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04/07/2021
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By Mikele Syron| July 4, 2021
She might be petite at 160cm, but when Maria Thattil speaks, she does so as a fearless leader.
Devoted to her trailblazing mission of redefining beauty standards, last year's Miss Australia is living proof beauty is anything but skin-deep.
The notion that you can't be what you can't see is an age-old axiom, but it is one that resonates with Maria — and it was at the forefront of her mind when she applied for the Miss Universe pageant in 2019.
Maria Thattil became Miss Universe Australia last year, and will hold the title for 2021 before passing it on. (Supplied)
It's a decision that has changed her life, and the nation's perception of beauty queens, for good.
As she prepares to pass the title to the next Miss Universe Australia winner in November, after placing in the top 10 globally, Maria has revealed what her plans for life post-pageant entail exclusively to 9Honey.
"When applying, I was inspired by representation and challenging the norm. I knew that by participating, I would be challenging the ideas of the Australian national identity and what people think about beauty queens in terms of intelligence, capability and values," she says.
And for Maria, who has amassed a large following on social media, where she is vocal about a broad range of social and political issues, it is a goal she has undoubtedly achieved.
Maria Thattil recently made waves on social media for using her platform to call out catcalling, reinforcing that it is not a compliment and contributes to women feeling unsafe in the street. (Instagram)
Having just returned from competing in the 69th Miss Universe competition in Florida, USA in May, Maria revolutionised what it means to be a Miss Universe contestant and challenged the norms around the accepted Australian identity.
The second-generation Australian with Indian heritage looked like she was born for the spotlight as she took to the runway alongside 73 of the world's most stunning women.
"Being an Australian has nothing to do with the colour of your skin… It's your values."
"I was willing to take risks the whole way, to do what it took to get my messages as far and wide as possible," Maria says.
And spread a message she did, with her on-stage rhetoric roaring: I have arrived, and I am here to stay.
On her role as a revolutionary
Maria says claiming her space in the room is something she was forced to learn at a young age, as the daughter of immigrants existing in a vastly Anglo-Saxon society.
As only the third woman of colour to represent Australia in what has long been considered an out-of-date beauty pageant, Maria has reclaimed the title to propel her message of inclusivity and diversity in the public sphere.
But it wasn't always that way.
Before entering the beauty contest, Maria tells 9Honey she had been "conditioned to think small and play it safe."
"I had just come out of a long-term relationship, I'd moved back home to be with my family and wasn't sure of my job. Before Miss Universe, I was at a crossroads," she says.
"But being an Australian has nothing to do with the colour of your skin… It's your values."
Maria Thattil is driven by the message of inclusivity and diversity in the public sphere. (Instagram)
Now, she acknowledges the weight of the Miss Australia title comes with a lot of responsibility, but she says it is her motivator.
On what's next
"I've laid a really good foundation in forging a career based on my values, beliefs," Maria tells 9Honey.
While she is set to hand over the crown in November, she assures us the public should not expect to see any less of her.
With plans to launch into a dynamic and purpose-driven career that involves writing, podcasting and public speaking, she has no intention to slow down.
"I am currently pursuing the publication of a children's book and would like to publish a few books that include really important undertones of political messages," Maria says.
"I'd like to write about challenging the status quo, breaking barriers, finding your voice and unlearning, reprogramming minds. I want to tell them to love themselves, embrace their differences and champion what they believe.
"I'm also working on a podcast. Long-term, my goal is to have my own show, but I'd love to start with a podcast that is a warm, safe space that we just talk about everything."
As a new cohort of Miss Universe contestants battle it out to secure the crown, Maria has high hopes for her successor.
"I'm proud to have set the bar high," she says.
"I really do think that I was able to take the opportunity and challenge ideas about what it is, I really made it my own. I hope the next girl does the same."
Maria Thattil on stage at the Miss Universe 2021 pageant in Florida earlier this year. (Getty)
On life as a beauty queen and finding love post-pageant
Usually coy on her love life, Maria tells 9Honey she is finally back in the market for 'Mr Right'.
"Now that the process is over, I'm really excited to slow down and make my wellbeing a priority. After prioritising myself and the Miss Universe process, I'm excited to finally open myself up to dating," she says.
But her bar remains high, and the beauty queen says she isn't settling for anything less than her perfect Prince Charming.
"There are certainly some qualities that would need to be there for me to consider someone as a potential partner," she says.
"I want someone who is family-oriented, passionate about life and is conscious and cares about other people, and [has] a good sense of humour... someone who can make the mundane things fun."
When asked about the dynamic between the competing women behind-the-scenes, Maria acknowledges perceptions of the beauty pageant world are skewed by widespread misconceptions.
Praising her competitors, Maria says the sisterhood forged between women from across the globe was one of the competition's greatest takeaways.
"It never felt like the girls were my competition. In the lead-up, everyone was asking me how I was going to knock out the competition, but it's not about that," she adds.
"You don't win if you do it at the expense of someone else or step on someone else along the way."
Similarly, she acknowledges the support she received back home, which carried her through the dark days and high pressure of competing on one of the world's biggest stages.
"I felt such a sense of national pride," Maria says.
"People were telling me that for the first time in a long time, they've never felt so proud to be Australian, I felt loved and supported, I was 'our Aussie girl,' and it was wonderful."
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