NIKKI OPENS UP ABOUT RAISING HER TWO KIDS AND LIVING HER DREAMS
By April Glover
Nikki Webster certainly has a lot on her plate, with raising two children, juggling three dance studios and now a plum new hosting gig with Dance Mums Australia.
The darling of the 2000 Sydney Olympics – now all grown up as a mother of two and a savvy business owner – is not afraid to transform into a no-nonsense dance teacher on the new reality show.
Speaking with New Idea to promote the casting call for the show, the 32-year-old says her own child-star past has coloured both motherhood and her career.
“I’ll definitely be mentoring [the dancers], but I’ll also not be taking any crap! It’s going to be tough. To get to that elite level takes a lot of training and discipline,” Nikki explains.
“There will be drama and glitter! It’s also coming from the perspective of me as a child star. I’ll be helping them along the pressures I’ve been through. And being quite tough on them.”
Nikki was thrust into stardom at the age of 13, and she knows exactly how hard it can be to make it in the industry.
“It does make me allow my children just to enjoy being kids and enjoy every moment. I’m also very supportive of whatever path they choose. I was lucky enough to have parents who supported me through my dreams, no matter how crazy they were,” she says.
The past year has been a whirlwind for Nikki. She was back in the spotlight on The Masked Singer Australia while battling her own private heartache. The singer quietly split from her husband Matthew, the father of her children, Skylah, 5, and Malachi, 2, after seven years of marriage.
But with help from her kids and parents, Nikki is determined to march into 2020 with her head held high.
“[My parents] taught me how to be a good mum. I model how I’m a parent off my own parents, and it’s a matter of being there and supporting them, doing whatever I can to make sure they achieve their goals, if they’re going to work hard. I’m there to support them no matter what they choose. That’s kind of the mum I want to be,” she says.
Being a single mother is no easy feat, but neither is turning child-stardom into a successful career as an adult. Nikki says it’s a testament to working hard on and off the stage to give her and her children the best life possible.
“Even though I haven’t been in the spotlight, I’ve still been working behind the scenes, writing music and things like that. I feel like I’ve never left, but I’ve been lucky enough to get some great opportunities,” she says.
“I think I’m able to juggle it. I’ll make it work. It’ll be a busy time, but a really exciting time.” As it nears the 20th anniversary of the Sydney Olympics and her debut on the world stage, Nikki hints at something special in the works.
“There’s a few rumours of things – nothing’s locked in yet! It was such a proud moment, I think we should definitely celebrate it in some way. We did on the 10 years, so hopefully we do on the 20th!”
Source: New Idea
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