{"id":31352,"date":"2023-06-23T07:00:41","date_gmt":"2023-06-23T01:30:41","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.globalindian.com\/youth\/\/?post_type=story&#038;p=31352"},"modified":"2024-09-27T15:17:12","modified_gmt":"2024-09-27T09:47:12","slug":"maria-thattil-indian-beauty-queen-australias-boldest-voice","status":"publish","type":"story","link":"https:\/\/old.globalindian.com\/youth\/story\/cover-story\/maria-thattil-indian-beauty-queen-australias-boldest-voice\/","title":{"rendered":"Maria Thattil: The Indian-origin beauty queen who is one of Australia\u2019s boldest voices"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><span data-contrast=\"auto\"><strong>(June 23, 2023) <\/strong>In 2020, Indian-origin Maria Thattil captivated the world by becoming Miss Universe Australia, one of very few ladies of colour to achieve this feat. Since then, she has fervently utilized her platform to advocate for empowerment, inclusion, and equality. A prominent South-Asian Australian media personality, writer, speaker, and founder of the Mind with Me podcast series, she is considered one of Australia\u2019s boldest voices.\u00a0<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;201341983&quot;:0,&quot;335559739&quot;:160,&quot;335559740&quot;:240}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span data-contrast=\"auto\">Identifying as queer, the former beauty queen from an immigrant background, intimately understands the challenges of grappling with a sense of belonging.\u00a0<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;201341983&quot;:0,&quot;335559739&quot;:160,&quot;335559740&quot;:240}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span data-contrast=\"auto\">Recently, Maria launched her book <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.penguin.com.au\/books\/unbounded-9780143777847\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><i><span data-contrast=\"auto\">Unbounded <\/span><\/i><\/a><span data-contrast=\"auto\">which is a memoir and self-help guide combined. She courageously shares her personal journey, narrating poignant stories of resilience in the face of racism, sexism, financial hardships, intergenerational trauma, homophobia, and mental health struggles. Throughout the narrative of her experiences, Maria has steadfastly clung to hope, nurturing the belief that trials can be transformed into sources of strength and positive influence.<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;201341983&quot;:0,&quot;335559739&quot;:160,&quot;335559740&quot;:240}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<div id=\"attachment_31356\" style=\"width: 385px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-31356\" class=\"wp-image-31356 size-full lazyload\" data-src=\"https:\/\/www.globalindian.com\/youth\/\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/06\/M.jpg\" alt=\"Indian youth | Maria Thattil | Global Indian \" width=\"375\" height=\"447\" data-srcset=\"https:\/\/old.globalindian.com\/youth\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/06\/M.jpg 375w, https:\/\/old.globalindian.com\/youth\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/06\/M-252x300.jpg 252w\" data-sizes=\"(max-width: 375px) 100vw, 375px\" src=\"data:image\/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAAAAACH5BAEKAAEALAAAAAABAAEAAAICTAEAOw==\" style=\"--smush-placeholder-width: 375px; --smush-placeholder-aspect-ratio: 375\/447;\" \/><noscript><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-31356\" class=\"wp-image-31356 size-full\" src=\"https:\/\/www.globalindian.com\/youth\/\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/06\/M.jpg\" alt=\"Indian youth | Maria Thattil | Global Indian \" width=\"375\" height=\"447\" srcset=\"https:\/\/old.globalindian.com\/youth\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/06\/M.jpg 375w, https:\/\/old.globalindian.com\/youth\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/06\/M-252x300.jpg 252w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 375px) 100vw, 375px\" \/><\/noscript><p id=\"caption-attachment-31356\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Maria Thattil<\/p><\/div>\n<p><span data-contrast=\"auto\">Full of excitement amidst an enthusiastic audience at her book launch she<a href=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=kZ1domHHoF0\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"> said<\/a>, \u201cLife is more than what we know. It is what our imagination can conceive. I cannot wait for <\/span><i><span data-contrast=\"auto\">\u2018Unbounded\u2019 <\/span><\/i><span data-contrast=\"auto\">to be out in the world because it\u2019s going to inspire everyone to live up to all that they are.