Met Gala carpet is known for its architectural gowns and avant-garde transformations, but this year, a big talking point wasn’t a train or a headpiece — it was a pair of jeans. Indian model Bhavitha Mandava, who made waves as the first Indian model to open a Chanel Métiers d’Art show in December 2025, made her Met Gala debut on May 4 in an ensemble that has since ignited a debate across social media and the fashion world. Also read | Internet ‘feels bad’ for Indian model Bhavitha Mandava as Chanel makes her wear jeans for Met Gala debut
‘Excited, nervous, and surreal’
Dressed by Chanel, Bhavitha Mandava wore a sheer, oversized blouse paired with relaxed-fit blue jeans to Met Gala 2026. In a ‘Get ready with me’ video shared on Instagram by British Vogue on May 5, Bhavitha appeared to remain focused on the milestone moment of her career. “This is Bhavitha Mandava. Come get ready with me for the Met Gala, [my] first Met Gala,” she shared with a smile.
“I feel excited, nervous, and I mean, this is also surreal. My look is a couture version of my opening look for Métiers d’Art in New York, paired with some Chanel jewellery,” the model said.
Recalling the moment she found out she was invited to Met Gala 2026, Bhavitha added, “My agent sent me the email… I was jumping on the bed, and I had to call everyone I knew. I was like, ‘Guess what? I’m going to the Met.’”
How social media reacted to Bhavitha’s Met Gala look
While Bhavitha expressed joy over her Met Gala debut, the internet’s reaction was polarised. Almost immediately after she stepped onto the carpet, her look faced backlash on X (formerly Twitter) and Instagram. Critics were quick to contrast her casual denim with the high-octane glamour of fellow model Awar Odhiang, who stood beside her in an intricate, hand-beaded fringe dress. The disparity led many to question if the styling choice was more than just a fashion miss.
“Why did they send Bhavitha to the Met Gala in jeans?? This feels like a microaggression,” one X user said. Another X user added, “Every other ambassador is in custom couture, and she’s in a mall outfit? It feels a bit racist.”
‘Excludes her from the glamour of her counterparts’
Fashion watchdog Diet Prada noted the specific outrage within the Indian and south Asian community, sharing in a May 5 Instagram post that commentators like fashion content creator Sufi Motiwala accused the brand of ‘tokenising’ Bhavitha.
Diet Prada wrote, “The overly casual look which the design house has prioritised for their first ever Indian ambassador seems to peddle a narrative which excludes her from the glamour of her counterparts. Mandava’s Chanel counterparts, by the way, include Jennie, Margot Robbie, Lily Rose-Depp, Gracie Abrams, and Anna Wintour herself who each wore luxurious evening gowns to the gala. As did Awar Odhiang, a fellow Chanel model of comparable viral fame. In a bathroom selfie taken by Mandava, the discrepancy of her jeans-and-a-casual-top outfit is impossible to ignore. Thoughts?”
By elevating denim to the Met Gala, some critics argued the brand was attempting to challenge the rigid definitions of ‘formal’ wear. However, for a debut that was supposed to be a crowning achievement for India’s rising fashion star, the ‘casual’ choice left many wondering if Chanel missed the mark on honouring the magnitude of the moment. Whether this was a subversion of the dress code or a strategic oversight, Bhavitha Mandava has ensured that her first Met Gala will be one the fashion world discusses for years to come.
