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Maria Thattil has revealed that while she is open about her new romance, there are things she is keeping private to protect her growing relationship.
The former Miss Universe Australia is dating AFLW star Moana Hope and the pair have been at many red carpet events and seen cozying up on social media.
But the 31-year-old tells the new number off Stellar Magazine that there is a limit to what she will share with the public.
“Something I’ve learned is the importance of protecting certain parts of your life and keeping something sacred,” she said.
‘In this digital world that we live in, strangers feel entitled to you; sometimes they can have parasocial relationships where they feel entitled to ask me things.
Maria Thattil (pictured) has revealed that while she’s open about her new romance, there are things she’s keeping private to protect her budding relationship
‘I always think to myself, these people would never walk up to you on the street and just straight to your face ask you this. And I feel like I don’t want that undue pressure,” she added.
The pair have been dating for several months following Hope’s split from his ex-wife, Isabella Carlstrom.
In September, Hope herself slammed criticism and Maria got together prematurely after her split from Isabella, with whom she shares two children.
An emotional Moana took to Instagram and said there were no hard and fast rules for when to move on when you break up.
‘Can they send me the book on how to get separated?’ Moana said in a video on Instagram.
‘Is there an index section in that book that says how long you have to wait to be separated from someone before you find happiness?’
She went on to say that the choice to move forward is up to her.
‘Whether I date one person or multiple people… Whatever decision I make for me is my choice. I don’t have to follow a book, she said.
The athlete added that she was the ‘happiest she’d been in a long time’ with Maria, adding that her mental health had also improved.
‘If I decide to date… That’s my choice. I don’t need anyone to tell me what’s acceptable,’ she said.
The pair have been around a number of premieres in Melbourne, including Death of a Salesman in September.
The couple later looked as loved up as ever as they put on a loved-up display at the Marie Claire Women of the Year Awards
“Something I’ve learned is the importance of protecting certain parts of your life and keeping something sacred,” she said
They were seen packing on the PDA at a restaurant in Melbourne.
Maria has even introduced her father to her new love as he was photographed sitting with them as they enjoyed a meal together.
Moana split with Carlstrom in May 2022, explaining that they tried ‘everything to get their relationship back on track’ but she ‘didn’t feel the same as she used to’.
Maria also recently went through a high-profile breakup after she and her TikTok star ex-girlfriend Jogia O’Hare announced their split in June.
Maria took to Instagram at the time and wrote: ‘After a beautiful year together, Jogia and I want to share that we are no longer together.
‘Her love healed me so much and was a light that I lacked for a long time.’
Read more in this week’s issue of Stellar Magazine