\u201d\u00a0<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;201341983&quot;:0,&quot;335559739&quot;:160,&quot;335559740&quot;:240}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<h2><b><span data-contrast=\"auto\">Amplifying underrepresented voices<\/span><\/b><\/h2>\n<p><span data-contrast=\"auto\">Maria, who has devoted her career to advocating for societal change and amplifying underrepresented voices, draws upon her educational background in psychology and management, as well as her training in neuro-coaching to come up with her debut book.\u00a0<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;201341983&quot;:0,&quot;335559739&quot;:160,&quot;335559740&quot;:240}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span data-contrast=\"auto\">She has presented a transformative path highlighting active personal growth, unwavering self-love, and liberation. Through her words of wisdom as an author she has attempted to empower readers to embrace fearlessness and embark on a journey of self-discovery to create positive change in their lives and communities. \u201cIt\u2019s so much of my personal story but it\u2019s more than that. It\u2019s an active guide for people to learn how to manifest a life beyond limits. It\u2019s a call to action,\u201d the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.globalindian.com\/youth\/\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><em>Global Indian<\/em><\/a> said in an interview with an Australian TV channel after the launch of her book. The chapter titles are all verbs, meant to encourage people to take action to change their lives for the better.<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;201341983&quot;:0,&quot;335559739&quot;:160,&quot;335559740&quot;:240}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<h4><b><span data-contrast=\"auto\">The third-culture kid<\/span><\/b><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;201341983&quot;:0,&quot;335559739&quot;:160,&quot;335559740&quot;:240}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/h4>\n<p><span data-contrast=\"auto\">The youngster calls herself \u2018the third culture kid\u2019 &#8211; <\/span><span data-contrast=\"auto\">influenced by Indian roots in a western society. \u201cI belong here and at the same time, I strongly resonate with my Indian roots. I have found a balance between the two. It is not either-or for me. This is who I am and it is unique,\u201d she had <a href=\"https:\/\/thecarousel.com\/world\/maria-thattil-on-her-struggle-to-fit-in-it-was-easier-to-blame-my-parents\/#:~:text=I%20had%20an%20experience%20at,which%20makes%20me%20feel%20sad\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">said<\/a> in an interview after being crowned Miss Universe Australia 2020.\u00a0<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;201341983&quot;:0,&quot;335559739&quot;:160,&quot;335559740&quot;:240}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<div id=\"attachment_31357\" style=\"width: 427px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-31357\" class=\"wp-image-31357 size-full lazyload\" data-src=\"https:\/\/www.globalindian.com\/youth\/\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/06\/Capture-2.jpg\" alt=\"Indian youth | Maria Thattil | Global Indian \" width=\"417\" height=\"398\" data-srcset=\"https:\/\/old.globalindian.com\/youth\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/06\/Capture-2.jpg 417w, https:\/\/old.globalindian.com\/youth\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/06\/Capture-2-300x286.jpg 300w\" data-sizes=\"(max-width: 417px) 100vw, 417px\" src=\"data:image\/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAAAAACH5BAEKAAEALAAAAAABAAEAAAICTAEAOw==\" style=\"--smush-placeholder-width: 417px; --smush-placeholder-aspect-ratio: 417\/398;\" \/><noscript><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-31357\" class=\"wp-image-31357 size-full\" src=\"https:\/\/www.globalindian.com\/youth\/\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/06\/Capture-2.jpg\" alt=\"Indian youth | Maria Thattil | Global Indian \" width=\"417\" height=\"398\" srcset=\"https:\/\/old.globalindian.com\/youth\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/06\/Capture-2.jpg 417w, https:\/\/old.globalindian.com\/youth\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/06\/Capture-2-300x286.jpg 300w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 417px) 100vw, 417px\" \/><\/noscript><p id=\"caption-attachment-31357\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Maria with her family when she was small<\/p><\/div>\n<h4><b><span data-contrast=\"auto\">The Indian lineage\u00a0<\/span><\/b><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;201341983&quot;:0,&quot;335559739&quot;:160,&quot;335559740&quot;:240}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/h4>\n<p><span data-contrast=\"auto\">Maria\u2019s<\/span><span data-contrast=\"auto\"> parents had migrated from India to Australia in the early 90s. She was born there, in Melbourne. While her father is from Kochi, Kerala, her mom is from Kolkata, West Bengal. When she migrated, her entire family migrated with her. This gave an opportunity to Maria and her brother to grow up with a large family of uncles, aunts and cousins, spending all their weekends together, getting a good taste of a typical Indian set-up.