"It feels a bit racist."
Bhavitha Mandava has ignited a fierce global fashion debate following her controversial debut at the 2026 Met Gala.
The Indian American model chose a sheer oversized blouse paired with casual blue jeans for the exclusive evening.
She represented the luxury brand on the iconic red carpet as its first Indian House Ambassador.
However, her choice of denim sparked immediate and widespread outrage.
Many South Asian fashion enthusiasts and social media commentators were vocal with their disapproval.
Some observers are now accusing the French design house of microaggressions regarding her unconventional styling.
They noted that her fellow ambassadors were dressed in much more traditional and opulent evening gowns.
In a video for British Vogue, the model expressed her initial feelings about the massive event.
She described her personal mood while getting ready for the biggest night in the fashion calendar.
The model shared that she was feeling very emotional about receiving her invitation to the prestigious fashion event.
She said: “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.’”
Her look was a couture adaptation of her opening look for a recent Chanel runway show in New York.
Chanel jewellery was added to the ensemble to complete her look for the high-fashion event.
Despite her enthusiasm, many fans were unhappy with the perceived lack of effort from the design house.
One X user said: “Why did they send Bhavitha to the Met Gala in jeans?? This feels like a microaggression.”
Another added: “Every other ambassador is in custom couture, and she’s in a mall outfit? It feels a bit racist.”
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Fashion watchdog Diet Prada highlighted the growing frustration within the South Asian community on social media.
They shared an Instagram post discussing whether the brand was tokenising the talented Indian model.
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.”
Prominent fashion content creator Sufi Motiwala was also cited for his vocal criticism of the styling choice.
He suggested that the brand was not providing her with the same level of glamour as others.
However, some defended the look as a way to challenge traditional red carpet norms.
The gala theme for 2026 allowed for a wide range of creative and artistic interpretations.
Yet the specific choice of relaxed fit jeans for a debutant remains a point of contention.
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