cools down. So that is a real.

[Arden Fanning Andrews]

That's Texas heat.

[Peter Phillips]

There was a new soundtrack. It's usually been Michelle Gobert for years and years. And I was really into the electronic music that was playing and took a look at the card that they smartly put on everyone's seat with the credit. And it looked like this season it was Frederic Sanchez and did a great job. Like we said, had everyone bopping a little bit.

[Chelsea Daniel]

No, it was fun. And Benjamin Bruno is a longtime collaborator with Jonathan, and he styled the show, and it just had such an sort of elegant insouciance. And also the casting was great. Ashley Broca always does the casting, and it was, I think, Sunday Rose, Nicole Kidman's daughter. One of her first big shows. She looked adorable. I have. I have a zoom room. Zoom for a few hours, and then I'm going to S. Laurent at eight. All right, Amazing. Thank you so much, Kevin.

[Peter Phillips]

Kevin arrived. Kevin.

[Arden Fanning Andrews]

Whenever I'm looking for things with ebay authenticity guarantee, it often ends up being sneakers. I'm not necessarily sneakerhood, but there are specific sneakers that I may have, like, fallen in love with and have been discontinued. And it's really nice to find them on ebay. And so it'll be just like a pair of platform Converse loafers. It will be a pair of vans white slippers with, like, a very specific low toe. And so it's great with ebay to just be like, this is a real thing. It's in the size that you want, it's in the style that you want, and it's real.

[Chelsea Daniel]

Okay, guys, I'm back in my hotel room getting ready for Saint Laurent show, and here is Choma's fantastic conversation with COVID star model Bavitha Mandava.

[Interviewer]

Tell me what. What's it been like? Have you been getting lots of great feedback?

[Bavitha Mandava]

Oh, my God. Since yesterday, I was just. I was overwhelmed with such positive comments. The COVID came out, and there were so many things that were happening. So it's been such a. So surreal. I don't even know how to express. I'm so grateful for you. Thank you so much for.

[Interviewer]

Oh, my goodness. You're so welcome. It was a. It was absolute joy to talk to you and to see you at work. It was incredible. It was such a great day. And I just hope you're keeping a diary because, like, your life has been. I mean, the last to think about how your life has transformed in the last six months and what all the amazing experiences that you've had. It's quite incredible. And I think what I really loved about talking to you was you're able to really articulate what this experience has been like. And I think you have a really amazing head on your shoulders. And because it's quite a lot. It's quite a lot to handle, I think having something this life changing happen and sort of processing everything that's happening to you all at once, right?

[Bavitha Mandava]

For sure. I mean, I spoke to Matthew last night because I was just like, did you. I mean, he. I was so, like, overwhelmed with all the positive feedback that I got from the Vogue cover. And I had an interview up until, like, I don't know, quite late. And because Mathieu lives in Paris, it

[Interviewer]

was Matthieu Blase, the creative director of Chanel. Just so everyone knows which Mathieu we're talking about.

[Bavitha Mandava]

Yeah, Mathieu Blasey, because he lives in Paris. It was already midnight, and he chose to, like, stay up so that we could talk. And we spoke for, like, an hour and a half, just talking about how crazy of a journey it's been. And we were just talking about how he always, like, believed in me and how the moment I came in, it wasn't because I was brown or Indian or, you know, it wasn't about that. It was because I was. He's, like, the person that I was and what I brought to the room and that. That I felt was very, very personal. And, I don't know, it made me emotional because I feel like a lot of discourse that I've been in lately has always been surrounded by the fact that I'm brown or Indian. So for somebody to be like, we love you beyond the skin tone or like, your ethnicity or your nationality is just so nice. We love you for the person you are. That's been so. Yeah. Heartwarming when I heard that.

[Interviewer]

Yeah. It's so nice that you guys have formed this friendship. We talk often about designer and muse, and I think hearing you talk about how you. How this friendship and working relationship has evolved with Mathieu is really special. It's funny, because we were going to call your parents on set, but I think you were worried that your mom was gonna tell everybody that you were on the COVID of British Folk. I'd love to know what her reaction was when she saw it, because her reaction to you opening the show was just so moving. What was her reaction when you. I can't wait for her to open a physical copy of this magazine because she's going to be so thrilled. You guys have to frame it.