<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;201341983&quot;:0,&quot;335559739&quot;:160,&quot;335559740&quot;:240}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span data-contrast=\"auto\">Maria remains connected to India as her father\u2019s family still stays in Kerala. They have travelled to India to meet the family.<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;201341983&quot;:0,&quot;335559739&quot;:0,&quot;335559740&quot;:240}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<h4><b><span data-contrast=\"auto\">The mental health crisis\u00a0<\/span><\/b><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;201341983&quot;:0,&quot;335559739&quot;:0,&quot;335559740&quot;:240}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/h4>\n<p><span data-contrast=\"auto\">Growing up, she felt a strong need to fit in with her peers at school. It took Maria some time to accept her identity.\u00a0\u201cI went through a phase during my teenage and early 20s, where I tried hard to mask elements from my culture to fit in,&#8221; she said.\u00a0 It was the time when she went through a mental health crisis. As a shy, introverted kid, she experienced frustrations about feeling that she\u00a0didn\u2019t belong. Racism and bullying at school were difficult to handle.<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;134233117&quot;:false,&quot;134233118&quot;:false,&quot;201341983&quot;:0,&quot;335559738&quot;:0,&quot;335559739&quot;:225,&quot;335559740&quot;:240}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span data-contrast=\"auto\">She struggled with a sense of pain and anger, and projected it onto her parents which now makes her feel sad. Giving an account of this heart-breaking phase of her life in the book was the most painful part of writing. \u201cAs a child, I felt it was easier to blame my parents than face up to the bigger picture,\u201d she said.<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;201341983&quot;:0,&quot;335559739&quot;:225,&quot;335559740&quot;:240}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span data-contrast=\"auto\">However, as she grew up Maria realised that to feel happy it\u2019s better to focus on who she really was. \u201cI started to just be who I am \u2014 an Indian-Australian girl whose culture is a blend of both eastern and western ideals,\u201d she shared<\/span><i><span data-contrast=\"auto\">.<\/span><\/i><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;134233117&quot;:false,&quot;134233118&quot;:false,&quot;201341983&quot;:0,&quot;335559738&quot;:0,&quot;335559739&quot;:0,&quot;335559740&quot;:240}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<div id=\"attachment_31358\" style=\"width: 388px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-31358\" class=\"wp-image-31358 lazyload\" data-src=\"https:\/\/www.globalindian.com\/youth\/\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/06\/Maria-Thatill-with-her-boook-Unbounded.jpg\" alt=\"Indian youth | Maria Thattil | Global Indian \" width=\"378\" height=\"454\" data-srcset=\"https:\/\/old.globalindian.com\/youth\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/06\/Maria-Thatill-with-her-boook-Unbounded.jpg 298w, https:\/\/old.globalindian.com\/youth\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/06\/Maria-Thatill-with-her-boook-Unbounded-250x300.jpg 250w\" data-sizes=\"(max-width: 378px) 100vw, 378px\" src=\"data:image\/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAAAAACH5BAEKAAEALAAAAAABAAEAAAICTAEAOw==\" style=\"--smush-placeholder-width: 378px; --smush-placeholder-aspect-ratio: 378\/454;\" \/><noscript><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-31358\" class=\"wp-image-31358 \" src=\"https:\/\/www.globalindian.com\/youth\/\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/06\/Maria-Thatill-with-her-boook-Unbounded.jpg\" alt=\"Indian youth | Maria Thattil | Global Indian \" width=\"378\" height=\"454\" srcset=\"https:\/\/old.globalindian.com\/youth\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/06\/Maria-Thatill-with-her-boook-Unbounded.jpg 298w, https:\/\/old.globalindian.com\/youth\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/06\/Maria-Thatill-with-her-boook-Unbounded-250x300.jpg 250w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 378px) 100vw, 378px\" \/><\/noscript><p id=\"caption-attachment-31358\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Maria Thatill with her debut book &#8211; Unbounded<\/p><\/div>\n<p><span data-contrast=\"auto\">Another painful experience while writing her debut book was reliving the financial insecurity that the family faced while Maria was growing up. Before coming up with the final version of the book, she showed it to her parents asking them whether they would like to omit anything.