TNI Bureau: Samriddhi Tripathi from Karnataka was crowned KIIT Nanhipari Little Miss India 2025, winning the prestigious national title along with a cash prize of ₹10 lakh at the grand finale held in Bhubaneswar. The event was organised by the KIIT Film and Fashion School and concluded with an impressive mega round featuring young talents from across the country.
Samriddhi secured the title after emerging on top among nine finalists in the final round. Earlier, 35 contestants had qualified for the semi-finals, from which 10 participants advanced to the grand finale. The contestants were evaluated across multiple rounds that tested their confidence, personality, knowledge, creativity and stage presence.
Pranjal Sharma from Madhya Pradesh was declared the first runner-up and received a cash award of ₹5 lakh, while P. Prarardhini from Telangana secured the second runner-up position with a cash prize of ₹3 lakh.
Congratulating the winners and participants, Achyuta Samanta, Founder of KIIT and KISS and Chief Patron of KIIT Nanhipari, said the platform aims to nurture confidence, talent and leadership qualities among young girls while encouraging holistic development beyond competition.
The final round was judged by a distinguished panel comprising Femina Miss India World 2024 Nikita Porwal, Femina Miss India World 2023 Nandini Gupta, Femina Miss India 2024 first runner-up Rekha Pandey, Olympians Amit Rohidas and Dutee Chand, and noted academician Dr. Jayant Kumar Das.
In addition to the main titles, winners were announced in 10 special categories, including Miss Rapunzel (Best Hair) won by Trisha Jain (Rajasthan), Little Miss Photogenic by Pranjal Sharma (Madhya Pradesh), Little Miss Selfie by Sudeshna Gurung (Sikkim), Little Miss Mona Lisa by Khusali Gurjar (Rajasthan), Little Miss Wizkid by Aahana Singh Chauhan (Delhi), Miss Cinderella (Best Personality) by Sharmishtha Saikia (Assam), Miss Urvashi (Best Knowledge) by Samriddhi Tripathi (Karnataka), Miss Personality by Ziya Nevwani (Rajasthan), Miss Fashion by Swarnika Kholiya (Odisha) and Miss Fit by Yashashree Sagarika (Odisha). Each special award winner received ₹20,000 in cash, along with a crown and certificate.
This year, the competition announced prizes worth ₹56 lakh. The title winner received a total prize package of ₹28 lakh, which included a 100% tuition fee waiver (up to ₹18 lakh) for admission to any course at KIIT University, in addition to the cash prize. The first runner-up was awarded a total prize package of ₹14 lakh, including a 50% fee waiver (up to ₹9 lakh) at KIIT, while the second runner-up received prizes worth ₹12 lakh with similar fee waiver benefits.
The event witnessed the presence of several eminent personalities, including Dr. Prabodh Mohanty, Managing Director of SN Mohanty Group; Kalinga Keshari Rath, Managing Director of Evosar; Pankaj Lochan Mohanty, Chairman and Managing Director of MGM Minerals; Malay Mahapatra, Founder of Nanhipari; and Nanhipari core committee members Dr. Shraddhanjali Nayak and Soma Mohanty, among others.
The KIIT Nanhipari Little Miss India pageant continues to serve as a national platform to encourage young girls by promoting talent, confidence, education and overall personality development.
