Bhubaneswar: Bhioliona Boro of Guwahati was crowned the KIIT Nanhi Pari Little Miss India on Saturday evening.

State girl Jita Mohapatra from Chennai became the first runner-up while Anoushka Singh of Patna was the second runner-up of the beauty pageant. Nanhipari is a talent hunt competition among young girls between the age group of 13-16 years.

Apart from the cash award, Boro also got 100 per cent academic fee waiver subject to a maximum of Rs 18 lakh for studying in any discipline in the KIIT University.

The first runner-up and the second runner-up both got 50 per cent academic fee waiver to maximum of Rs 9 lakh to study at the KIIT University.

The pageant started in 2001 in a remote tribal town of Kendujhar district. In a short span of 17 years, the pageant become a national-level talent hunt show. "The experience was enriching for me," said Boro. She won Rs 3 lakh cash award along with the title while Jita Mohaptra and Anoushka Singh received Rs 1 lakh and Rs 50000 cash prizes, respectively.

Thirty teenage girls from various states took part in the grand finale, which was held on the premises of KIIT International School.

A prize money of Rs 10,000 each along with a citation and certificate was given in ten other categories during the beauty pageant to the young girls. Khyati Singh of Mumbai won the Miss Rapunzel title for most beautiful hair, Bhiolina Boro of Guwahati won the Miss Photogenic title for best pose in photo-shoot round), Anuja Chauhan of New Delhi won the Miss Selfie title, Aahana Naqeeb of Srinagar won the Miss Fashion title, Anoushka Singh of Patna won the Miss Whizkid title for scoring highest marks in the quiz round.