Padmalaya Nanda is a young beauty queen from Odisha who gained international recognition at the age of 12. In 2017, she made history by becoming the first Indian to win three prestigious titles at the Little Miss Universe 2017 pageant held in Batumi, Georgia. She was awarded the Golden Crown Little Miss Universe Internet 2017, Little Miss Actress (Best Talent of the World), and Little Miss Grand Prix. A Class VIII student at Stewart School in Cuttack, Padmalaya also represented India at the Little Miss World 2017 contest in Greece. Beyond her pageant achievements, she is passionate about promoting Odisha's rich cultural heritage and often celebrates festivals and her birthday with underprivileged children at the Swami Bichitrananda Kalyan Ashram.