[Bavitha Mandava]

Oh, for sure. For sure. They're going to definitely frame it. My dad already is collecting every newspaper. Like, he's clipping all the newspaper articles about me, like, the New York Times. I don't even know how he got New York Times. Like, they don't. They don't shift to India, but he's got, like, all the newspapers until now. And, yeah, Vuk's gonna be the first one that they'll get. So, so exciting. And my mom, she sent me a voice voice note that I can play.

[Interviewer]

Yes, let's hear your mom's voice note because your mom has the bet. Your mom honestly, like, your mom's enthusiasm is very infectious.

[Bavitha Mandava]

She honestly loves this industry. She's always wanted to do something like this but never had the courage to. So she's, like, living vicariously through me and she's always so thrilled about everything that I do in this. Yeah. So supportive. Okay, so it's in Telugu, but I'm gonna translate once it's done.

[Interviewer]

Oh, please translate. I can hear the joy in her voice.

[Bavitha Mandava]

She was just telling that I should always be happy and, you know that I make her proud. And there's something called dishti, which essentially means Nazar in Hindi. I don't know how to translate it in English, but I guess it's like evil eye. And he's like, oh, take some salt. And like, it's just a ritual that you do in India. Yeah. She's just like, take care of yourself. We're very proud of you.

[Interviewer]

Oh, what a lovely mess. Yeah, it'll be so nice. I can't wait for her to actually see the physical issue.

[Bavitha Mandava]

It's going to be incredible. She's going to lose it.

[Interviewer]

How do you deal with social media now? Because I think we were talking in the interview a little bit about how you sort of have to find time to take a break from it too, because it can get overwhelming. How. How have your habits changed? How do you. How do you kind of handle this level of attention?

[Bavitha Mandava]

Yeah, I mean, it's been so sudden. I have a video that just popped up on my phone recently of me hitting 5k Instagram, and I was like, celebrating it by buying eared wired headphones. And now I hit 500k in less than 6 months. I think it's just been so insane. Most of the response has been positive, but then I constantly get dragged into discourses, one of them being because I'm an immigrant and the, you know, the landscape right now in America is not very friendly towards immigrants. And I had to pretty much like, block the words on my Instagram in the comments, like ice and visa and illegal. Yeah, so that's. And a few other things were. I mean, even with the British Vogue, I'm sure you've seen, like, within, like, less than 24 hours. I didn't even claim that I'm the first Indian, you know. And then I guess, like the article Said that I was the first Indian to appear on British Vogue on a solo cover, but they took it, which technically is right, but I guess, like, people took it.

[Interviewer]

I know. It's interesting to see how people run with information, you know, because now they

[Bavitha Mandava]

have pictures of me and pictures of other actors that have been on British Vogue. And, like, clearly the article said model, and there was, like, one. Another model, but she happened to be one of the four covers. But it's just, like. It's so technical that also, like, I didn't, like, claim anything. So today morning, within, like, less than 24 hours, like, looking at that, I was just like, whoa.

[Interviewer]

Yeah, I know. I do think it highlights the fact that just how important representation is and how important these moments are to people and how it can trigger so many emotions. You know, I've had wonderful responses from

[Bavitha Mandava]

friends, and I feel like the point of all this was not to be like, oh, who's the first? But it was the point. The point was to keep the representation going. And we all are in a way, like, first in our own way, you

[Interviewer]

know, especially in a moment like this when we have. When those values are under attack more than ever. Right. And I really. I totally agree with you. I think that's. That's such a good point. I want to go back to your amazing origin story. I think it's something that feels very special and unique, and I think it's part of the reason that people were very excited about you, because it's not every day that we have these discovery stories. I mean, I think back. It just harkens back to the era when models were discovered on the street or walking through an airport like Kate Moss or working at McDonald's. Like, you're like your personal fave, Yasmine Gary. She was working at McDonald's, and you were basically waiting for the subway, Right? Take us back to what was happening that day and what you were and how it changed everything.

