A science degree holder and part-time model representing the Filipino community in Rome, Italy, bested 41 other aspirants from around the Philippines and different international Filipino communities for the 2018 Miss Earth Philippines title in ceremonies staged on Saturday at the SM Mall of Asia Arena.
Silvia Celeste Cortesi was proclaimed the new queen of the environment, with her “elemental court” composed of Miss Philippines-Air Zarah Bianca Saldua of Las Piñas, Miss Philippines-Water Berjayneth Chee of Balingasag, Miss Philippines-Fire Jean Nicole de Jesus of San Rafael, and Miss Philippines-Ecotourism Halimatu Yushawu of Titay, Zamboanga Sibugay.
The ladies will serve as ambassadors of environmental protection and will spearhead campaigns around the country to help save the environment.
This year’s pageant focused on the harmful effects of plastics and promoted the banning of single-use plastics.
Cortesi will also represent the country in the global Miss Earth pageant, which will be staged later this year in the Philippines.
She will attempt to secure another back-to-back victory for the Philippines and inherit the crown currently held by Filipino queen Karen Ibasco, a medical physicist.
The first, and so far only, consecutive wins for a country in the 17-year-old international tilt was recorded by the Philippines in 2014 and 2015, courtesy of Jamie Herrell and Angelia Ong.
Herrell, the second Cebuana to bag the international title, was crowned in Manila. She relinquised her Miss Earth crown to Ong in Austria.
The Philippines has the most wins in the global tilt with four queens. Karla Henry became the first Filipino woman to earn the crown in 2008.
The ceremonies will have a delayed telecast on May 27 on ABS-CBN before “ASAP.” /atm