Mandava is among only two Indian winners this year, with Kerala-based freestyle footballer Muhammed Riswan also making the list. Her recognition comes after a remarkable rise in the international fashion industry, including making history as the first Indian model to open a Chanel runway show.
What Is the Instagram Rings Award?
Launched in October 2025, the Instagram Rings Award is an annual initiative by Instagram to recognise 25 creators from around the world who are pushing creative boundaries and making an impact through their work.
Unlike traditional social media recognition, the award is not simply about follower counts or popularity. It celebrates originality, creative experimentation, unique perspectives and creators who influence culture both online and offline.
The 2026 winners were selected through nominations and voting by a panel of 14 judges representing different creative fields. The jury included fashion designer Donatella Versace, filmmaker Chloé Zhao, musician A$AP Rocky, singer-songwriter FINNEAS, Indian celebrity chef Vikas Khanna and Instagram chief Adam Mosseri, among others.
Why Did Bhavitha Mandava Win the Instagram Rings Award?
Instagram recognised Mandava for her extraordinary journey from being a student in New York to becoming an internationally recognised fashion model.
In its announcement, Instagram highlighted how she was discovered by fashion designer Matthieu Blazy at a New York subway station while wearing jeans and a T-shirt, despite having no previous modelling experience.
She subsequently made her runway debut as an exclusive model for Bottega Veneta's Spring/Summer 2025 collection in Milan.
Instagram also highlighted her achievement of becoming the first Indian model to open Chanel's Métiers d'Art show, her appointment as a Chanel House Ambassador and her appearance on the cover of British Vogue.
Her Instagram content offers followers a glimpse into the international fashion world, combining backstage experiences with her distinctive design perspective.
Instagram Ring Awards 2026 Winners
What Will the Instagram Rings Award Winners Get?
The 25 winners will receive a specially designed physical ring featuring a four-leaf clover crafted from Connemara marble.
Designed in collaboration with fashion designer Emily Adams Bode Aujla, the ring symbolises luck, creativity and the idea of creating one's own opportunities.
Apart from the physical award, winners will receive exclusive digital recognition on Instagram. This includes a distinctive golden ring around their Instagram profile imagery and special profile customisation features, including the ability to change their profile background colour.
The award is primarily a recognition of creative achievement rather than a conventional cash prize.
Who Is Bhavitha Mandava?
Born into a Telugu family in Andhra Pradesh and raised in Hyderabad, Bhavitha Mandava initially pursued a career in architecture. She studied architecture at Jawaharlal Nehru Technological University before moving to New York for higher studies in Integrated Design and Media and Human-Computer Interaction.
Her life took an unexpected turn in September 2024 when Matthieu Blazy, then creative director of Bottega Veneta, spotted her at a New York subway station.
She soon walked exclusively for Bottega Veneta's Spring/Summer 2025 collection, marking the beginning of her international modelling career.
In December 2025, Mandava made history by becoming the first Indian model to open Chanel's Métiers d'Art 2026 show in New York. In March 2026, she achieved another milestone when she became the first Indian model to be named a Chanel House Ambassador.
She has also appeared on the covers of prestigious international fashion magazines, including British Vogue and Numero France.
Her Instagram Rings Award 2026 recognition is another significant milestone in a journey that has taken her from an architecture student to one of the prominent Indian faces in international fashion.
