REGGIO EMILIA, Italy - The Filipino community in Italy welcomed Miss Earth Philippines 2018 Sylvia Celeste Cortesi Sunday evening after winning the title in May.

The 20-year old Filipino-Italian model, became the first from a Filipino community abroad to win the title.

Cortesi said she hoped to win in the upcoming Miss Earth pageant which is expected in October. She will be back in Manila on July 19 for training.

• READ: Pinay from Italy crowned Miss Earth PH 2018

"I'm really confident to win the crown. I know that last year the Philippines won the crown. I really have to maintain the same level of Karen Ibasco. I will do my best to win the crown," Cortesi said.

Cortesi was born in Pasay City, Philippines and raised in Parma, Italy.

She also thanked all her supporters, as well as the Filipino groups in Emilia Romagna region, who trusted her abilities to join the pageant.

"I did not expect a lot of fans from the Philippines. I want to say thank you because they support me everyday, sent messages and sometimes meet each other. I want to say thank you to all my supporters in Italy and Philippines," she said.

Her Filipina mother, Maria Luisa Rabimbi, said she was happy for her daughter.

The Filipino groups, led by Emilia Romagna Alliance of Filipino Communities or ERAFILCOM, said Cortesi could secure a bac-to-back win for the Philippines in Miss Earth.