Miss Universe Australia Maria Thattil and brother Dom leading model search

Maria Thattil and her younger brother are proud queer, ‘child free’, South Asian models who say the industry has room for all Australians.

Former Miss Universe Australia and author Maria Thatil and her brother Dom Thatil are ambassadors for the Bella Unsigned Model Search 2023. Picture: Supplied.

Former Miss Universe Australia Maria Thattil, 30, has always encouraged her younger brother Dom, 27, to follow in her boundary-pushing, stiletto-heeled footsteps.

The Australian models are proudly queer, the children of South Asian immigrants, and “kicking goals” in all aspects of life.

They want other kids like them to do the same.

In March, Maria’s candid TikTok about a homophobic physical attack on her brother during Sydney WorldPride went viral.

The media personality said “a group of guys” had taken turns spitting on Dom and his partner, making “gagging” sounds at them.

Former Miss Universe Australia and author Maria Thatil and her brother Dom Thatil are ambassadors for the Bella Unsigned Model Search 2023. Pic Supplied.

She said no one stood up for them despite the presence of a large crowd and ubiquitous rainbow flags, and that the incident was a reminder of Mardi Gras’ origins.

“You handled it with such grace,” Maria said to Dom in a conversation with The Daily Telegraph.

Author and media personality Maria Thattil. Picture: Supplied.

Dom: “The most important takeaway for me was that only by speaking publicly did so many others come forward. We got a flood of messages from queer people who’d been abused in the streets.”

@triplejradio when @mariathattil left the #mardigras parade, her night took an unexpected turn. warning: this video contains descriptions of homophobic violence, which may cause distress to some viewers. #sydneyworldpride♬ original sound - triple j

The Thattils, who are fronting the 2023 Bella Management and DB Cosmetics Unsigned Model Search, say representation, diversity and inclusion are more than ‘buzzwords’.

“Coming from being immigrant kids in a white beauty standard kind of country, it’s surreal that Maria and I get to be ambassadors for a model search,” Dom said.

Maria and Dom Thattil. Picture: Supplied.

For the first time in its five-year history, the Search is moving away from Melbourne Fashion Week, instead hosting open castings in Sydney and Melbourne.

People over the age of 18 of all sizes, identification, ethnicity and ability are encouraged to apply from today, with six winners to be named as the new faces of DB in the cosmetic company’s September rebrand.

“I’m looking forward to meeting people who felt like maybe they couldn’t model but now they can, and say I deserve to be here,” Maria added.

“People who are ready to be the representation that they want to see.”

The modelling industry in Australia should reflect what Australians actually look like, say the Thattil siblings. Picture: Supplied.

The Unbounded author had never modelled prior to becoming Miss Universe, saying “it wasn’t a thing,” in their family.

“Our mother is a very fashionable woman,” Dom said.

“Whenever she’d go out, it would always be in an epic outfit, either to the shops or a family event and it did inspire us.”

Dom came out as gay at 19, with Maria coming out as pansexual on national television in 2022.

“Not only were people not queer in our family, people didn’t even know that you could be queer because we came from a very conservative religious ethnic background,” he continued.

“When I came out, I’d reached a boiling point of wanting to love who I loved, and even if my family had something to say about it, it wasn’t going to stop me.

“My parents thankfully made the effort to unlearn a lot. As long as you’re not hurting anybody else, you should be able to love whoever you want.”