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She was born in Vila de Monção, in the distric of Viana do Castelo, in a wealthy family, on the 7th of September 1884 and died on the 17th of January 1974. She came to Lisbon at just 14 years old to take care of the 4 children of on of her brothers, Manuel Caetano Lyra, journalist at “United Press International”, who lived in Penha de França area, in Lisbon. From an early age, still in Monção, she started to like sewing. She dreamed about beeing a dressmaker to create dresses and hats. In Lisbon, she take a course in haute couture and opened a shop, the “Loja do Povo”. In that shop, on Rua Prior do Crato, in Alcântara, she had some seamstresses to put all her ideias into practice.
¶ After gaining fame, she began to dress illustrious personalities, including Queen Maria Amélia Luísa Helena de Orleães – the last queen of Portugal. When in Portugal, the queen often met with Camila, to create, as she liked, dresses and hats, worthy of royalty.
Regarding Camila’s love life, it was marked by her relashioship with João Ladislau Pinto Basto, who came from an wealthy family, who lived in Pinto Basto Palace on 1º de Maio street.
They even had a daughter, who died at the age of 4 months. In 1918, with the emergence of the pneumonia disease – the first worlwide epidemic – Camila fell ill. Luckier than many others, she spent 40 days in quarantine without being able to meet João. Elderly testimonies report that João prayed daily for Camila. Shortly after that, Camila begins to show signs of improvement, but a hard blow of fate unexpectly, kills João with a heart attack. Camila was filled with deep grief and anguish for having lost her love so suddenly. Seeking to comfort her, João’s father offers his properties, houses and goods that belong to João, but Camila disposes of these for the benefit of the most needy.
¶ It is only known that, from then on, it was common to find Camila at the João de Grão restaurant, on Rua dos Correeiros, in the heart of downtown Lisbon, where she ate luch every day and offered luch to the less fortunate.