María Camila Avella Montañez (born June 26, 1995) is a Colombian model, TV host, and beauty pageant titleholder who was crowned Miss Universe Colombia 2023, being the first delegate from Casanare to ever be crowned Miss Universe Colombia.[2][3] She represented her country at Miss Universe 2023 and placed in the Top 5.[4] She also made history by becoming the first married woman and mother to place in the Top 5 of Miss Universe.[5]
Personal life
Camila Avella was born in Yopal, Casanare, Colombia in 1995. She is the only child of Martha Cecilia Montañez and the electrical engineer Reynaldo Avella.[6] From the age of 10, she dedicated herself to playing field tennis, a sport that gave her the opportunity to represent Casanare in different national and international tournaments.[7][8] She completed her elementary and high school studies at La Presentación Social Center in her hometown, and studied social communication and journalism at the Sergio Arboleda University in Bogotá.
In 2018, Avella received the decree that accredited her as the official representative of her Casanare department for the next edition of the Miss Colombia 2018, which would take place in November of the same year in Cartagena. However, the board of directors of the contest, headed by its president, Raimundo Angulo, made the decision to cancel her participation, alleging that the model had a manager and had taken professional photographs that were contrary to the contest regulations. Despite her efforts to clarify the situation, she was ultimately unable to compete in the event.[9][10]
In the competition, she stood out as one of the favorite candidates to obtain the title of Miss Universe Colombia, which María Fernanda Aristizabál held at that time.
