When Magnolia Maymuru was selected for a beauty pageant, the relatively unknown Northern Territory fashion model expected a few write-ups in the local newspaper.

Within months her story was in French fashion blogs and being discussed by Italian train passengers.

"It's been a crazy experience," Ms Maymuru said.

Back in May, she was juggling the odd Darwin photoshoot with her first job out of high school as a sports and recreation officer in her North East Arnhem community, Yirrkala.

Ms Maymuru setting up a movie night for children in her community of Yirrkala. ( 105.7 ABC Darwin: Emilia Terzon )

The 19-year-old was less than a year into modelling and was pursuing it for many reasons — from high-flying glamour, to chasing a secret teenage dream, to "challenging stereotypes" about what it means to be a Yolngu girl from a remote Indigenous community.

"I have received racist comments but it doesn't turn me down. It didn't hurt me. I just look at the other person and thought: 'they should wash their soul out'," she said.

"I wanted to inspire other young people, black and white."

Ms Maymuru hopes to inspire other young people to pursue their dreams. ( 105.7 ABC Darwin: Emilia Terzon )

Ms Maymuru had a similar attitude when her manager, Mehali Tsangaris, put her forward as the first Northern Territory representative in the Miss World Australia beauty pageant.

In a world dominated by Caucasian faces and publicity spin, Ms Maymuru was billed as a "first" by pageant organisers, although there were several other women from down south with Indigenous background in this year's finals.

Mr Tsangaris said Ms Maymuru's height, determination and "natural elegance" made her an ideal model, but that it was also time for more diversity in mainstream fashion.

"I think Australia needs to see girls like Magnolia," he said.

Ms Maymuru trying on her pageant sash just shortly after being officially nominated. ( 105.7 ABC Darwin: Emilia Terzon )

Ms Maymuru's official pageant debut involved a children's charity event at NT Parliament House with fingerfood, an overhead projector and speeches from a local politician.

Ms Maymuru at her first appearance as a pageant representative. ( 105.7 ABC Darwin: Emilia Terzon )

The next day she flew back home to Yirrkala and news of her nomination started going viral.

The stream of social media comments ranged from "you go girl", "deadly" and "about time" to debate about the values behind beauty pageants and Ms Maymuru's bright cherry lipstick.

Ms Maymuru was offered exclusivity contracts with lifestyle magazines and interstate gigs.

While he had used the phrase "revolution" early in the piece, Mr Tsangaris was clearly catapulted by the response, while Ms Maymuru wondered: "is this true?"

Ms Maymuru has had a busy two months. ( 105.7 ABC Darwin: Emilia Terzon )

A month out from Miss World Australia's finals in Melbourne, Ms Maymuru was still grappling with reality.

"I'll be standing there [at work] with these children in my uniform and I know the following week I have a photoshoot or interview. It has me thinking a lot of days: 'is this real or just temporary?'"

So she just tried to relax and have as much downtime as possible camping, fishing and watching Saturday football matches in Yirrkala.

Ms Maymuru's family support has been crucial during the last two months. ( 105.7 ABC Darwin: Emilia Terzon )

Speaking from a favourite mud mussel spot at sunset, Ms Maymuru's family said she had the strength to take anything on.

Their therories about why Ms Maymuru's story had struck such a chord ranged from her confident and bipartisan approach to a national curiosity about Top End culture.

"I think they expected blonde hair and blue eyes," grandmother Merrki Ganambarr said.

Merrki Ganambarr discusses her granddaughter's future. ( 105.7 ABC Darwin: Emilia Terzon )

A few weeks later, Ms Maymuru flew to Melbourne for the pageant finals.

She had already been announced as the new face of a major Australian shopping centre, but there was still an obvious nervous buzz around Ms Maymuru's pageant outcome during dress rehearsals on Friday.

"I'm a bit overwhelmed but very excited," she said ahead of that evening's main event.

Ms Maymuru getting her hair done backstage at the pageant's finals in Melbourne. ( 105.7 ABC Darwin: Emilia Terzon )

Outside in a ballroom, a judging panel of reality television stars, industry experts and product ambassadors set up on stage.

In the crowd below, Ms Maymuru's family and friends shared stories about her childhood love of dress-ups, their reservations about modelling, and the way a beauty pageant had turned into something else.

"This is a different world. It is a balanda [white person's] world," said her grandmother and Yirrkala teacher, Banbapuy Ganambarr.

"When I talk about balance, this is what she has. It has made me proud because some people don't believe in [living] both ways."

Ms Maymuru at the pageant finals in Melbourne on Friday night. ( 105.7 ABC Darwin: Emilia Terzon )

Whenever Ms Maymuru strut onto stage throughout the next two hours, a packed ballroom table of traditional owners erupted in applause, especially when she made it into the top 10 finalists.

The crowd erupted as Ms Maymuru emerged in this dress. The pageant's final winner Madeleine Cowe is in the background. ( 105.7 ABC Darwin: Emilia Terzon )

But just 10 minutes later, it was all over during the final five knockout round.

On the sidelines, there was a tangle of emotions — relief, disillusion, exhaustion, disappointment, pride and positivity.

Much money and time had been pooled into the pageant business, although homegrown Territory designers through to perfect strangers had chipped in to the cause.

"She's already won," Mr Tsangaris said.

"She rocked it."

Mehali Tsangaris collapsing from exhaustion at the end of the pageant. ( 105.7 ABC Darwin: Emilia Terzon )

"She's captured people's imaginations worldwide," grandfather Oscar Whitehead added.

"I have to give [modelling] credit. It's been very influential."

Backstage, Ms Maymuru talked about a school in Italy that had started researching Yolngu culture after reading about her, and spoke about how much she was looking forward to some quiet time with family.

But not before celebrating.

Ms Maymuru was inundated with photo requests. ( 105.7 ABC Darwin: Emilia Terzon )

"This has opened my heart," Ms Maymuru said.

Then she went off to an afterparty with a roaring family cheer: "Arnhem Land, Arnhem Land, Arnhem Land."