[Bavitha Mandava]

So I was on my way to grab biryani with a friend after I got rejected from my interview, and I was waiting for him at Atlantic Avenue. That's when my now mother agent scouted me. And he came up to me and he was like, are you a model? I was like, no. Do you want to be one? I don't know why. I was like, so for me, like, growing up in India, academia was like. Academia was it, you know, so it was all about, like, getting good grades, getting that 9 to 5 job. Like, doing that 9 to 5 job. Like,. For me, modeling was just like, huh? I'm not interested. And then we kept talking and because I had like a rejection for my interview and like life wasn't going the way that I planned for it to go because at that time tech companies had a hiring freeze and they wouldn't hire. So he was like, you can pay your student debt. So that's when I was like, okay.

[Interviewer]

And you were like, ding, ding, ding, ding, ding, ding.

[Bavitha Mandava]

Let's go, let's go.

[Interviewer]

Because it wasn't the first time you were scouted, correct. Like you'd been a approached several times before.

[Bavitha Mandava]

Yeah, I was approached back home in India. But I guess like the way that my now mother agent approached me felt a lot more professional before. Like they would, they would just be like, oh, give us your number. Give it. I was just a little weirded out. But my mother agent, like he gave me his email and he was like, think about it. And the previous scouting agents that were trying to scout me were so like, oh, you can quit this school and you can just do this crazy thing. I was like, but I don't want to quit school. I actually enjoy studying. Yeah, I only started enjoying studying when I went into architecture. I truly felt like, oh, wow, this is the calling. This is my calling. I loved studying a new university because I got to pick what I was interested in. So yeah, I was like super hyped about studying at nyu. And so like the way he approached me, like the way he told that you can pay off your student debt, you can continue education. This can be like something that you do in the side for now until you graduate. If you want to, you can do it full time. But if you don't want to, we totally understand. So I really like that approach. Yeah.

[Interviewer]

You went on to graduate with a master's degree, which is fantastic.

[Bavitha Mandava]

It's really hard because I. Yeah.

[Interviewer]

How did you manage to juggle both the modeling side and traveling and with your books because. And having a job on campus or did you stop working on campus?

[Bavitha Mandava]

No, I was working on campus because that was the only place I had friends. I just did not want to quit it. Also, modeling is net 90 and my on campus was every like bi weekly pay. So it made sense for me to keep doing on campus because I had to like pay my groceries and pay my rent and all those things. And with modeling, I. Although I did Bottega and doing a Bottega show is the most privilege a model can have because at that time, I mean, even now, right, like Bottega is such a prestigious company and so if you do, like, a bodega show or, like a top three shows, there are other brands that will start approaching you, and there's so many jobs that come your way. So essentially, you don't really earn money by walking a show. You earn money by doing other things that come after the show. That's when I had to decide between what jobs to take and what jobs I cannot take, because it was insane money, but it was. It was on the day of my exam, so no way.

[Interviewer]

So you had to turn down a big job.

[Bavitha Mandava]

Like, a big job that would have helped me pay my student debt or, like, you know, at the time, like, I was not financially doing well. So, like, I would, like, skip meals. That's how bad it was. So for me to, like, turn down these jobs, it was, like, really, like, sad. But I had to do it because I told myself that I'm going to finish this degree. Because I was always, like, going back. Every time somebody advised me, oh, just, like, take a year break and, like, get back to it. Like, just milk modeling out. I just felt like it just wouldn't make any sense for me to just quit it. I'm almost halfway through it. I like it. I started doing something else to fund it. Like, it just did not make sense for me to purely leave it just because I can make a lot of money. I just. I was hoping that when I'm done with it, this still stays, but that's unfortunately not the reality. Mostly when I did graduate, I did not have many jobs. It was only when Chanel approached after, like, two. Two months of graduating that I. Yeah, I got a Chanel contract, and then I started working at Chanel.

[Arden Fanning Andrews]

Sometimes people ask me which search terms I use whenever I'm on ebay. So I search a lot of dead stock. That's a term that I throw in there a lot. Dead stock means that no one's ever worn it before, but it is, like an archival piece or it's a vintage piece. And so that's a great thing to find on ebay. There's a ton of dead stock, vintage, and it's just kind of, like, comforting to know that, like, you're the first person taking this, like, peace on its maiden voyage, even if it's 50 years old. Ebay offers this departure from the everyday that ends up feeling totally you.

[Interviewer]

I want to go back to when you first met Mathieu, because I remember you hadn't heard of Bottega at the time.

[Arden Fanning Andrews]

Right.

