RE-RELEASE // I know I yak on about it all the time but the weirdest thing about making this show is not being able to reach out to you at the time you’re actually listening, so sometimes bringing you yay the best way possible is a bit of guesswork. I’ve been noticing people posting about episodes with a longer lag time from its release than usual, and while I originally thought lockdowns meant more time to listen to podcasts, I’ve noticed for myself at least without travelling in the car all the time I’m listening less. Ini that light, dropping two episodes this year instead of one each week might be bombarding you a bit! So, for a few #yaysofourlives slots I’m going to re-share some episodes that you may have missed to let some of you catch up (but as always, if I'm totally wrong, please DM me right now to let me know!)

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I’m so thrilled to have the incredible Maria Thattil joining for #yaysofourlives this week who you may also know as Miss Universe Australia 2021. Once you listen, I'm sure you'll agree with my quote of the yay for this episode from Ralph Waldo Emerson - "To be yourself in a world that is constantly trying to make you something else is the greatest accomplishment," which Maria is doing so bloody well.

Freshly returned from doing our country proud at the global Miss Universe competition in the USA, Maria making the TOP 10 worldwide felt like the perfect yayborhood watch story to dive into. If you have any misconceptions about the pageant, its potential as a platform for impact or Maria’s hopes and dreams in entering, prepare to have them blown out of the water by this incredibly articulate, humble and passionate woman. As the shortest woman in the competition at 5”3 and only the 3rd woman of colour to represent our multicultural nation in this international competition in 7 decades, Maria is shattering ceilings and breaking down traditional beauty standards helping redefine what it means to be Australian. She has such powerful messages about identity, self-belief in the face of critics, the power of positivity and so much more.

I left this conversation filled with SO inspiration, hope, passion and lightness – she is the breath of fresh air we all need. I think it’s safe to say this is just the beginning for Maria, we have an irrepressible change maker on our hands and I hope you enjoy as much as I did.

WATCH MY AUSTRALIA HERE

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