‘My cultural identity has always been a point of contention’: Miss Universe Australia Maria Thattil addresses her critics who say she isn’t ‘Australian enough’ – and hopes her presence at the pageant will ‘shatter glass ceilings’
Indian-Australian beauty Maria Thattil will represent Australia at the 69th Miss Universe competition in Florida, in the United States on Monday.
In an impassioned column for The Daily Telegraph’s Stellar magazine this weekend, the daughter of immigrants, who was born and raised in Melbourne, addressed her critics who say she isn’t ‘Australian enough’ to represent.
With her cultural identity having ‘always been a point of contention’, the 28-year-old hopes her presence in the arena on Monday will ‘shatter glass ceilings’.
‘My cultural identity has always been a point of contention’: Miss Universe Australia Maria Thattil (pictured) has addressed her critics who say she isn’t ‘Australian enough’ to represent at the pageant on Monday, in an impassioned column for The Daily Telegraph’s Stellar magazine
‘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,’ she said.
Maria revealed how she was often subjected to cruel jokes and racial stereotypes growing up, and admitted to trying to hide her ethnicity in her teens and early 20s.
‘I wore foundation three shades too light and green contacts to appear more Caucasian, and I laughed along to racist jokes,’ she said.
Candid: The daughter of immigrants, who was born and raised in Melbourne, said that growing up she never felt ‘Indian enough to be Indian, or Australian enough to be Australian’
Fitting in: Maria, 28, revealed how she was often subjected to cruel jokes and racial stereotypes growing up, and admitted to trying to hide her ethnicity in her teens and early 20s
Now set to represent Australia at the Miss Universe competition on Monday, Maria is determined to use her platform to combat injustice.
‘My voice will amplify those who haven’t been heard and I hope my presence in this arena will shatter glass ceilings,’ she penned.
Maria previously told Beauty Crew that she was inspired to apply for the Miss Universe Australia pageant because of the 2019 winner, Priya Serraeo.
Determined: Now set to represent Australia at the Miss Universe competition on Monday, Maria is determined to use her platform to combat injustice. Pictured at the preliminary competition in Florida, in the United States this month
‘Seeing her do it, that’s when I realised there is no mould,’ she said.
Maria went on to say: ‘My message is all about inclusivity, and inclusivity means equality.
‘I’m championing a world where people can be themselves, irrespective of markers of their social identity that they have been told is a deficit, whether it’s sexuality, faith, their job, their socioeconomic status, their gender.’
The 69th Miss Universe competition will take place in the U.S. on Monday
Message: ‘My voice will amplify those who haven’t been heard and I hope my presence in this arena will shatter glass ceilings,’ she said. Pictured at the national costume show this month