Maya Avant is a fictional character from The Bold and the Beautiful, an American soap opera on the CBS network, portrayed by Karla Mosley. Introduced as a series regular in 2013, ex-con Maya comes to town looking for her daughter who was put up for adoption by Dayzee Forrester (Kristolyn Lloyd). After the child is revealed to have died, Maya falls for fashion executive Rick Forrester (Jacob Young) when she mistakes him for a waiter. Discovering Rick's true identity scares Maya into the arms of attorney Carter Walton (Lawrence Saint-Victor). Maya quickly rises to fame in the modeling world. After a failed engagement to Carter who realizes Maya loves Rick, Maya pursues Rick putting her at odds with Rick's then wife Caroline Spencer (Linsey Godfrey). After successfully breaking up the couple, Rick and Maya settle into their cushy new life ruffling quite a few feathers along the way as Maya supports Rick's ruthless business tactics.

Characterized by some critics as a "social climber" and a "gold digger", Maya becomes a popular "love to hate" character for viewers due to her schemes and manipulations in her attempts to get what she wants. Daytime Confidential specifically referred to Maya as the black version of the iconic All My Children character, Erica Kane (Susan Lucci). In 2015, Maya was revealed to be transgender, becoming the first regular transgender character in American daytime television. The story made headlines in several mainstream media outlets including USA Today, People magazine and several LGBT publications. Maya's presence on the typically conservative soap also allowed for the introduction of her family, the Avants, to become the first and only central African American family in the show's history.

Fresh out of prison, Maya comes to Los Angeles in early 2013 to confront Dayzee Leigh (Kristolyn Lloyd) demanding to know where her baby is. Maya is shocked to learn the child has died and Dayzee encourages Maya to leave town fearing Maya will upset her happy life with Marcus Forrester (Texas Battle) -- the adopted son of the Forrester family fashion dynasty. While volunteering at Dayzee's coffee shop in exchange for staying in the apartment upstairs, Maya falls for Rick Forrester (Jacob Young) -- believing he is a waiter. Maya notices Rick is unhappy with girlfriend Caroline Spencer (Linsey Godfrey) and tries to distract him. The two go window shopping on Rodeo Drive where they share their first kiss and when Maya is trying on gowns at the Forrester Creations boutique, she learns Rick's true identity and it scares her away. Maya finds comfort with Carter Walton (Lawrence Saint-Victor) which makes for an awkward first date at the Forrester mansion where Caroline makes sure to stake her claim on Rick. Maya turns down a second date with Carter and he assists her in getting Rick back. Rick and Maya's early romance is plagued by Caroline's interference and insults in which Caroline constantly refers to Maya by the wrong names. Maya is ecstatic when she gets cast in a movie role only to learn that it is an adult film. She turns the job down and Rick instead hires her as a spokesmodel for the company. Caroline taunts Maya about her inexperience leading to Rick hiring professionals to help train Maya. While he wants to be with Maya, Rick struggles with trying to let Caroline down easy and Maya pressures him to choose. Caroline refuses to accept that Rick is choosing Maya and her publishing mogul uncle, Bill Spencer (Don Diamont) threatens to send Maya back to prison if she doesn't stay away from Rick. Despite the threats, Maya continues seeing Rick and soon runs into her ex-boyfriend Jesse (Ricky Paull Goldin) thanks to Bill who knows that Maya being seen with Jesse could land her back in jail. Maya turns down a reunion with Jesse and is forced to tell him that their baby died. Bill threatens Maya with photographs of her encounter with Jesse and she confides in Carter and Rick about Bill's blackmail leading to Rick officially dumping Caroline for Maya.

Maya is later hired by producer Rafael (Andy Zuno) to star opposite Carter in his web series, Room 8. However, the steamy romantic scenes lead to the two developing chemistry. Despite the obvious attraction, Maya remains faithful to Rick. During one particular scene, Maya hesitates and then discovers Rafael is in cahoots with Caroline to get Rick jealous enough to dump Maya. Rafael makes it up to Carter and Maya by having them shoot the series in its original incarnation. When Rick misses the Room 8 premiere in favor of work, Maya and Carter share a drink and kiss but she stops it from going any further. Having learned that Carter and Maya spent time together, Rick questions her loyalty despite Maya's assurances that nothing happened. Maya tries to reconcile with Rick only to find him with Caroline; Maya then ends the relationship and resigns from her modeling position at Forrester. Maya is shocked when Carter suddenly proposes and she accepts, believing she and Carter are a better fit for one another, like Caroline and Rick. While Carter discusses wedding plans, Maya pines for Rick and she is ready to confess until Rick and Caroline announce their engagement. Meanwhile, Carter convinces Rick to reinstate Maya at the company. Maya has seemingly made peace with the situation when Rick and Caroline marry in December 2013.

