Alliah Janine Al Rashid of Cauayan was crowned Lin-ay sang Negros 2023 before a crowd of about 20,000 at the Panaad Stadium in Bacolod City, Friday night, April 21.
Al Rashid, a 20-year-old first year tourism management student at the University of Saint La Salle, made history for being the first ever Lin-ay sang Cauayan to win the Lin-ay sang Negros crown.
“It’s an honor to represent my municipality since we have never won in past pageants. I’m very happy that I get to be the one to represent my municipality,” she told DIGICAST NEGROS.
“I was expecting to be part of the top five but not the Lin-ay sang Negros so I was very shocked but at the same time I’m very thankful that they chose me,” she said.
As Lin-ay sang Negros 2023, Al Rashid said she aims to promote diversity of Negros through a youth development program.
She said her father Fawzi Ali Al Rashid is an Arab from Saudi Arabia and her mother is Corazon Joven of Cauayan.
Her father, who has been hospitalized for almost a month in Saudi Arabia for heart problems, could not come for the pageant but watched through the live stream on Facebook.
Her winning is sort of her gift to her father who has been very supportive of her joining the pageant even though the Arab culture is a bit conservative, she said.
Governor Eugenio Jose Lacson, together with Lin-ay sang Negros 2019 Roxanne Toleco, Miss Universe 2021 Top 5 Beatrice Luigi Gomez, and Miss Supranational 2022 Alison Black, presented Al Rashid with her prizes.
She received P80,000 cash, a full college scholarship for a year, P50,000 worth of Azta Salon Services for a year, and a round-trip international ticket courtesy of EGY Travel and Tours.
Al Rashid also won the best in evening gown and best in urban legends festival costume awards.
The Lin-ay-sang Negros 2023 1st runner-up is Jasmine Pesquera of Sagay City, 2nd runner-up – Ricah Alcorin of Don Salvador Benedicto, 3rd runner-up – Ma. Xenia Angela Guanco of Hinigaran and 4th runner-up Keziah Nicole White of Kabankalan City.
The special awards winners are:
*Best in Production – Escalante
*Best in Talent – Catherine Pearl Lopez of Escalante City
*Best in Festival Costume Spirit and Deity – Jasmine Pesquera of Sagay City
*Best in Festival Costume Urban Legend – Alliah Janine Al Rashid of Cauayan
*Best Festival Costume Designer Spirits and Deity – Keziah Nicole White of Kabankalan
*Best Festival Costume Designer Urban Legend – Hinigaran
*Best in Evening Gown Designer – Victorias
*Best in Evening Gown – Alliah Janine Al Rashid of Cauayan
*Best in Swimsuit – Ricah Alarcon of Salvador Benedicto
*Miss Congeniality – Marace Salo of Toboso
*People’s Choice – Jasmine Pesquera of Sagay City
*Miss Photogenic – Chelyn Halpin of Bago City
The top 10 Lin-ay sang Negros finalists were:
*Keziah Nicole White – Kabankalan City
*Jasmine Pesquera Sagay City
*Ina Marie Hengelmolen – Silay City
*Paula Nicole Reconquista – Victorias City
*Althea Nicole Gadingan -Talisay
*Ma. Xenia Angela Guanco – Hinigaran
*Ricah Alarcon – Don Salvador Benedicto
*Alliah Janine Al Rashid – Cauayan
*Janella Marie Avelino – La Carlota City
*Steppi Vanessa Felice Bacolado – Cadiz City