2021 Miss Australia Maria Thattil fires back at her critics

In the final days before the 2021 Miss Universe Competition, Indian-Australian beauty queen Maria Thattil sends an important message to those who think she is not “Australian enough” to represent them.

As a daughter of immigrants, born and raised in Melbourne, my cultural identity has always been a point of contention. I was nurtured by a society enriched by the social cohesion that comes with immigration, and on Sunday I’ll represent one of the most multicultural societies in the world on the global stage – with an estimated 500 million eyes on me.

For the 69th Miss Universe Competition, I am Australia. However, like many “third culture” kids, I used to feel like an awkward in-betweener – never feeling Indian enough to be Indian, or Australian enough to be Australian.

“I was subject to cruel jokes with the reinforcement of racial stereotypes.” (Picture: Supplied)

Growing up, I’d search for myself in books, television, magazines and decision-making spheres, but I was nowhere to be found – and with the most prominent South Asian on screens being Apu from The Simpsons, I was subject to cruel jokes with the reinforcement of racial stereotypes.

It conditioned me to believe that being seen as a valued Australian meant adopting Anglo-Celtic standards. So in my teens and early 20s I denounced my ethnicity to fit in. I wore foundation three shades too light and green contacts to appear more Caucasian, and I laughed along to racist jokes.

Miss Universe Australia Maria Thattil in her national costume. (Picture: Ben Adams)

I was hyper aware of the fact that people viewed me through a lens of race. After all, my race was the reason my first crush at six years old said he couldn’t like me because my “skin was dirty”, the catalyst for strangers hurling verbal abuse at my brother to “go back to where you came from”, and the source of all those “where are you really from?” conversations.

Now, despite being selected as the national representative for Australia, in some people’s eyes I’m still not “Australian enough” to represent them.

While manifestations of systemic racism can be overt, they are also sometimes unintentional. But these constant subtle slights, comments and behaviours are often what cause the most damage.

In my mid-20s, I finally realised that it wasn’t my race that was the “deficit”, it was the division in society fuelled by hate. I unlearnt the self-rejection and chose a lens of compassion so that I could champion differences with resilience.

“In some people’s eyes I’m still not ‘Australian enough’ to represent them.” (Picture: Rob Leeson)

When I became Miss Universe Australia, I committed to use the representation it affords to combat injustice. After a tumultuous year defined by COVID-19, civil-rights movements and natural disasters, I don’t take the responsibility lightly. Because indifference, complacency and ignorance are directly in conflict with unity.

Being a delegate for Australia is significant because I represent a nation that actually reflects the world we live in.

I’ll walk the global stage highly aware that I’m not only challenging antiquated ideas about women, but also about people of colour – and Miss Universe, itself. My voice will amplify those who haven’t been heard and I hope my presence in this arena will shatter glass ceilings.

Australia needs to embrace our First Nations people and our citizens from all ethnicities.

Maria Thattil features in this Sunday’s Stellar.

We need to continue embracing people irrespective of markers of their social identity. The Australia that I represent is a place where our belonging and worth isn’t dictated by factors that are skin-deep. Whatever happens on that stage, being Miss Universe Australia is an honour and a privilege that I’ll carry with pride.

I am, you are, we are OUR Australia.

Maria Thattil is the current Miss Universe Australia and will compete in the US at the international pageant on Monday (AEST).

Originally published as 2021 Miss Australia Maria Thattil fires back at her critics