[Interviewer]

What was your knowledge of fashion at that point in your life? What Were you someone who paid attention to what was going on on the runways?

[Bavitha Mandava]

Not at all. I did not know most brands, like. And people would be like, what? How. How can you not know bodega? I did not know what Alaia was. But now. Now that I'm in this industry, I'm like, how did I not know Alaia? Like, Alaia is, like, the coolest brand, you know? Well, I knew, like, brands like Chanel, Dior, Gucci, like, those brands they did advertise back. I just went in, not knowing anything about the brand at all. Just walked in, and Machi was like, tell me about yourself. And that's the first time I told him that. I'm going to be honest, I just got scouted, and I've barely walked in heels, so bear with me. And then I started walking. I don't think it was a good walk, but.

[Interviewer]

Because it was your second time walking in heels, right? You practiced before New York.

[Arden Fanning Andrews]

Yeah.

[Interviewer]

How did that walk go?

[Bavitha Mandava]

I don't think it was good, but he just, like, got up and he gave me a hug, and he was like, welcome to the family. I was like, are you sure? I can't even walk straight. Are you sure? Yeah. It's really surreal that he remembered after a year that I got scouted in a subway, and when the show was in the subway, he was like, bingo, you're opening the show. And even the outfit was an outfit that I would wear normally. And at that, like, when I got scouted, I was wearing a jumper and jeans. So it was so personal. And honestly, like, he did not have to do any of this. You know,

[Interviewer]

it was so interesting because he did say when, for this piece that I wrote for British Vogue, he said that it was a version of what you wore, and he wanted it to be about you, which I thought was so generous, because designers, they're all about their vision. Obviously, that's what they're thinking about. But it was very. It felt like such a full circle moment for you personally to be opening a show in a subway where you were discovered in a look that was basically a very rarefied version, a very chanelified version of what you'd worn when you were discovered.

[Bavitha Mandava]

Exactly. And for him to do that for. I mean, I was. Let's be honest, I'm a nobody. Right. There was no need for him to tell my story, but he chose to do it. And it just felt so personal for me. Like, I don't view him as a designer. I view him as a storyteller more than a designer. Like, the way he puts the show, the music, the casting. In the couture show, almost all the models had their names embroidered, their initials embroidered into the outfit.

[Interviewer]

That's so beautiful.

[Bavitha Mandava]

It's been like a guardian angel.

[Interviewer]

I love how. Because you found out. I think when we. When we spoke, you were heading towards a fitting for couture, but you really didn't know that you were going to be the bride. And what I found in our conversations is that you really. You do your research. You are. You know, you didn't leave your sort of. You took. You kept your student hat on. You've researched about fashion. I feel like now, maybe two years ago, you didn't know about Bottega, but now I think you're. Would you call yourself a bit of a fashion nerd? You did so much research about couture. Tell me about what you've learned about fashion, researching it. And I know that going to SoHo now is a bit of a ritual just to see how people are dressed and, like, how it's changed the way you think about fashion and your own personal style.

[Bavitha Mandava]

Yeah. I've written so many theses and research papers until now, so I really. After I was told that I'm going to be the Chanel bride, I went to the library in Paris and started browsing books about couture, the techniques and whatnot, like the history and what it has evolved now into. I looked up on the Internet why even couture is relevant, you know, because right now, couture is essentially to, like, preserve the artisans and art. Before, it used to be about selling, but right now, couture is definitely about preserving the craft, and only very few brands do that. Like, Chanel is one of them. It's more about keeping up the imagery and so that it, like, trickles down to cosmetics and perfumes. That's how they make money, mostly. But Chanel, Chanel spends so much money protecting these artisans. Even this show that I opened in New York, the metsyhedat show, it was built on the fact that they bought the dying. The companies that were dying because people weren't supporting them. They just bought the companies and they make a show out of it. So it's like, so deeply. It's like love for the craft. And when I was, like, researching about Chanel Bride, I did not want to. I think Matthio and I had this conversation when I was doing my fittings. We did not want me to, like, stomp on the Runway because it's a brighter look. It should not be the same as my walk in the subway. Because subway was. It was supposed to be a rush hour. You know, it had to be like, stom stomp. Like, you had to get to places. But this was like me walking in a bridal wear. So I was doing a little bit of research. I watched almost all the videos of Chanel brides.