\u00a0<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;134233117&quot;:false,&quot;134233118&quot;:false,&quot;201341983&quot;:0,&quot;335559738&quot;:0,&quot;335559739&quot;:0,&quot;335559740&quot;:240}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span data-contrast=\"auto\">They were encouraging enough to allow her present the facts as they were. \u201cThere are going to be families who have experienced what we have and kids who lived and walked in your shoes. If they can pick up the book and realise that such a situation is not permanent and doesn\u2019t define the rest of their lives, then put it out there,\u201d her parents <a href=\"https:\/\/saaricollective.com.au\/culture\/blog\/maria-thattil-unbounded-how-the-former-miss-universe-australia-became-her-best-self\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">said<\/a>.<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;134233117&quot;:false,&quot;134233118&quot;:false,&quot;201341983&quot;:0,&quot;335559738&quot;:0,&quot;335559739&quot;:0,&quot;335559740&quot;:240}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<h4><b><span data-contrast=\"auto\">The queer identity<\/span><\/b><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;134233117&quot;:false,&quot;134233118&quot;:false,&quot;201341983&quot;:0,&quot;335559738&quot;:0,&quot;335559739&quot;:0,&quot;335559740&quot;:240}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/h4>\n<p><span data-contrast=\"auto\">In a chapter titled \u2018Shed\u2019, Maria talks about shedding the beliefs that didn\u2019t serve her. Coming out as bisexual to traditional Indian parents was not easy for her. It was challenging to explain them who she was.\u00a0<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;134233117&quot;:false,&quot;134233118&quot;:false,&quot;201341983&quot;:0,&quot;335559738&quot;:0,&quot;335559739&quot;:0,&quot;335559740&quot;:240}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span data-contrast=\"auto\">\u201cI didn\u2019t expect them to understand everything initially as they are from a totally different generation and cultural context. However, they have come a long way and are proud of me and my brother who identifies as gay,\u201d said Maria. She is also the <\/span><span data-contrast=\"auto\">Olay ambassador for their \u2018Glow Your Own way\u2019 campaign which touches on LGBTQIA+ themes.<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;134233117&quot;:false,&quot;134233118&quot;:true,&quot;201341983&quot;:0,&quot;335559738&quot;:0,&quot;335559740&quot;:240}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<div id=\"attachment_31360\" style=\"width: 445px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-31360\" class=\"wp-image-31360 lazyload\" data-src=\"https:\/\/www.globalindian.com\/youth\/\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/06\/queer-266x300.jpg\" alt=\"Indian youth | Maria Thattil | Global Indian \" width=\"435\" height=\"491\" src=\"data:image\/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAAAAACH5BAEKAAEALAAAAAABAAEAAAICTAEAOw==\" style=\"--smush-placeholder-width: 435px; --smush-placeholder-aspect-ratio: 435\/491;\" \/><noscript><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-31360\" class=\"wp-image-31360\" src=\"https:\/\/www.globalindian.com\/youth\/\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/06\/queer-266x300.jpg\" alt=\"Indian youth | Maria Thattil | Global Indian \" width=\"435\" height=\"491\" \/><\/noscript><p id=\"caption-attachment-31360\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Maria honours key dates in history that have progressed LGBTQIA+ rights<\/p><\/div>\n<h4><b><span data-contrast=\"auto\">Advocate of diversity and inclusion<\/span><\/b><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;201341983&quot;:0,&quot;335559739&quot;:0,&quot;335559740&quot;:240}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/h4>\n<p><span data-contrast=\"auto\">At the time of winning the crown Maria worked as a talent acquisition professional armed with degrees in psychology and management. As part of the hiring team, she strongly advocated representation.<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;201341983&quot;:0,&quot;335559739&quot;:0,&quot;335559740&quot;:240}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span data-contrast=\"auto\">\u201cI have always championed inclusion and not just limited it to ethnicity but also sexuality, gender, and ability. I strongly believe representation matters. A society where every voice can thrive. We need to make space for people to express themselves irrespective of their background,\u201d she said an interview. After becoming Miss Universe Australia 2020, working on these causes became easier. She got the right platform to strongly voice her opinion and play a role in ushering change.