BACOLOD CITY – A 20-year-old tourism management student from Cauayan town in Negros Occidental was crowned Lin-ay sang Negros 2023 during the 27th Panaad sa Negros Festival. Alliah Janine Al Rashid, a freshman college student at the University of Saint La Salle (USLS) here, bested 26 other candidates during the coronation night held at the Panaad Park and Stadium in Barangay Mansilingan, this city, on Friday, April 21. ALLIAH Janine Al Rashid (center) of Cauayan, Negros Occidental was crowned Lin-ay sang Negros 2023 during the pageant night held at the Panaad Park and Stadium in Bacolod City on Friday, April 21. With her are other pageant winners (from left) Keziah Nicole White of Kabankalan City, Ricah Alarcon of Don Salvador Benedicto, Jasmine Pesquera of Sagay City, and Maria Xenia Angela Guanco of Hinigaran. (Photo courtesy of Capitol PIO) She received P80,000 cash, a full college scholarship for a year, P50,000 worth of Azta Salon Services for one year, and a round-trip international ticket courtesy of EGY Travel and Tours. Rashid said that joining the pageant enables her to reach out to the communities in her hometown, especially the youth. She said that it also allows her to collaborate with organizations that aim for the betterment of the province. Rashid’s advocacy focuses on supporting the lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer (LGBTQ) plus community, as well as fighting gender discrimination. First runner-up was Jasmine Pesquera of Sagay City while second runner-up was Ricah Alarcon of Don Salvador Benedicto town. Maria Xenia Angela Guanco of Hinigaran town copped third runner-up while Keziah Nicole White of Kabankalan City placed fourth runner-up. Prior to the pageant night, the candidates showcased various folk creatures that make up the Visayan and Negrense urban legends, creatively depicted in their festival costumes. Lyzabelle Blythe Villa of Himamaylan City was chosen as the Muse of the Media during the press presentation held at the Ayala Malls Capital Central here. Judges in the pageant were Miss Universe 2021 Top 5 Beatrice Luigi Gomez, Miss Supranational 2022 Alison Black, Lin-ay sang Negros 2013 Samyah Al-Dossary, Aces & Queens General Manager Mikee Andrei, Stephen Inventor Diaz, International Cultural Association (ICA) chief-of-staff of Miss International Organization, Victor Lim Hao Cuenco, chief executive officer of VHC Productions, and Lorenzo Isip, third runner-up Top Model Universe 2022. Celebrity singer Ronnie Liang serenaded the candidates. Gov. Eugenio Jose Lacson, along with Lin-ay sang Negros 2019 Roxanne Toleco, Gomez, and Black, presented the award to the newly-crowned Lin-ay.