Maria Thattil hits back at woman for ‘outfit-shaming’ her at the F1 Australian

Former Miss Universe Australia Maria Thattil has hit back at a woman who criticised her outfit at Friday’s F1 Australian Grand Prix event.

The 30-year-old revealed she had an ‘uncomfortable exchange’ with a stranger in the bathroom after her stockings ripped.

Maria shared a photo to Instagram of her outfit which included a black leotard, blazer and a buttoned shirt and explained the incident.

‘Upon arrival at last Fridays event, my stockings ripped. Classic! But I didn’t mind, a quick trip to the bathroom & I was able to rip them off. But in the bathroom, I had a woman ask me if I was cold,’ she explained.

‘When I said no, she said that ‘I made her cold’ just looking at me, to which I joked it was good that we had different outfits on then.’

‘Only she continued to repeat that she was ‘so cold looking at me.’ This made for an uncomfortable exchange as I tried to wash and dry my hands and leave.’

Maria said the woman’s body language made her feel ‘uncomfortable’ as she stood there shaking her head ‘as she reasoned that she couldn’t imagine wearing no pants, shock at my bare legs.’

She continued: ‘I was going to explain myself, stockings sitch and all, but then just said, “I mean, surely we don’t shame women for what they wear. People can wear what they want with confidence, right?”‘

‘Cue the backtracking. If you don’t like how someone else presents, that’s so ok – you don’t have to present that way yourself. Simple.’

‘It’s important to respectfully back yourself and your choices. Doing things with agency and confidence is confusing for many, but that doesn’t matter when it makes sense to you. And last week? Being pantless made sense for me.’

It comes after Maria hit back at a troll last month for criticising her for posting photos of herself in skimpy attire on Instagram.

In a column for Stellar Magazine, she revealed she received a comment from a man who said he was tired of her ‘bikini content’ after she posted images of herself during her recent birthday getaway in Bali.

He also critiqued her for ‘acting like an intellectual but actively showing her body’.

Maria said his comment ‘reflected objectification, error and entitlement’. 

‘Naturally, I blocked him. I won’t bite the bait with a bigot, but if sharing this here will inspire another to not internalise sexist and harmful rhetoric, I’ll sure as hell use him to do it.’

Maria said his comment ‘reflected objectification, error and…