Miss Universe Australia wears her new crown with pride
Melbourne’s Maria Thattil has finally been crowned Miss Universe Australia but she says she has only now made peace with her identity after struggling with racism and bullying.
Fiona Byrne
Don't miss out on the headlines from Fiona Byrne. Followed categories will be added to My News.
Melbourne’s Maria Thattil has finally been crowned Miss Universe Australia.
Thattil was announced as the winner on Wednesday, but her crown only arrived from Perth on Saturday.
“It finally feels real now,” she said as she held the crown, created by Stelios Jewellers in collaboration with Indigenous artist Justin Martin.
A model and content creator, Thattil, 27, also works in the Victorian government’s Department of Transport.
Her parents settled in Australia from India before she was born.
Thattil revealed she had experienced racism and bullying during her school years.
“I was born and raised in Melbourne but I think over the course of my life I grew up where maybe people had Anglo-Celtic perceptions of what Australia is,” she said.
“l was a bit different and as a result I did feel othered. I felt othered in a way that I was not Indian enough to be Indian, but I did not feel Australian enough to be Australian, so I was a bit of a hybrid in-betweener.
“As I have got older I feel I have really reclaimed my identity.”
Thattil said her title win showed the power of belief.
“There are no limitations. No matter what you are facing if you believe in yourself you can do it,” she said.
HAIR TODAY GONE TOMORROW FOR MOLLOY AFTER GF