The darling of the Sydney Olympics is over the moon with her little lookalike, reports Shari Nementzik.

Despite her initial first-time mum nerves, Nikki Webster has taken to motherhood like a fish to water – and her gorgeous girl Skylah looks to be following in her famous footsteps. “It’s been such a wonderful journey and it’s so much fun,” says Nikki, 27. “I think every mother says it, but it’s a different kind of love … an unconditional, incredible love.

“Motherhood is obviously challenging and tiring, but it’s the wonderful moments like seeing her smile and hearing her say ‘Mummy’ that make it all worth it,” she grins, gazing at her “princess”. “It’s just amazing to watch her grow.”

Little showstopper

It’s been 10 months since Nikki and her husband Matthew McMah, 34, welcomed their precious girl into the world, and she’s growing up to resemble her iconic mother.

“I think it’s the eyes – she’s got these massive eyes!” laughs Nikki, while bouncing petite Skylah on her lap. “I mean, my mum always says she used to get stopped in the shops because of my eyes as a kid. And now I get it with her… it’s really nice.”

Watching Nikki dote on Skylah, who has already taken her first steps, it’s clear to see they share a very special mother-daughter bond. “It’s a bit of a sore point,” jokes Nikki, eyeing Matt. “Her first word was Mummy, then Daddy, then bubba… and then she said puppy.”

“I still blame the fact I was away with work,” quips Matt, who works for an airline.

Cherished moments

But it seems Skylah is just as much daddy’s little girl as she is mummy’s. “He’s a fantastic dad,” beams Nikki. “They have an awesome bond and he spoils her like crazy.”

Skylah is certainly a very lucky girl – her wardrobe is overflowing with frills and adorable outfits fit for a little princess. “She has two full wardrobes,” says Matt. “She has more clothes than me!”

“Mummy loves pinks,” admits Nikki sheepishly. “I seriously thought I was having a little boy, so to have a little girl to dress up is fantastic and I feel pretty lucky. She’s a girlie girl – she even has her ears pierced!”

But there’s a new addition to Skylah’s dress collection that stands out from the rest – a replica of the pink-and-white hibiscus frock that made Nikki famous.

“It’s pretty exciting to have a little dress for her,” she gushes.

“It’s something we’ll treasure and we’ll store the dresses together in a special place.”

Next year marks 15 years since Nikki shot to stardom when the then freckle-faced and curly-haired 13-year-old cutie soared high above Sydney’s Olympic Stadium in front of the 110,000-strong crowd and 3.7 billion people watching around the world.

“I’m an Aussie girl and to be given that opportunity at such a young age, to represent the country, it was my most incredible moment… well, until I had Skylah, now that tops the list of course!” smiles Nikki.

For the happy mum, who pulled her original dress out of storage for Woman’s Day’s photoshoot, seeing it again brings a massive smile to her face.

“It’s just a sundress and for a lot of people it’s just a little bit of pink lycra or whatever and I know it’s not the most glamorous dress in the world, but to me it has a lot of memories.

“That night has so many incredible moments for me and I remember watching Cathy Freeman lighting the flame and I was counting in my head, ‘In this many years when the next Olympics is on, I’ll be this old… and in this many years I’ll be this old… I wonder if I’ll have kids by this year’.

“So to think I now have this little girl and she’s in the same dress, it’s pretty crazy.”

But Skylah has yet to see her mum’s claim to fame. “I’ve shown her the Teletubbies on YouTube, but that’s about it,” laughs Nikki. “Maybe it’s time to bring out the old Strawberry Kisses stuff!”

Skylah has inherited more than just her mum’s good looks, too. “She loves music and I sing to her,” says Nikki. “Her favourite song is Zip-A-Dee-Doo-Dah,” adds Matt.

She also loves watching Nikki’s students at the dance studio, especially ballet. “She waves her hands in the air when the music comes on,” reveals Nikki, adding that she and Matt will support Skylah no matter what her chosen path may be.

I often take Skylah swimming at Olympic Park – that’s where it all began for me,” says Nikki. “Who knows what she’s going to do with her life. She might be into sport, she might be into music, I don’t know.

“It’s so exciting to share her journey. I just hope she has a love and a passion for something like I did. Performing was my passion and I got to do it and I hope she gets her opportunity, too.”

Pictures: Nick Cubbin/bauersyndication.com.au, Getty Images.
Makeup: Lores Giglio.
Styling: Pip Cook.
Nikki’s dress from Sheike.

Via Woman’s Day
View scans from this article

The angel of the Sydney Olympics opening ceremony is all grown up… and she’s mum to a gorgeous baby girl! By SHARI NEMENTZIK.

Nikki Webster will forever be remembered as the freckle-faced, curly-haired cutie who flew high above the crowd at the Sydney Olympics 14 years ago. But the baby-faced singer is certainly all grown up now. Nikki, 26, married her sweetheart Matthew McMah, 34, in a fairytale ceremony in 2012 and, just last month, the loved-up couple welcomed their first child, daughter Skylah.

“I think people still see me as being young and can’t see me as being a mum yet,” laughs Nikki, cradling tiny Skylah in her arms. “I can’t even believe I’m a mum! It’s the most incredible feeling to be given your child. It was magical and also a little bit unbelievable. I’ve held newborns before but to think she is yours and you have to nurture her for her whole life… it’s pretty overwhelming,” she admits.

But watching the smitten couple with their bub, you’d be forgiven for thinking they’ve been parents for years. “I read an article once that said you don’t know unconditional love until you look into your child’s eyes,” says Matt, who works for an airline. “When I first looked into Skylah’s eyes, that really resonated with me. I look at this little person and there is nothing I wouldn’t do to keep her safe.”

Matt’s protective-dad instincts have certainly kicked in. “He is locking her up already so boys can’t have her,” jokes Nikki. “She’s not allowed to date until she’s 37!” adds Matt. Luckily for little Skylah, her youthful mum has her back. “I think the most exciting thing is building a relationship with her and having a best friend,” she says. “She can always come to me with any boy trouble and I will be there to help her and encourage her to follow her dreams.”

And she’s already looking to be following in her mum’s footsteps. “She does have strong lungs… whether she’s in pitch or not, I’m not sure,” laughs Nikki. “But we know she loves music.” So has Nikki introduced Skylah to some of her smash hits? “No, but I should start singing Strawberry Kisses to her,” she jokes. “That will make her go to sleep!”

Skylah is definitely Mum’s little princess. “I love dressing her up,” exclaims Nikki. “You open up her wardrobe and everything’s pink.” Skylah came into the world a day before her due date. “It was a beautiful process but very painful,” says Nikki of her 15-hour labour with no pain relief. “I hated seeing her in agony,” says Matt. “When our baby was finally with us, I sobbed for five minutes.”

The happy couple, who met on a blind date set up by their siblings, are closer than ever before, thanks to their beautiful new addition. “I think we have a deeper appreciation for each other because he saw what I went through and it’s really intense,” says Nikki. “We’re working as a team because this is all new to us.”

So will Skylah have any siblings? “Oh gosh, one at a time!” says Nikki. “When she first came out after all that pain, I looked at her and said, ‘You know what, honey? I think you’re going to be an only child for a while.'”

Meet
SKYLAH TIA McMAH
Born: February 6, 2014
Weight: 2.77kg
Height: 48cm

Pictures: Phillip Castleton, Getty Images.
Hair and makeup: Helen Dowsley.
Stylist: Pip Cook.

Source: Woman’s Day
View scans of this article.