Throughout 2014, Maya becomes obsessed with photographer Oliver Jones's (Zack Conroy) intentions toward Rick's niece Aly Forrester (Ashlyn Pearce) when Oliver implies that he is using Aly to secure his job. As everyone grows suspicious of Maya's interest in Oliver and Aly, she confides in Oliver that she believes she, not Caroline is the right woman for Rick. After Rick rejects her advances, Maya admits to Caroline that she fell for Carter on the rebound and just needed closure. Maya later reveals a recording where Oliver discusses using Aly to secure his job and a furious Carter dumps Maya when he confronts her about her obsession with acquiring status and prestige. Maya takes advantage of Caroline's growing closeness with Rick's stepbrother Ridge Forrester (Thorsten Kaye) and plants suspicions in the minds of Rick and Ridge's fiancée, Katie Logan (Heather Tom) about Caroline and Ridge's relationship. Maya later exposes Ridge and Caroline during a board meeting forcing Caroline to admit to sharing a few kisses with Ridge. A devastated Rick turns to Maya, they make love and Maya later convinces Rick to accept to CEO position from his father Eric Forrester (John McCook) despite Eric initially choosing Ridge over him. Rick and Maya soon move in together and Rick appoints Maya as the lead model at Forrester Creations. A confident Maya orders Carter to serve Caroline with annulment papers on Rick's behalf despite warnings that Rick still loves Caroline. Maya is shocked when Rick suddenly announces that he is going back to Caroline as Eric is threatening to remove him as CEO. Though she is unhappy, Rick assures Maya he wants a future with her.

In 2015, Rick tricks Eric into signing a document giving him irrevocable control of the company for a year and Rick publicly announces the end of his marriage to be with Maya. Maya is shocked when Rick moves her into the Forrester mansion and replaces a portrait of deceased matriarch Stephanie Forrester (Susan Flannery) with a portrait of Maya instead. As Maya gloats about her victory, she is reminded that Rick has yet to profess his love for her. Thanks to Maya's insistence, Rick confesses his love for her and flaunts the relationship to Caroline. Bill resorts to threats again as Maya reluctantly welcomes her younger sister Nicole (Reign Edwards) into her life. Despite feeling uneasy at times, Maya continuously supports Rick as he spirals out of control manipulating and belittling Aly and even going so far as to shoot at Ridge and Caroline when he finds them kissing. Meanwhile, Nicole blackmails dangling a major secret over her head in exchange for several perks. With Carter's help, Maya learns Nicole has dropped out of college and tries to use it as leverage against her sister. However, Maya is stunned when Nicole confronts Maya about the fact that she is transgender. Maya confesses all to Nicole including that her daughter was actually Jesse's child whom Maya had gained custody of before being sent to prison. Though Nicole pressures her to confess, Maya warns that she needs to make that decision for herself. Maya is terrified when an angry Carter confronts her about being transgender having overheard a confrontation with Nicole and threatens to expose her. Maya apologizes for not being honest with him and talks Carter down. Later, Maya promises to come clean if Rick proposes. Maya is rightfully concerned when Nicole starts spending time with Bill's son Wyatt (Darin Brooks) and Nicole admits that she confided in Wyatt about Maya being transgender. As the gossip spreads throughout the company, Rick's mother Brooke Logan (Katherine Kelly Lang) demands that Maya come clean with her son immediately.

Rick finally proposes to Maya in a romantic mountain getaway and Maya tells Rick about being transgender just as Bill leaks the news to the press. When Maya believes Rick is embarrassed by her, she runs away in her car and Rick follows. As Maya questions if Rick still wants to marry her over the phone, the call disconnects, leading Maya to believe Rick has rejected her, although Rick has actually crashed his car. Maya resigns from her modeling position and hides out in her apartment where she reconciles with Nicole, who apologizes for telling Wyatt. As Maya is about to leave town for good, Rick tells her wants to be with her and she thanks him for defending her against Bill. After Rick is ousted as CEO by Ridge and his children, the public outcry for Maya's return leads to them both returning to the company. Maya is very uneasy when her parents, Vivienne (Anna Maria Horsford) and Julius (Obba Babatundé) come to rescue Nicole from Maya's influence. Maya becomes the central figure of the company's California Freedom line and Rick proposes to her during the fashion show and she happily accepts. On her wedding day, Maya is devastated when she overhears Julius referring to the event as a "freak show" and Maya has second thoughts. But Nicole convinces her to enjoy her day despite Julius. Maya confronts Julius at the altar and when he admits he has not accepted Maya's transition, she ask him to leave while Vivienne stays behind. Maya and Rick are happily married on August 12, 2015. After their honeymoon, Rick and Maya settle into married life and confides in him that she's ready to start a family. Instead of adoption, Maya asks Nicole to be their surrogate so the child will be both a Forrester and an Avant. The couple are ecstatic when Nicole agrees to the surrogacy but Julius and Vivienne disapprove, fearing it will ruin Nicole's budding romance with Rick's nephew, Zende Forrester (Rome Flynn).

In 2016, Maya and Rick leave the Forrester mansion after Ridge removes Maya's portrait. Meanwhile, Maya comes to Nicole's defense after she splits with Zende who struggles to accept the pregnancy. Maya and Rick later set out to dig up dirt on Ridge as leverage. Nicole has the baby and Rick and Maya decide to name her Elizabeth "Lizzy" Nicole Forrester, after Rick's maternal grandmother, Beth Logan, and her middle name being Nicole. In 2018, however, Rick and Maya divorce, obtaining joint custody of Lizzie.