Miss Universe Australia Maria Thattil has revealed how vile racial abuse made her realise she could use her Indian immigrant heritage and diminutive height to reshape Australian society. She singled out one person who wrote on her Instagram account: 'I miss the days when Australia would send tall, white women to Miss Universe.' Scroll down for videoMiss Universe Australia Maria Thattil (pictured) is using her Indian immigrant heritage and diminutive frame to reshape Australian societyThattil was the second consecutive woman of Indian origin to be crowned Miss Universe Australia, following Priya Serrao in 2019, and only the third woman of colour to represent Australia in the almost seven decades since Miss Universe began. She believes having another Indian-Australian Miss Universe Australia is a step towards better cultural representation across the country. Maria was elated at the news, citing her own experience at Miss Universe Australia where she was 'never encouraged to see [height] as a barrier'.

Source: Daily Mail June 12, 2021 23:39 UTC