For Bhavitha Mandava, stepping onto the red carpet at the 2026 Innovator Awards wasn’t just about pulling off another high-fashion moment. It was a chance to pay homage to the exact man who completely turned her life upside down – in the best way possible.
The star-studded event, hosted by The Wall Street Journal Magazine at the Museum of Modern Art (MoMA) in New York City, honored Blazy with the prestigious Fashion Innovator award. Standing in the room as he took the stage to accept the trophy, Bhavitha’s presence felt like a full-circle moment.
From a Random Subway Platform to High-Fashion Runway History
Seeing her potential instantly, he cast Bhavitha as a worldwide exclusive to open her very first runway for the brand’s Spring/Summer 2025 collection in Milan, later putting her front and center in their main campaign. By December 2025, she officially carved her name into fashion history by opening Chanel’s Métiers d’Art 2026 showcase – marking the first time an Indian model ever opened a Chanel show in New York City.
Looking back on where it all started, her decision to publicly call Blazy the “hero of my life” wasn’t just dramatic flair. Bhavitha’s entry into the fashion world sounds like something written straight into a movie script. At the time, Blazy was steering the creative direction over at Bottega Veneta. It was a massive win, not just for her own portfolio, but for South Asian representation on global luxury runways. He was the first titan in global fashion to take a gamble on an unknown student with no experience, giving her a platform when nobody knew her name.