Tahlia Burchill with Oprah Front Page Cairns Post

Tahlia inspires Oprah

To inspire one of the world's most inspirational women is no mean feat but a young Aboriginal girl from Mossman may have what it takes to draw Oprah Winfrey to Far North Queensland.

Tahlia has worked at the Lodge for 3 years and is the face of Daintree Essentials (Organic Skin Care Range) inspired by rainforest wisdom from the world's oldest continuous culture. Daintree essentials is made exclusively by Daintree Eco Lodge & Spa.

Tahlia is one of 54 local Aboriginals who have been trained and employed at Daintree Eco Lodge & Spa over the past 13 years.

To inspire one of the world's most inspirational women is no mean feat but a young Aboriginal girl from Mossman may have what it takes to draw Oprah Winfrey to the Far North.

Tahlia Burchill, 16, was one of three Kuku Yalanji women interviewed in late November for a segment of Winfrey's show called Beauty Around the World and the US talk show queen is reportedly "blown away by her".

In fact, the mega-celebrity is now considering coming here herself to film a more in-depth segment about Tahlia's rainforest Aboriginal tribe, their culture, inner beauty and spirituality.

An excited Tahlia, who learned the news on Friday, said meeting Oprah would be "absolutely awesome... I'm up for it".

"I guess she's just such a role model in so many ways, she's such a powerful person," she said.

As captain of Mossman State High, chair of the Leukaemia Foundation Mossman district youth committee, a flautist in school bands, cheerleader, representative athlete, exhibiting artist and talented contemporary dancer, Tahlia - who won last year's FNQ Zone School Constitutional Convention with her oratory on the need for more indigenous leaders - is something of a role-model herself.

Terry Maloney, who with his wife Cathy runs Daintree Eco Lodge & Spa and recommended Tahlia to Oprah's company Harpo Productions for the segment, describes the teenager as "amazing".

"She excels in just about everything she puts her mind to... she's shooting further than the stars I think," Mr Maloney said.

The multi-award winning eco lodge, which employs Kuku Yalanji people on its staff and incorporates indigenous knowledge into its spa treatments, art classes and interpretive walks, formed the backdrop for much of the day-long shoot.

Also featured on the segment were Tahlia's "aunty" Janice Walker, a grandmother and Kuku Yalanji elder, and Merindi Brisco, Janice's niece and soul-singing member of the Briscoe Sisters.

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