Leo Bianchi is probably the most popular Italian in Bulgaria. Always smiling, positive and smart - this is how he has won the hearts of Bulgarians as a reality star back in 2005. This is revealed in his book called "My Way. An Italian who found himself in Bulgaria."

Chef, pizza and pasta master, TV star, rapper - these are just some of the images of Leo during the years spent in the poorest country in the European Union in order to prove that the Bulgarian dream exists and it can be achieved by anyone who decides to stand on the bright side of life.

"It's best to call me Italian, I'm very happy to be 'ambassador' of the Italians in Bulgaria," Leo has told Radio Bulgaria. "I published this book so that my children could know everything about me," he adds. “Everyone should know what has been done and what lies ahead. I'm not proud of my past, in which there were drugs and other dark sides. But my children need to know where I went wrong and what mistakes they should not make. Together with my girlfriend Lucia we raise our children in Bulgaria and when we go to Italy, we see that they are much more well-behaved than their peers there. This means that environment matters."

Leo Bianchi is happy that his twins study in Bulgaria. According to him, here they have the opportunity to receive solid foundation for their future development. Here is what Leo says about Bulgarians:

"Bulgarians do not envy anyone and can go their own way," Leo Bianchi says. “I had heard from friends about the beauty of Bulgaria, but when I came here myself I started recommending the country to my compatriots. There are things in Bulgaria that could leave foreigners with their jaws dropped. For example, the Internet connection here is much better. You can pay for parking by SMS and this is not available everywhere in Italy.”

The editor of Leo Bianchi's book has told Radio Bulgaria that it was a pleasure to communicate and work with him. "We wrote a book about both sides in human life and about the choice – a conscious and difficult choice to stay on the bright side," Georgi Toshev says.

"As a public figure Leo is very open and sincere and this is a great achievement. Because public figures, not only in Bulgaria, usually hide facts, lie, or agree in advance with their PR what to say, while Leo is an open book and has an open mind."

"I often talk to God - that's how I always have a person close to me,” Leo Bianchi says. “He does not give me answers, but the ability to think with my head and receive the answers myself.”

"Each of us must say to themselves: 'Thank you for seeing the light, for my children being with me.’ Everyone must learn to love people more, to be with their family. And they shouldn't be afraid to say they love them. Because today might be the last day for each of us. Let's look for the light and live positively."

English: Alexander Markov