<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;201341983&quot;:0,&quot;335559739&quot;:0,&quot;335559740&quot;:240}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span data-contrast=\"auto\">Today, Maria Thattil stands tall as a beacon of hope for the Indian diaspora, reminding that one\u2019s roots need not hinder the ability to soar to new heights. Through her relentless pursuit of excellence and her unwavering commitment to her community, she has become a source of inspiration, empowering a new generation to embrace their cultural heritage and conquer the world irrespective of their identity and unhappy experiences.<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;201341983&quot;:0,&quot;335559739&quot;:0,&quot;335559740&quot;:240}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<h4><b><span data-contrast=\"auto\">Life ahead <\/span><\/b><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;201341983&quot;:0,&quot;335559739&quot;:0,&quot;335559740&quot;:240}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/h4>\n<p><span data-contrast=\"auto\">Acting has been a passion of the Indian-origin youngster since childhood. Recently, she also tried her hand at acting, playing the role of Naomi in a web series titled, \u2018Let\u2019s Get Ducking Famous\u2019. It\u2019s the story of her character Naomi, her friend and their pet duck whom they are trying to make famous in social media. Having thoroughly enjoyed the experience, she is looking forward to do a film or a television show in the future.<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;201341983&quot;:0,&quot;335559739&quot;:0,&quot;335559740&quot;:240}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><strong>Follow Maria Thattil on<a href=\"https:\/\/www.instagram.com\/mariathattil\/?hl=en\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"> Instagram<\/a> and <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/mariathattil?lang=en\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Twitter\u00a0<\/a><\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>(June 23, 2023) In 2020, Indian-origin Maria Thattil captivated the world by becoming Miss Universe Australia, one of very few ladies of colour to achieve this feat. Since then, she has fervently utilized her platform to advocate for empowerment, inclusion, and equality. A prominent South-Asian Australian media personality, writer, speaker, and founder of the Mind with Me podcast series, she is considered one of Australia\u2019s boldest voices.\u00a0\u00a0 Identifying as queer, the former beauty queen from an immigrant background, intimately understands the challenges of grappling with a sense of belonging.\u00a0\u00a0 Recently, Maria launched her book Unbounded which is a memoir and [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":22,"featured_media":31353,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","template":"","story-category":[215,2252],"story-tag":[4481,1200,1068,4441,6055,4436,4435,4438,4887,4483,4440,4443,4482,6051,6056,6048,6049,6050,139,6053,4520,6052,4437,4439,6054],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO plugin v23.0 - https:\/\/yoast.com\/wordpress\/plugins\/seo\/ -->\n<title>Maria Thattil: The Indian beauty queen is Australia\u2019s boldest voice<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"Indian-origin Maria Thattil captivated the world by becoming Miss Universe Australia, one of very few ladies of colour to achieve this feat.\" \/>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/old.globalindian.com\/youth\/story\/cover-story\/maria-thattil-indian-beauty-queen-australias-boldest-voice\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"Maria Thattil: The Indian beauty queen is Australia\u2019s boldest voice\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"Indian-origin Maria Thattil captivated the world by becoming Miss Universe Australia, one of very few ladies of colour to achieve this feat.\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:url\" content=\"https:\/\/old.globalindian.com\/youth\/story\/cover-story\/maria-thattil-indian-beauty-queen-australias-boldest-voice\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:site_name\" content=\"Global Indian Youth\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:modified_time\" content=\"2024-09-27T09:47:12+00:00\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:image\" content=\"https:\/\/old.globalindian.com\/youth\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/06\/banner_maria-1.jpg\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:width\" content=\"1980\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:height\" content=\"640\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:type\" content=\"image\/jpeg\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:card\" content=\"summary_large_image\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:label1\" content=\"Est. reading