Maminydjama, or Magnolia, Maymuru is a young woman bravely and humbly taking her first strides onto a revolutionary path into the fashion industry. Selected as the Northern Territory representative for the Miss World national finals, she is the first traditional Indigenous Australian in history to contend for the title.
Image Credit:Ivan Rachman
Maymuru, 19, is from the remote community of Yirrkala in North Eastern Arnhem Land, about 600 kilometres east of Darwin. The Yolngu girl, belonging to the Belang Clan from Djarrakpi, said that she is simply “…trying something different…,” including her new modelling name ‘Magnolia.’ She strives to blend traditional culture with this new venture whilst using the opportunity as a platform to challenge misconceptions about living in a remote community and to educate other Australians. Maymuru told ABC, “I hope it gives [the industry] a push to look at more women up in Arnhem Land. I hope it gives them an urge to come up and actually check people out rather than thinking, ‘There’s one and that’s enough’.”
Model manager and director of NT Fashion week, Mehali Tsangaris, discovered Maymuru while she was getting money from an ATM in Darwin in 2014 and he “…stopped dead in his tracks.” She initially turned down the opportunity in aid of completing her year 12 studies, saying, “I had year 12 and I had to finish my work. Back home education is actually a big deal. Elders and women have done big things to get a bilingual education.” A year later, Tsangaris ran into her again and this time, since it didn’t interrupt her schedule gaining a diploma in business administration, she accepted his offer. Talk about motivated!
Speaking to Darwin’s radio show Mix 104.9 about the upcoming pageant, taking place in July 2016, Maymuru said,“I’m very nervous. It’s the first time I’ll be representing my state in such a well-known event and I know a lot of people will be watching me. My family at home, all of Arnhem Land … and all over Australia.” Her first modelling gig at NT fashion week had her “…very, very nervous,” but Maymuru pushed through and we are all anticipating that she will blow minds at the Miss World finals.
Both Maymuru and Tsangaris work together carefully to ensure that her traditional indigenous culture is respected whilst embarking upon this journey. Maymuru told NITV in an interview,
“Culture is very important up here and Arnhem Land is made up of different people, different languages and different communities. Depending on which tribe we come from, which totems or skin name that we have, there are specific things that we can’t use or do. Before I do anything, like even wearing some clothing with a particular animal on it, I talk to my family, because I don’t want to offend anyone in my community or from another tribe. Since I got the opportunity, my family and I have talked about the difference of living up here and going down south and thinking of the best ways that I can blend culture, so that it’s respectful and there are no cultural misunderstandings.”
Traditional Indigenous Australians are massively underrepresented in the fashion industry, and young women like Maymuru are paramount to challenging this fact. However, she is not letting on that she is feeling the pressure nearly as much as one would expect, telling ABC,
“I thought — I’m a woman just like everybody else. If people don’t accept me just because I’m Indigenous or from community, it won’t bother me. There’s plenty other industries, people and companies to look to.” Maymuru has said of the pageant that “Part of my role as the Northern Territory Representative for Miss World is to fundraise and represent the children’s charity, Variety NT.”
Despite her humility, there is no doubt that this venture is a monumental moment in history; one that simply cannot go ahead without changing the face of Miss World Australia forever.