Camila Avella
María Camila Avella Montañez is a Colombian beauty pageant titleholder who won Miss Universe Colombia 2023. She was the first representative from Casanare to win Miss Universe Colombia. She represented her country at Miss Universe 2023 and placed in the Top 5. She was also the first married woman and mother to reach the Top 5 of Miss Universe.
Personal life
Camila Avella was born June 26, 1995 in Yopal, Casanare, Colombia. She is the only child of Martha Cecilia Montañez and electrical engineer Reynaldo Avella. From the age of 10, she played field tennis, and represented Casanare in at national and international tournaments.
Pageantry
Señorita Casanare 2018
In 2018, Avella was announced as the representative of the Casanare Department for Señorita Colombia 2018, which would take place in November of the same year in Cartagena. However, the contest's board of directors, cancelled her participation, alleging that Avella had a manager and had professional photographs of her contrary to the contest regulations. Despite her efforts she did compete in the event.
Avella won the competition, on September 2, 2023 in Barranquilla, Atlántico. She was the first winner from Casanare, and also the first married woman and mother to win Miss Universe Colombia.
Camila represented Colombia at Miss Universe 2023 on November 18, 2023 in San Salvador, El Salvador where she finished in the Top 5.