I’m a Celeb’s Maria Thattil to make Mardi Gras debut after coming out as bisexual

Former Miss Universe Australia Maria Thattil is set to make her Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras debut after revealing her bisexuality to the nation on I’m A Celeb.

Former Miss Universe Australia Maria Thattil is feeling a lot of emotions after coming out. Overwhelmingly though, the 28-year-old says she feels free.

“I feel happy … the best way to describe it is I feel light and free,” the former I’m A Celebrity … Get Me Out Of Here! contestant told The Daily Telegraph.

“I carried a lot of internalised shame; I was worried people would find out and I was worried what they were going to say. So in coming out, it is a wonderful thing to be able to say I am living my life with pride as opposed to living with shame. That shame has gone.”

Maria Thattil wearing House of Priscilla, one of Sydney’s most popular costume stores in preparations for this year’s Mardi Gras. Picture: Toby Zerna

Thattil will next month headline the Olay float as part of Sydney’s annual Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras celebrations at the Sydney Cricket Ground. She came out as bisexual while competing on I’m A Celebrity last month.

“I was so consumed by anxiety in the lead up to that moment that my head was in worry mode but when it came out and I saw the tangible impact, I realised it is a beautiful thing to celebrate owning all parts of yourself,” she said. “In doing that, you give other people permission to do the same thing.”

Thattil came out while competing on reality TV series I'm A Celebrity ... Get Me Out Of Here! Picture: Ten

March 5 will mark the first time Thattil has participated in a Mardi Gras Parade with the festival kicking off on Sunday with Fair Day at Victoria Park. She will be marching with her brother, Dom.

“I wear high heels for a living so the last thing on my mind will be sore feet,” she said, supporting the Minus18 charity.

The model represented Australia in the 2020 Miss Universe competition. Picture: Alex Coppel

“I will be walking to help destigmatise LGBTIA+ issues and experiences. Mardi Gras is about flying through life with pride and I feel like I have the opportunity to do that very visibly. If I learnt anything on I’m A Celebrity, it is that visibility and representation is so important so I feel very honoured; it is a beautiful thing to be a part of.”

Thattil said the response to her coming out had largely been positive.

“You get online trolls but I don’t pay any mind to it,” she said. “I grew up hearing it and if that didn’t break me, then a couple of online trolls won’t. I was able to grow up and grow beyond these different social constructs and be true to myself.”