Category: 2020

Australia’s sweetheart Nikki Webster has dropped a brand new album and we’re right back in 2001’s Strawberry Kisses hey-day

Posted on Author Categories 2020, Music No Comments on Australia’s sweetheart Nikki Webster has dropped a brand new album and we’re right back in 2001’s Strawberry Kisses hey-day

20 years after her Sydney Olympics moment, the star still shines bright for Nikki.

Nikki Webster, certified icon of Australia, has released a new album just in time for Christmas

Aptly named Girls, the features 12 new songs and has dropped on Apple Music and Spotify.

Featuring banger after banger such as Rubix Cube, I’m in Love with a Ghost and title track Girls, the album is guaranteed to bring you the nostalgia you never knew you needed as the year comes to an end.

The singer, now aged 33, announced the news on her Instagram account on Wednesday, writing: “I’m so excited to say, I’ve released a brand new album, Girls! The twelve new songs are available now on Apple Music and Spotify, link in bio. I hope you enjoy them!”

She shared the indigo, purple and pink themed album cover alongside the announcement.

Nikki shot to fame when she performed at the opening and closing ceremony of the 2000 Sydney Olympics, shortly following the now-infamous stint with a hit single Strawberry Kisses.

She released a song here and there over the next two decades, though never anything as big as an entire studio album.

Now, her next chapter begins – and Girls has all the makings of a Strawberry Kisses-worthy comeback.

Nikki’s profile has remained largely under the radar over the last two decades – she married her husband Matthew McMah in 2011, with the couple having two children before separating in 2018.

In 2019, she appeared in The Masked Singer, lasting three episodes before being voted off.

Just this month, Nikki spoke to Woman’s Day about her two adorable kids, daughter Skylah, five, and two-year-old son Malachi.

Chatting about their sweet relationship with Nikki’s dad, Mark, she said: “You know I was a little daddy’s girl growing up so I just love watching the relationship with Skylah and him, and both my parents.”

“My kids absolutely adore them! I often catch myself just watching them both interact with my parents and thinking to myself they’re so lucky to have a nana and poppy so close to them,” she said.

The former child star also spoke of a potential return to TV, saying she wouldn’t say no to being the next Bachelorette.

“Australia’s next Bachelorette, could you imagine?!” she mused, before adding “You know what? I could totally do that! One hundred per cent I’m there – how else do you meet men these days?”

Source: nowtolove.com.au

Nikki Webster 20 years on: How the opening ceremony changed everything

Posted on Author Categories 2020, Olympics No Comments on Nikki Webster 20 years on: How the opening ceremony changed everything

Thirteen-year-old Nikki Webster had kept her starring role in the Sydney Olympics opening ceremony a secret from her parents. Then they sat down to watch.

By Sarah Keoghan

Her name is now synonymous with the Sydney Olympics but a few hours before the opening ceremony of the 2000 Games, few had heard of Nikki Webster.

A few hours after it, the 13-year-old was everywhere. Wearing a pink dress with white flowers, such was Webster’s starring role as the Hero Girl of the Sydney opening ceremony, her fame exploded overnight.

It caught Webster by surprise, but for her parents Tina and Mark it was a shock.

Though aware their young dancer, through a long audition process and months of rehearsals, would have a role in the Sydney Olympics opening ceremony, they had been deliberately kept in the dark on the fact Nikki was playing a pivotal role.

Tina and Mark watched on in disbelief as Nikki, bathed in spotlight, skipped across the giant stage and soared through the air, but it was only on their very non-VIP trip home from ANZ Stadium – on the train – that it all hit home.

“On the way home, people were handing out free papers. Mum and Dad opened the paper and it was full of me,” she said.

Twenty years on, Webster can hardly believe the level of fame that settled on her so quickly.

But to land the part, she had to go up against thousands of hopefuls during an exhaustive audition process.

“I reckon if there was a reality show back then – it should have been about the Hero Girl auditions,” she said. “Every young girl that you could imagine was there, every girl you had auditioned against for musicals, for tv commercials, it was a massive casting call.”

Continue reading Nikki Webster 20 years on: How the opening ceremony changed everything

Nikki Webster reflects 20 years after shooting to fame in Sydney Olympics

Posted on Author Categories 2020 No Comments on Nikki Webster reflects 20 years after shooting to fame in Sydney Olympics

JACKIE EPSTEIN

Nikki Webster was a 13-year-old girl wanting to make the country proud when she starred in the Sydney Olympics opening ceremony 20 years ago.

She ended up becoming a child star after the show that stopped a nation with more than 10 million viewers.

“It wasn’t about being famous, it wasn’t anything that crossed my mind,’’ Webster said.

“My main thing on the night, was I was a musical theatre performer so making sure people enjoyed watching it. I didn’t really think about people at home watching and as a 13-year-old girl I wanted to make my mum and dad proud and it was all about making my country proud and the privilege I had of being an Aussie.

“I thought that’s nice and then it’ll be over. I never thought I’d be lucky to have a career.”

Webster went onto become a singer with a hit, Strawberry Kisses, a musical theatre performer and a contestant on The Masked Singer last year. She never tried her luck overseas despite having opportunities.

At the closing ceremony she spent time with the likes of Kylie Minogue, Paul Hogan and John Farnham.

“I remember it like it was yesterday,’’ she said.

