With as many passions as accomplishments, Maria Thattil is one impressive woman. She's a writer, speaker, content creator and equality activist - she also has a degree in psychology and management. Alongside all of this, she also happens to be Miss Universe Australia 2020. And she's only 28.

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With her many talents, her undeniable confidence and her striking physical beauty - it's easy to think Maria's journey and success has been pretty smooth sailing.

However, as she sits down withMamamiain a refreshingly honest interview, we learn that that finding her feet in an idealised beauty industry has been anything but easy.

Here, the Olay ambassador talks about everything from navigating her self-image to the importance of representation.

Maria Thattil's approach to beauty.

If there's one thing you've already noticed about Maria, it's just how diverse she is in her career path - which is something the former makeup artist says heavily influences her approach to beauty.

"This seems to be in the fabric of my DNA - appreciating differences."

"Beauty is an appreciation for what we all uniquely appreciate. That means that beauty is synonymous with differences, and so I like to honour that what is beautiful to one person may not mean the same thing to the next."

"For me, I love emphasising my melanin and enhancing what’s natural to me - this includes the big lips, pigmentation around my eyes and dark features I was conditioned to whitewash away."

"As someone who once used skin bleaching creams and makeup many shades too light to fit Eurocentric standards of beauty, my evolved approach to beauty is now embracing what is uniquely you, nurturing it, celebrating it, investing in caring for it and ‘being it’ - not hiding it."

Maria Thattil's skincare routine.

When it comes to skincare, Maria takes a less-is-more approach, summing up her skincare routine with two key steps: hydrate and protect.

"To hydrate, I love my Olay Super Serums. [I'm] currently loving the Luminous Niacinamide+ Hyaluronic Super Serum ($59.99), because my skin has experienced a little dermatitis in response to weather changes, and it’s loving the hydration."

"Then, if I want the extra moisture, I’ll use the Olay Luminous Niacinamide Sheet Mask, ($10.99) to moisturise and prime my skin. The formula feels like cooling jelly giving you luminous glass-like skin because it helps to plump, refresh and smooth skin."

"Now, as a woman of colour who is prone to hyperpigmentation under heat and exacerbation of melasma, a high priority is sun protection and doing it diligently as a staple in my skincare routine."

Sun protection as her highest skincare priority? Sounds like our kind of girl.

Maria has also been using the Olay x Keith Haring Collagen & Vitamin C Power Duo Gift Set, ($82.99) to tone her skin and reduce the appearance of dark spots, she told us.

Maria Thattil's everyday makeup look.

For her everyday makeup look, Maria said she likes to keep things pared-back and simple, focusing on dewy skin coupled with a natural, bronzy eye and a glossy lip.

"Most days, I’ll just sweep a bronzer around the periphery of my face to add a light contouring effect and in my eye sockets for a wash of colour," she said.

"Then I’ll use mascara to open up my eyes, brow gel to fluff up my brows and a lip balm to hydrate my lips."

Maria Thattil's favourite makeup products.

Anyone else curious as to which products are actually in her makeup bag? SAME.

And surprisingly, we found that most of her go-to formulas are pretty affordable, hard-working brands.

"Products that make my list of favourites are those that stand the test of time, are high quality based on performance and formula and are easy to use and accessible," she said.

"These include the L’Oréal Paris Lash Paradise Mascara ($24.95) because of its affordability, and how cleanly it separates lashes whilst still serving volume and length."