time\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:data1\" content=\"7 minutes\" \/>\n<script type=\"application\/ld+json\" class=\"yoast-schema-graph\">{\"@context\":\"https:\/\/schema.org\",\"@graph\":[{\"@type\":\"WebPage\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/old.globalindian.com\/youth\/story\/cover-story\/maria-thattil-indian-beauty-queen-australias-boldest-voice\/\",\"url\":\"https:\/\/old.globalindian.com\/youth\/story\/cover-story\/maria-thattil-indian-beauty-queen-australias-boldest-voice\/\",\"name\":\"Maria Thattil: The Indian beauty queen is Australia\u2019s boldest voice\",\"isPartOf\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/old.globalindian.com\/youth\/#website\"},\"primaryImageOfPage\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/old.globalindian.com\/youth\/story\/cover-story\/maria-thattil-indian-beauty-queen-australias-boldest-voice\/#primaryimage\"},\"image\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/old.globalindian.com\/youth\/story\/cover-story\/maria-thattil-indian-beauty-queen-australias-boldest-voice\/#primaryimage\"},\"thumbnailUrl\":\"https:\/\/old.globalindian.com\/youth\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/06\/banner_maria-1.jpg\",\"datePublished\":\"2023-06-23T01:30:41+00:00\",\"dateModified\":\"2024-09-27T09:47:12+00:00\",\"description\":\"Indian-origin Maria Thattil captivated the world by becoming Miss Universe Australia, one of very few ladies of colour to achieve this feat.\",\"breadcrumb\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/old.globalindian.com\/youth\/story\/cover-story\/maria-thattil-indian-beauty-queen-australias-boldest-voice\/#breadcrumb\"},\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\",\"potentialAction\":[{\"@type\":\"ReadAction\",\"target\":[\"https:\/\/old.globalindian.com\/youth\/story\/cover-story\/maria-thattil-indian-beauty-queen-australias-boldest-voice\/\"]}]},{\"@type\":\"ImageObject\",\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/old.globalindian.com\/youth\/story\/cover-story\/maria-thattil-indian-beauty-queen-australias-boldest-voice\/#primaryimage\",\"url\":\"https:\/\/old.globalindian.com\/youth\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/06\/banner_maria-1.jpg\",\"contentUrl\":\"https:\/\/old.globalindian.com\/youth\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/06\/banner_maria-1.jpg\",\"width\":1980,\"height\":640,\"caption\":\"Indian youth | Maria Thattil | Global Indian\"},{\"@type\":\"BreadcrumbList\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/old.globalindian.com\/youth\/story\/cover-story\/maria-thattil-indian-beauty-queen-australias-boldest-voice\/#breadcrumb\",\"itemListElement\":[{\"@type\":\"ListItem\",\"position\":1,\"name\":\"Home\",\"item\":\"https:\/\/old.globalindian.com\/youth\/\"},{\"@type\":\"ListItem\",\"position\":2,\"name\":\"Stories\",\"item\":\"https:\/\/old.globalindian.com\/youth\/story\/\"},{\"@type\":\"ListItem\",\"position\":3,\"name\":\"Maria Thattil: The Indian-origin beauty queen who is one of Australia\u2019s boldest voices\"}]},{\"@type\":\"WebSite\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/old.globalindian.com\/youth\/#website\",\"url\":\"https:\/\/old.globalindian.com\/youth\/\",\"name\":\"Global Indian Youth\",\"description\":\"A hero\u2019s journey\",\"potentialAction\":[{\"@type\":\"SearchAction\",\"target\":{\"@type\":\"EntryPoint\",\"urlTemplate\":\"https:\/\/old.globalindian.com\/youth\/?s={search_term_string}\"},\"query-input\":\"required name=search_term_string\"}],\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\"}]}<\/script>\n<!-- \/ Yoast SEO plugin. -->","yoast_head_json":{"title":"Maria Thattil: The Indian beauty queen is Australia\u2019s boldest voice","description":"Indian-origin Maria Thattil captivated the world by becoming Miss Universe Australia, one of very few ladies of colour to achieve this feat.","robots":{"index":"index","follow":"follow","max-snippet":"max-snippet:-1","max-image-preview":"max-image-preview:large","max-video-preview":"max-video-preview:-1"},"canonical":"https:\/\/old.globalindian.com\/youth\/story\/cover-story\/maria-thattil-indian-beauty-queen-australias-boldest-voice\/","og_locale":"en_US","og_type":"article","og_title":"Maria Thattil: The Indian beauty queen is Australia\u2019s boldest voice","og_description":"Indian-origin Maria Thattil captivated the world by becoming Miss Universe Australia, one of very few ladies of colour to achieve this feat.","og_url":"https:\/\/old.globalindian.com\/youth\/story\/cover-story\/maria-thattil-indian-beauty-queen-australias-boldest-voice\/","og_site_name":"Global Indian Youth","article_modified_time":"2024-09-27T09:47:12+00:00","og_image":[{"width":1980,"height":640,"url":"https:\/\/old.globalindian.com\/youth\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/06\/banner_maria-1.jpg","type":"image\/jpeg"}],"twitter_card":"summary_large_image","twitter_misc":{"Est. reading