One rule that former Miss Universe swears by

A former Miss Universe Australia winner has revealed the one rule she lives by that helps her feel more confident.

A former Miss Universe Australia winner has revealed the one rule she lives by when it comes to feeling more confident in herself.

Maria Thattil, who won the pageant in 2020, was recently revealed to be the face of the Myer 2025 Spring and Summer season.

It almost feels like a homecoming for the 31-year-old who just under 10 years ago started working on the beauty floor of the department store as a makeup artist.

“I feel like this is definitely something I’ve wanted to manifest since I’ve come into public consciousness,” she said.

“I remember at the time when I got a job in the Myer store, I thought it was the epitome of everything. I was so proud and excited then and to now be in this whole new career as of the last three years and to reconnect with Myer is just so special.”

Maria Thattil, who won the pageant in 2020, was recently revealed to be the face of the Myer 2025 Spring and Summer season. Picture: Supplied

The Neighbours actress said Myer has always been quintessentially Australian, shaping what Australian fashion and beauty looks like, and she was proud to be included in that as it would change how some Australians see themselves.

Thattil recently spent a week in hospital with a serious case of gastroenteritis that left her in incredible pain and unable to sleep — something that can completely derail how you look and feel about yourself.

However, she said she lives by one rule to try and get herself feeling confident, cute and sexy after a health blip like that.

“I’ve always had this rule for myself, I call it my Emily In Paris rule,” Thattil said, referring to the popular Netflix series starring Lily Collins.

“For me, it just means that I like to dress up for my day. You know how Emily has just got these incredible outfits that she always wears to work, to the office, here and there? I have this philosophy and my style ethos is I like to dress up for the life I want to have.

She said she is opting for more androgynous looks. Picture: Supplied

“And for me, that means showing up in pieces that make me feel cute and confident. Your life is worth dressing up for. You are worth dressing up for. You don’t need an occasion.”

She said that has really helped since she was discharged from hospital.

Thattil said the Spring and Summer season will feature a lot of denim and more preppy looks that can be tailored to individual style.

“I’m partial to preppy looked but my style has evolved to become a little bit more androgynous, so I like having a tomboy edge while still enjoying super feminine silhouettes,” she said.

“I love my Calvin Klein knickers and some really baggy jeans and while they’re a little more tomboy I find I feel most confident in something like that.”

She said she also loves brands such as Tommy Hilfiger and Ralph Lauren.

She lives by the Emily In Paris rule. Picture: Supplied

It’s been a huge year for Thattil, with not only the announcement of being the face of the new Myer campaign but also appearing on soap opera Neighbours, playing Amira Devkar.

However, there have also been more raw moments for Thattil, such as being part of the Witchery White Shirt campaign that raises money for the Ovarian Cancer Research Foundation.

“I only recently learnt that I could carry the [ovarian cancer] gene and that’s terrifying. My great-grandmother passed away from [it] and my grandmother had a rare gynaecological cancer. It’s crazy that of those who get it, only 49 per cent survive. It’s the most lethal of all the reproductive cancers and yet it’s one of the most overlooked,” she told Body and Soul in April.

She said it’s so important to stay on top of reproductive health and stay on top of testing.