[Interviewer]

Wow. There must be a lot for us to watch.

[Bavitha Mandava]

There were a lot. They were pretty good compilations. So that really helped me. I came up with a story in my head. I was like, okay, I'm gonna view the audience around me as if they're my friends and family. I'm gonna view the Runway as if I'm walking down the aisle. And, you know, just. I also watch, like, videos of actual brides walking down the aisle. So, you know, it's just like they're shy.

[Interviewer]

You really did your research.

[Bavitha Mandava]

Yeah, I don't know if I did the justice for how much research I did, but I did do the research. Yeah. You know, the intention was to bring this kind of nervousness. You're kind of shy. You're kind of nervous. You're kind of excited to spend your life with the love of your life, essentially. So, yeah. So I was just looking around to the audience, and I was, like, smiling and just grateful that they're here on my special day. I just had, like, a whole storyline going on in my head.

[Interviewer]

I love that. I mean, you looked very delighted, and it was such a beautiful show to witness. I think, obviously, it was one of the highlights of the week. And the energy of the show was just so buoyant and beautiful.

[Bavitha Mandava]

I feel like the whole show really questioned the idea of couture in public eye. Cause I think a lot of people viewed couture as almost like a spectacle, like a costume, like this big gowns. But the show was quite a contrast. It was more about details. It was more about simplicity, elegance, and, like, delicacy.

[Interviewer]

How does a. How did it feel like to wear that. The clothes. Because obviously they looked incredibly light. They. You looked incredibly comfortable in them. I think if you could describe what you were wearing and what it felt like to wear those clothes and what a fitting. A couture fitting is like, is it different to any other other show? I do think it's. It's a little bit more involved, correct?

[Bavitha Mandava]

Oh, for sure. Yeah. I did go to Chanel a few days before the show, had few fittings, and I was just talking to one of the couturier over there, and they were telling me that a lot of the outfit most of the outfit was made in mother of pearl. And then because mother of pearl is quite heavy, so they had to like substitute here and there with paper that they particularly painted to look like that to give the illusion. And then there were like other materials, like four other materials that they were working with to make the outfit light because you're just using mother of pearl. Very heavy.

[Interviewer]

It's not, you know, tell me what the outfit was. It was separates.

[Bavitha Mandava]

Yeah, they both were separate. And it had like a embellishment on the back that was also made by hand. I think you probably saw the other jewelry that was made by hand as well. It was not. It was not metal. It was all by thread and

[Interviewer]

what

[Bavitha Mandava]

do you call it? Beads. So, yeah, one of that was behind. One of that was on my back. And then I had feather on my bun. I also saw that there was a 20 year old couturier contrast to like quite older couturier. And he was so excited. Like, I was so glad that, you know, I was giving him opportunity to like, learn.

[Interviewer]

Was it his first. Was it his first show?

[Bavitha Mandava]

I have a picture of. I don't know if I have a picture, but I have a. I think I have a video or a picture of him crying because it was his first show, his first job. He's 20 years old and yeah, he's just. He was so emotional. Yeah, I mean, this is how you preserve art, right? By teaching the youth.

[Interviewer]

Exactly.

[Bavitha Mandava]

So it was very nice seeing that they. They had him over there and he was so involved and he would just like get his sewing kit and like he would sew on the spot. It was so nice to watch.

[Interviewer]

How awesome. How does, how does that moment with couture compare with your own sort of personal fashion memory? What, what do you remember from your childhood as being kind of the first moment when you became aw. Fashion.

[Bavitha Mandava]

I don't think I ever was like super fashionable as a person, but the first time I felt super cool in the way I dressed was, I think I had like an emo phase where I had like side bangs almost covering one of my eye and almost like a dog choker. You know the one with spikes? Yeah, yeah. All black outfit with like kajal. I was like, so cool. I'm so fashionable every time I look at this, I'm like, what was I doing? Yeah. Even now I think I dress quite. I just wear whatever is clean, honestly.

[Interviewer]

I remember I talked to Anita Bitten, who was the casting director who introduced you to Mathieu, and she said that the way that you showed up to your first castings, you came in the looks that you would wear to school often. Right. So tell me a bit about what you learned about what is appropriate to wear to a casting, what that world is like, what is it? What is like for the people who don't know what it's like to go to a casting? What's the process?

