Redefining Beauty, Breaking Barriers - Lorna Jane Chats with Maria Thattil

Maria Thattil is reshaping narratives around beauty, identity, and empowerment. After her groundbreaking journey as Miss Universe Australia, Maria used her platform to advocate boldly for LGBTQIA+ rights, diversity, and inclusive representation—proving that pageantry can be a launchpad for meaningful change. In this episode, Maria reflects on her evolution from the global stage to acting on Neighbours, sharing how she navigates public scrutiny with grace and turns challenges into fuel for advocacy. Her story is a testament to rewriting stereotypes and inspiring a new generation to embrace authenticity. This series is about celebrating stories of growth and giving back, and to honour each guest's time Lorna Jane is donating $5000 to a charity close to each guest’s heart. Maria’s chosen charity is Ozharvest, a food rescue organisation that saves surplus food & delivers it to charities that help people in need. This episode contains references to racism, bullying, and childhood trauma. Listener discretion is advised.