Maria Thattil has always felt like an outsider looking in, despite being very much immersed in the world of modelling, television, writing and influencing.

Maria is a queer, South-Asian woman, the daughter of migrant parents and a former Miss Universe Australia - who stands a petite five foot three in a world of 6 foot something beauty pageant contestants.

In this chat with Jamila Rizvi, Maria explains what it was like to be told she wasn’t Australian enough to be Miss Universe, her experience on coming out on reality TV and her new memoir Unbound.

THE WEEKEND LIST:

Watch: The Wonder on Netflix

Read: How Can You Overcome Impostor Syndrome? You Don’t

Watch: The Clearing on Disney+

Listen: Blak Matters podcast

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Maria Thattil from Miss Universe to the Jungle