Camila Avella

María Camila Avella Montañez (born June 26, 1995) is a Colombian beauty pageant titleholder who was crowned Miss Universe Colombia 2023, being the first delegate from Casanare to ever be crowned Miss Universe Colombia. She represented her country at Miss Universe 2023 and placed in the top five. She also made history by becoming the first married woman and mother to place in the top five 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 the electrical engineer Reynaldo Avella. 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. 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 D.C.

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.

Miss Universe Colombia 2023
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 be crowned as Miss Universe Colombia.

Miss Universe 2023
Camila represented Colombia at the Miss Universe 2023 on November 18, 2023 in San Salvador, El Salvador where she finished in the top five.