[Bavitha Mandava]

Yeah, I mean, she was actually right. Like, I was just wearing, like, free NYU T shirts that I would get. And then I think in like, four castings, and I looked around and I was like, I'm looking, like, odd one out. Everybody was in, like, mini skirts and, like, black. Pretty much like a black outfit that they wear. So I bought a mini skirt and a black tank top, and I did few castings like that, and I just. I was just like, this is not me. So I just went back to wearing whatever I was wearing. Yeah. Castings are, like, quite interesting. They you called in, like, you have agencies that picture picture pictures and names to casting directors, and they, like, call you. I was, like, quite intimidated, I'm not gonna lie.

[Arden Fanning Andrews]

Yeah.

[Interviewer]

I mean, it must be so intimidating to walk into a room and know that you have to A, walk in heels.

[Bavitha Mandava]

Yeah.

[Interviewer]

And B, just kind of pitch yourself and be really comfortable.

[Bavitha Mandava]

And they're absolutely gorgeous. Like, everybody's, like, insanely good looking. I was like, what the heck? What the hell is going on here? And most of the castings, except the one that I've done with Matthew and a few other creative directors, they don't really ask you anything. They're just like, okay, walk. Okay, thank you. And that's it. And it's like, you know, you want to ask a name. I guess they already had it on the paper, but, like, so I don't have any chance to be a personality hire here. What the hell? Like, I'm living in a disadvantage here. Yeah. So that was, like, super intimidating. You wait for hours, hours and hours, and you're just. You just walk for, like, I don't know, 10 seconds, and they're like, thank you for coming. And just like, shit. Yeah. Mathieu was, I think, the first casting that I went to with a brand that he wanted to know me as a person. Very different castings from the castings that I was before.

[Interviewer]

I mean, I know that you were studying. You studied architecture. You did your undergrad in architecture and then your master's in product design and tech. If you weren't a model now, what would you be headed towards doing because you've graduated?

[Bavitha Mandava]

I think flexibility is such a Privilege. And if I can keep having that, I would pick that. But, yeah, I don't know what the future holds. I do think it would be really hard to go back to corporate after doing something like this. I feel like right now, my life's a dream. But before what happened to me, if that did not happen, I was still, like, leaning towards getting a corporate job because it's just like. I think it's just ingrained in my brain that it's a safer route or it's a constant pay. But I realized right now, nothing is constant. Back when our parents were working, they would stick with a company for their whole lifetime. But now there's so many layoffs that happen, so many hiding freezes. Getting a job as a new grad has been almost impossible. A lot of people want to work, but there's not enough jobs. So, yeah, there's, like, no safe path anymore. So might as well just pick the craziest. Might as well just pick it. Yeah, just go with it. When you're young, you know, and you don't have that much responsibilities. Yeah.

[Interviewer]

I mean, what do your roommates from college and friends think? Because I know that you still live with your roommates from college.

[Bavitha Mandava]

Yeah. They're just like, how did you go from being so nervous to give a presentation? Because I would get fever when I had to give a presentation. I would be so nervous. And then they're just like, how did you go from that to, like. Like, opening shows? They're just so confused. They're like, what's going on? Are you the same person?

[Interviewer]

I mean, I will say one of the. It was interesting hearing you talk about how that show and opening and that video that went viral of your mother and her reaction to the show, how it opened this whole discourse and the sort of positive messages that you were getting from people that you didn't know. Tell me a little bit about their reaction at that moment, because obviously now there's a second wave of that. But that initial first wave, I think, was obviously went around the world so quickly.

[Bavitha Mandava]

Yeah, yeah, yeah. I mean, it was very interesting because not a lot of people, like, the general public does not watch runways. So now, because the story was so. So personal and interesting and, like, quite magical. It was really cool to watch that, to see, like, people who never indulged in fashion all of a sudden watched this show that was in the subway. And I was like, A lot of moms wrote me emails being like, my daughter gets bullied in elementary school. And they were just like. We showed her Your photos and your videos. And in a way to make that girl be confident in her, in herself. I thought it was, like, so, so hot. It's so heartwarming. It's, I guess, like going back to the supermodel era, you know, all their wins felt so personal to us. Like, Kate Moss, like, her win was so personal. Or like, pretty much anybody. Yasmin Gauri. I mean, all of us were rooting for these people, you know, even the general public, we were interested in what they were doing. I mean, they were influencers even before influencers even existed, you know?

