Tanya Mittal is a true inspiration to the youth of India as a young entrepreneur, motivational speaker as well as a social media personality. She is the founder of Handmade Love, which she started with a very small investment of 500 rupees and has grown into a very successful gifting and lifestyle brand. Over the years, Tanya has transformed her little company into a large-scale business, also establishing herself as a TEDx speaker, author, model and philanthropist. Her story of overcoming personal issues to become a self-made entrepreneur has inspired thousands of young people in India to go after their dreams without fear.
Born into a middle-class business family in Gwalior, Madhya Pradesh, in the year 2000, Tanya spent her childhin a home that instilled in her the values of hard work and determination. From a very young age, it was apparent that she was creative, confident and a natural leader. That said, her childhood was not free of issues. Tanya was born with a cleft lip and palate, which made the early years of her life a series of corrective surgeries. Also, she dealt with the issue of bullying and criticism, which came her way because of how she looked. Instead of these issues bringing her down and diminishing her confidence, they fueled her to do better and use her achievements as a means to prove herself.
Tanya finished her education at Vidya Public School in Gwalior. In addition to great academics, she did very well in sports and co-curricular activities. She was a national-level volleyball player and also won a women’s car racing competition during her school days. This, in turn, helped to develop her discipline, confidence and competitive spirit. Also, at the time of enrolling at Chandigarh University to do a degree in Architecture, which was to be the start of her professional path, she went through homesickness, academic pressure and mental stress. Hostel life was a challenge for her, and in the end, it came to light that what she really had a passion for was entrepreneurship as opposed to a traditional career. It was a bold step, but she left her architecture program to fully devote herself to the growth of her business.
In 2019, the idea for Handmade Love took root when Tanya began to make custom greeting cards and personal gifts out of her hostel room. At first, it was a fun project that also let her let out her creative side. With only access to a budget of Rs 500 and a brand new Instagram page which had only a few followers at the time, she put up her handmade products online. To her surprise, she got in a few first orders during Valentine’s that gave her the push to keep going. That which was meant to be a small hobby grew into a full-scale business as customers responded well to the unique, high-quality, and very personal touch of her items.
Unlike that which is mass-produced, at Handmade Love, we focused on personal touch and custom-made products which celebrated relationships and special times. Tanya put great effort into customer care, creative packaging, and using social media to tell our story. Our transparent business practices and Tanya’s real-person approach connected with customers, which in turn helped us to build a large community of loyal fans. Over time, the business grew beyond handmade greeting cards to also include custom gifts, fashion accessories, handbags, sarees and lifestyle products. Today, we have served over 200,000 customers; we employ hundreds of artisans and creative professionals, and Handmade Love is one of the recognised names in the Indian personalised gifting space.
Apart from the field of entrepreneurship, Tanya Mittal also achieved international success in the beauty pageant world. In 2018, she won the title of Miss Tourism India, which in turn gave her a stage to represent the country at the Miss Asia Tourism Universe competition in Lebanon. There, she did not let India down and brought home the international title, which in turn put her in the modelling, brand ambassador, and public speaking circuits. Although by the time she was breaking into the glamour industry, Tanya was also very much into growing her business and mentoring young entrepreneurs.
As a motivational speaker, Tanya has put together many TEDx talks and keynotes at universities, corporate functions and entrepreneurship conferences. She opens up about her past, which includes overcoming issues from childhood, battling self-doubt, starting a business with few resources, and growing from failure. In her talks, she stresses confidence, resilience, financial independence, and the issue of that you should believe in your dreams no matter your background or circumstances. Also, it is her storytelling, which is very much a part of who she is as a person, that has made her a very popular speaker with students and aspiring entrepreneurs.
Beyond the world of business and public speaking, Tanya is very much a part of social work. She is Associate Director at the Bliss Foundation, which does work with children who have been born with facial deformities; they raise awareness and see to it that these kids get the medical care they need. Also, she has worked with organisations like Girl Up and Pink Legal, which are into women’s empowerment, education and legal issues. Also of note is that Tanya is involved in the education and basic care of two foster children, which is very much in keeping with her philosophy that success is not defined by financial achievement but by what you do for others. Her philanthropic actions speak to a definition of success that includes the quality of life which she brings to the lives of others.
Tanya has been the recipient of many prestigious awards over the course of her career. In addition to winning Miss Tourism India and Miss Asia Tourism Universe, she has also won the Amity Corporate Excellence Award, the Asian Excellence Award, the Nari Shakti Award, and the Youngest Woman Achiever Award. These awards recognise her work in the fields of entrepreneurship, women’s empowerment and social impact. Also featured in many national publications and business platforms, Tanya’s story of going from a dropout to a successful entrepreneur is very inspiring.
Social media is a key element in Tanya Mittal’s success. She has put together a large online audience on platforms such as Instagram, Facebook, YouTube, and LinkedIn, which she uses to share business tips, motivational content, what goes on behind the scenes at Handmade Love, fashion inspiration, and very personal stories. Also, it is her engaging content that has helped her connect with millions of fans, and at the same time, it in turn promotes her business and also gives a push to aspiring entrepreneurs to take that first step towards success.
As of 2026, Tanya Mittal’s net worth is reported to be around ₹2 crore, which also includes an average monthly income of ₹6 lakh. She reports getting her money from Handmade Love, brand associations, speaking at events, social media collaborations and also from her entrepreneurial moves. What is also amazing is that she began with only a ₹500 investment, which she has grown into a multi-crore business, thus determination, creativity, and consistency are what really matter more than having large funds to start with.
Tanya Mittal is a great example of persistence, innovation, and self-belief. From outgrowing childhood insecurities and leaving college to starting a successful business and becoming an international entrepreneur, she has proved that with courage and determination, challenges may turn into opportunities. Through Handmade Love, motivational speaking, and her charity work, Tanya also does what it takes to inspire large numbers of young people to go after their passions, embrace creativity, and make a meaningful difference in the world. Her journey is proof that success is not determined by your start in life, but by the direction you take it in through your dedication and resilience.
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