Congratulations are in order for Camila Avella, from Casanare, who has been crowned the new Miss Colombia 2023. With her win, the stunning beauty will proudly represent her country in the upcoming Miss Universe 2023, scheduled for November 18, 2023. While Avella’s beauty, and personality cannot be denied, what’s particularly special is that she is a married woman and a mother to a young child.
It’s a significant deviation from the customary Miss Universe competition, which did not allow married women and mothers to compete for the prestigious crown. 2023 marks the first time in its history, that the rule has changed, taking effect for the 72nd Miss Universe pageant. Andrea Meza, who won Miss Universe 2020, previously stated it’s “about time.”
© @camiavellamCamila Avella
Avella is 27 years old and is originally from the town of Yopal, in Casanare, Colombia. Camila has become the second Latina mother to compete for the Miss Universe crown.
© @camiavellamCamila Avella
Avella has been married since June 2020 to textile businessman Nassif Kamle. In the midst of the pandemic, the couple celebrated their union with the hope of starting a family.
© @nkamle26Camila Avella with her husband and daughter
In December 2020, the couple revealed that they were expecting their first child. On April 14, 2021, little Amelia was born, who is currently two years old, and has become Camila’s greatest strength on her path to Miss Universe.
© @camiavellamCamila Avella
The stunning Avella is no stranger to the world of beauty pageants, in 2004 she competed in a children’s beauty pageant. Over the years, Camila forged a career in the world of catwalks.
© @camiavellamCamila Avella
Avella is proud of the department she represents. Prior to her coronation as Miss Colombia, the model opened up about her feelings about the beautiful department, which has at times been classified as the most dangerous in the country. “I am sure that the people who know me know how proud I am to be a llanera and I dream of being the first Miss Universe Colombia that my department has but not the last,” she wrote in a post. “Casanare, a place that unfortunately has had a bad image and has been classified as the most dangerous department in the country, what you do not know is the human quality that we Casanareños have, our culture and folklore that fills us with pride, our infinite lands full of wealth and not to mention how lucky we are to have so much wild fauna and flora and to finish the gastronomy, those who like to eat tasty food like me already know where to go. CASANARE I ALWAYS CARRY YOU WITH ME,” she continued.
© @camiavellamCamila Avella
Avella studied Social Communication and in collaboration with the project ‘Women Transforming Realities’, which is focused on mothers who are heads of families, seeks to support them in their communities.
© @missuniversecolombiaorgCamila Avella
After being crowned, Avella shared a message of gratitude to everyone who believed in her and helped her reach the title of Miss Colombia. She also promised to work hard to make her country proud. “I feel excited and honored to have been chosen as Miss Universe Colombia 2023, representing my beloved Casanare,” she said. “It is a historic achievement for our land, and I am happy to bring the first crown to our department,” she continued. “I want to thank my family, friends, my work team and all the Casanareños who have supported me on this incredible journey. This triumph belongs to all of us. I promise to wear this crown with honor and humility, proudly representing the beauty, strength and talent of Colombia. Casanare, this crown is for you! COLOMBIA: Together we are going to conquer the universe!”
© @camiavellamCamila Avella
After her coronation, in an interview with El Heraldo she said her win is for all Colombian women. “Unquestionably, having won fills me with a lot of emotion, particularly I feel proud because this is an achievement that I have been able to achieve through effort, but the most important thing of all is that it does not represent me alone, but rather it exalts all the people ... Colombian women and that allows us to believe that everything is possible. For us there are no limits,” she said.