“The best thing about being recognised is that everyone is so positive and they remember where they were and what it meant.

“A lot of stories connect with the Olympics and I love to hear about that. It’s pretty cool to have people to share that with.”

Webster said the highlight of the night for her was the flying, but also learning so much about Aboriginal history and culture.

“I watched it back with my daughter (Skylah, 6) and all the memories came flooding back,’’ she said.

“I run dance studios now and that’s my passion to provide in that creative space and give back to performers. And hopefully they can follow their dreams like I was lucky enough to.”

The first of Seven’s Olympic specials, Towards Tokyo: The Opening Ceremony of the Olympic Games Sydney 2000 Uncovered, airs Tuesday night July 28.

Source: Herald Sun

Coronavirus: Nikki Webster has closed her dance studios due to COVID-19, but there’s a silver lining

Posted on Author Categories 2020, Dance @ Nikki Webster No Comments on Coronavirus: Nikki Webster has closed her dance studios due to COVID-19, but there’s a silver lining

Kaitlin Peek and Jenny Ky

Nikki Webster first flew into our lives 20 years ago at the opening ceremony of the Sydney Olympics.

Behind the scenes, the mum of two has built her own dance school from scratch – but sadly, due to the current pandemic, Nikki has had to temporarily shut her studio doors.

So now, she’s taking her classes online – teaching pint-sized performers through the internet doors.

“It’s been an interesting time and a whirlwind for everybody to adjust,” Webster said.

“But I think we’re getting through it. I think Skylah is missing her school friends and missing that connection, but I’m so glad that through dance classes going online, she’s still able to see everyone and learn skills and keep connected.

“We’ve been a couple of weeks online, and we’re just on school holidays now and about to start our new term – so she’s had a little bit of time online, dancing at home and learning some skills.”

‘Complete devastation’

Nikki owns three studios across New South Wales, and she admits is devastating for her to have to close the studios due to the COVID-19 crisis.

“It’s complete devastation to close my doors, not only for myself and my business partner Scott but also our staff,” Webster said.

“We have a lot of staff who work for us and have for 12 years.

“So we’re just trying to get everybody through it, as well as the students – so it’s been really devastating, but I think the best thing is to look for opportunities and new ways to create content for the students and keep everybody active.

“I think it’s important for the families to get involved, which everybody is – we’re offering free fitness classes as well for parents to have with their kids, and elderly fitness classes for the grandparents to keep fit.

“So we’re just looking at really creative ways to keep kids engaged because we don’t want them to feel the devastation that’s going on in this world and the pressures that all of us adults are going through. We still want them to be kids.

“It’s our passion to be able to do that and be able to give back to the community throughout Australia.”

Anyone can take part online

The silver lining throughout this all has been the opportunity to teach students from across Australia – and aside from fitness and dance, Nikki has also been offering singling classes at a very low cost.

“The best thing about being in isolation is that I don’t have to limit what we do to my studios and my kids – I can offer this to students all around Australia who may not be able to afford classes normally,” Webster said.

Nikki Webster first flew into our lives 20 years ago at the opening ceremony of the Sydney Olympics.

Behind the scenes, the mum of two has built her own dance school from scratch – but sadly, due to the current pandemic, Nikki has had to temporarily shut her studio doors.

So now, she’s taking her classes online – teaching pint-sized performers through the internet doors.

“It’s been an interesting time and a whirlwind for everybody to adjust,” Webster said.

“But I think we’re getting through it. I think Skylah is missing her school friends and missing that connection, but I’m so glad that through dance classes going online, she’s still able to see everyone and learn skills and keep connected.

“We’ve been a couple of weeks online, and we’re just on school holidays now and about to start our new term – so she’s had a little bit of time online, dancing at home and learning some skills.”
‘Complete devastation’

Nikki owns three studios across New South Wales, and she admits is devastating for her to have to close the studios due to the COVID-19 crisis.

“It’s complete devastation to close my doors, not only for myself and my business partner Scott but also our staff,” Webster said.

“We have a lot of staff who work for us and have for 12 years.

“So we’re just trying to get everybody through it, as well as the students – so it’s been really devastating, but I think the best thing is to look for opportunities and new ways to create content for the students and keep everybody active.

“I think it’s important for the families to get involved, which everybody is – we’re offering free fitness classes as well for parents to have with their kids, and elderly fitness classes for the grandparents to keep fit.

“So we’re just looking at really creative ways to keep kids engaged because we don’t want them to feel the devastation that’s going on in this world and the pressures that all of us adults are going through. We still want them to be kids.

“It’s our passion to be able to do that and be able to give back to the community throughout Australia.”
Anyone can take part online

The silver lining throughout this all has been the opportunity to teach students from across Australia – and aside from fitness and dance, Nikki has also been offering singling classes at a very low cost.

“The best thing about being in isolation is that I don’t have to limit what we do to my studios and my kids – I can offer this to students all around Australia who may not be able to afford classes normally,” Webster said.

“We’re offering classes at $5 per class, so it’s super cheap. And it could be for kids who have never tried singing, or maybe they’re frightened to come into a big class situation.

“With my singing, I’m teaching vocal warmups and strength, and then we’re working on different songs from pop to musical theatre.

“I’m having a lot of fun and really looking forward to Term 2.”

For more info about Nikki Webster’s online classes, click here.

Source: 7news.com.au