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NT selects its first ever Indigenous contender for Miss World Australia

It’s about time.

Magnolia Maymuru has made history – and for all the right reasons. The 19-year-old from the remote community of Yirrkala in Arnhem Land, will be the first Indigenous woman to represent NT at the Miss World Australia finals (it’s about time).

And tbh, this sounds like the start of a great movie.

It took two chance encounters before director of NT Fashion Week, Mehali Tsangaris was able to convince Magnolia to try modelling. 2014 and 2015 saw Tsangaris and Magnolia randomly cross paths in Darwin, first at an ATM and then a grocery store. It wasn’t until the second encounter and after she’d completed year 12 that Magnolia really considered modelling and asked for her community’s blessings.

And although she’s totally rocking the modelling scene, she told Buzzfeed it hasn’t come without some culture shock.

“When I go back home I go hunting and camping with my dad, the usual stuff. When I come to Darwin I go into hair salons and photos shoots and it’s totally different.”

The winner of The Miss World Australia competition will represent Australia in London in September. 

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