Since being crowned Miss Universe Australia, author and media personality, Maria Thattil has navigated the complicated intersections of her race, sexuality and culture in the public eye. An advocate for diversity and representation, Maria shares the importance of standing up and being yourself. Maria Thattil is a Penguin published author, TV presenter, actor, speaker, activist, and creator. Propelled into the spotlight when she was crowned Miss Universe Australia in 2020, she placed in the top ten of the international competition in 2021 and was only the third woman of colour to represent Australia in the pageant’s 69-year history. A passionate advocate for diversity, she dedicates her multi-hyphen career to campaigning for gender equality, youth empowerment, mental health and inclusion. A sought-after columnist, Thattil writes for outlets including 9Honey, Stellar Magazine, Buzzfeed, Body+Soul, Mamamia and Women’s Agenda. She has headlined global campaigns championing LGBTQIA+ rights, inclusion and equality for brands including Olay, Alfa Romeo, Clinique, Piper Heidsieck, and L’Oréal Paris. A guest Host on Channel 10’s The Project, Thattil is also a panellist on Channel 9’s Today Extra and Talking Honey, and her 2022 appearance on I’m a Celebrity . . . Get Me Out of Here! made waves internationally when she came out as bisexual on-air. Her book, Unbounded, navigates the complexities of race, sexuality, gender and identity and offers readers an active guide towards self-mastery. This talk was given at a TEDx event using the TED conference format but independently organized by a local community. Learn more at https://www.ted.com/tedx