[Interviewer]

Yeah, no, I mean, I know what you mean. I do think that there's. That they had personal. We wanted to get to know them. And I think people want to get to know who you are, and. Because, you know, your personality and that depth and that personal connection that they had that was sparked by that video. And it's real. Like, you bring yourself to your work, you bring yourself to this job, and you've brought yourself to social media. So I think it's opened this discussion, which is so great, and it's opened this dialogue with you, which I think is so encouraging. But, yeah, before we go and thank you so much. It's been so good to check in with you again. Cause it was a magical day shooting with you. And it really lifted my spirits personally. And it has been such a joy to see others being lifted by this. I know you're walking in the Chanel show. What can you tell us now? What can you tell us about that now?

[Bavitha Mandava]

Yeah, I actually don't know because I haven't been in Paris since the couture show, so I actually don't know what the collection looks like. But I asked Mathieu last night if I can keep doing fittings with him. Because I think I was mentioning to someone at Vogue recently that me working as a fitting model at Chanel has healed me in so many ways. Because when I was studying architecture and I graduated and I started working as an architect, I was in a very toxic workplace environment. And that made me hate the whole discipline itself. So for me to, like, be at Chanel and, like, watching these people genuinely be happy to be there, they're not dreading that they have to do this job. They're so excited. It's been such a contrast, and it's, like, healed me. So I was asking him if, like. Yeah, no, so I was just asking if I could do fittings again. So I'll probably know before my actual fitting day, like, what the collection looks like, if I get to do fittings with them. So. Yeah, I've been making, like. Can I show you something? I've been making a gift for them, actually. Oh, my gosh. As well. But I guess I'm gonna reveal it now. So I've been working with a studio back home in Mumbai to make keychain of a rat that's dressed in my. The first. The look I opened. Love it's gonna. It's so. They work with artisans. Can I see?

[Peter Phillips]

Oh, my God.

[Interviewer]

How cute. I want one.

[Bavitha Mandava]

No, I'm gonna get you one.

[Interviewer]

It's adorable. Please, I need one. How adorable.

[Bavitha Mandava]

Yeah. It has a functioning bag, and it's so cute.

[Interviewer]

I love it.

[Bavitha Mandava]

I know. It has, like, my earrings dangling. Yeah. Making that for the whole team. So when I go for. So cute.

[Interviewer]

Oh, my God, that's adorable. I love that. I love that. Well, I hope it goes so well. I'll be. I'll be cheering you on from the sidelines. I'm looking forward to seeing you in London for our. For our talk. It'll be so great to see you. And thank you so much.

[Bavitha Mandava]

Thank you so much. It was lovely meeting you and doing the Vogue cover with you. Oh, my God. That was. Yeah, that was a ride, but it's been so fun. Thank you so much.

[Chelsea Daniel]

That's it for the show today. The run through with Vogue is produced by Chelsea Daniel, Alex DePalma and Catherine Milsop. This episode is engineered by Pran Bandy and Luke Mosley and mixed by Pran Bandy.

[Arden Fanning Andrews]

My first job in New York City was as a trend forecaster. I do trend forecasting still, and ebay is a part of that, because I'll search for things that I'm seeing around, and it will end up directing me in places that I could have never anticipated. And one of the trends that I'm seeing these days is crafting things that are made by hand. And so playing with clothes and accessories to create something kind of distinctive for your wardrobe is a great way of doing it. And getting supplies off of ebay is my favorite thing for it. I'll get, like, maybe a pair of slippers that I'm wearing right now, and then cut them in a specific way, and then they're totally my own. And I feel like it's a great resource to create your own trends, because then you can both feel like you're bringing something back to life. You're already, like, pulling it out of the ebay archives, and then you're also adjusting it so that it really expresses your own style, which is something that, you know, people really want right now whenever they are feeling, like, so algorithmic about the style that's being pushed to them. That doesn't have to be perfect. Things can have rough edges and that sometimes makes them feel more special.

[Interviewer]

From prx.