Carmen Maria Montiel has worked hard to overcome obstacles and succeed throughout her life. Born in Venezuela, in 1984 she was crowned Miss Venezuela, Miss South America, and Second-Runner-Up for Miss Universe. Montiel subsequently migrated legally to the United States where she obtained her education, raised a family, helped build a family business, and enjoyed a successful career as a television journalist. She currently is employed as a Realtor with Keller Williams Realty in Houston, while continuing her work as a freelance journalist and conservative activist.
In 2018, Carmen Maria Montiel ran as a first-time candidate in the Republican Primary for Texas Congressional District 29. Despite her last-minute filing and limited campaign resources, she mounted a successful conservative grassroots campaign against three politically experienced opponents to advance to a runoff. In the runoff election, she earned a wide array of conservative endorsements and came within 83 votes of winning the Republican nomination, receiving nearly twice the number of votes as her politically established runoff opponent in Election Day voting.
Montiel obtained her B.A. in Broadcasting, Magna Cum Laude, from East Tennessee State University in 1991. Her broadcasting career included many endeavors, including three years as a TV Reporter and Anchorwoman for Telemundo, where she covered and hosted the 1992 GOP Convention in Houston.
* Paid for by Carmen for Congress *