time":"7 minutes"},"schema":{"@context":"https:\/\/schema.org","@graph":[{"@type":"WebPage","@id":"https:\/\/old.globalindian.com\/youth\/story\/cover-story\/maria-thattil-indian-beauty-queen-australias-boldest-voice\/","url":"https:\/\/old.globalindian.com\/youth\/story\/cover-story\/maria-thattil-indian-beauty-queen-australias-boldest-voice\/","name":"Maria Thattil: The Indian beauty queen is Australia\u2019s boldest voice","isPartOf":{"@id":"https:\/\/old.globalindian.com\/youth\/#website"},"primaryImageOfPage":{"@id":"https:\/\/old.globalindian.com\/youth\/story\/cover-story\/maria-thattil-indian-beauty-queen-australias-boldest-voice\/#primaryimage"},"image":{"@id":"https:\/\/old.globalindian.com\/youth\/story\/cover-story\/maria-thattil-indian-beauty-queen-australias-boldest-voice\/#primaryimage"},"thumbnailUrl":"https:\/\/old.globalindian.com\/youth\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/06\/banner_maria-1.jpg","datePublished":"2023-06-23T01:30:41+00:00","dateModified":"2024-09-27T09:47:12+00:00","description":"Indian-origin Maria Thattil captivated the world by becoming Miss Universe Australia, one of very few ladies of colour to achieve this feat.","breadcrumb":{"@id":"https:\/\/old.globalindian.com\/youth\/story\/cover-story\/maria-thattil-indian-beauty-queen-australias-boldest-voice\/#breadcrumb"},"inLanguage":"en-US","potentialAction":[{"@type":"ReadAction","target":["https:\/\/old.globalindian.com\/youth\/story\/cover-story\/maria-thattil-indian-beauty-queen-australias-boldest-voice\/"]}]},{"@type":"ImageObject","inLanguage":"en-US","@id":"https:\/\/old.globalindian.com\/youth\/story\/cover-story\/maria-thattil-indian-beauty-queen-australias-boldest-voice\/#primaryimage","url":"https:\/\/old.globalindian.com\/youth\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/06\/banner_maria-1.jpg","contentUrl":"https:\/\/old.globalindian.com\/youth\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/06\/banner_maria-1.jpg","width":1980,"height":640,"caption":"Indian youth | Maria Thattil | Global Indian"},{"@type":"BreadcrumbList","@id":"https:\/\/old.globalindian.com\/youth\/story\/cover-story\/maria-thattil-indian-beauty-queen-australias-boldest-voice\/#breadcrumb","itemListElement":[{"@type":"ListItem","position":1,"name":"Home","item":"https:\/\/old.globalindian.com\/youth\/"},{"@type":"ListItem","position":2,"name":"Stories","item":"https:\/\/old.globalindian.com\/youth\/story\/"},{"@type":"ListItem","position":3,"name":"Maria Thattil: The Indian-origin beauty queen who is one of Australia\u2019s boldest voices"}]},{"@type":"WebSite","@id":"https:\/\/old.globalindian.com\/youth\/#website","url":"https:\/\/old.globalindian.com\/youth\/","name":"Global Indian Youth","description":"A hero\u2019s journey","potentialAction":[{"@type":"SearchAction","target":{"@type":"EntryPoint","urlTemplate":"https:\/\/old.globalindian.com\/youth\/?s={search_term_string}"},"query-input":"required name=search_term_string"}],"inLanguage":"en-US"}]}},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/old.globalindian.com\/youth\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/story\/31352"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/old.globalindian.com\/youth\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/story"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/old.globalindian.com\/youth\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/story"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/old.globalindian.com\/youth\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/22"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/old.globalindian.com\/youth\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=31352"}],"version-history":[{"count":5,"href":"https:\/\/old.globalindian.com\/youth\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/story\/31352\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":39557,"href":"https:\/\/old.globalindian.com\/youth\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/story\/31352\/revisions\/39557"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/old.globalindian.com\/youth\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/31353"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/old.globalindian.com\/youth\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=31352"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"story-category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/old.globalindian.com\/youth\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/story-category?post=31352"},{"taxonomy":"story-tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/old.globalindian.com\/youth\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/story-tag?post=31352"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}