Remember the little girl who stole the show at the 2000 Olympics? Nikki Webster’s now a big star, touring Europe and hanging out with her pal Kylie Minogue

You could understand why Nikki Webster’s classmates could be green with envy. Licking envelopes in an office for work experience doesn’t compare to touring Europe and singing in front of hordes of screaming fans. But that’s how Nikki, 15, spent her recent school holidays and work experience.

‘I went to Sweden, Holland, Denmark, Belgium and Finland,’ she says. ‘’It was great fun. In Holland I did two shows – with 10,000 people each!’

The teen who literally swung onto the world stage at the Sydney Olympics has grown up a great deal, and she says travelling has opened her eyes. Nikki toured for seven weeks with her dancers – her mum and dad took turns chaperoning – to promote her single Strawberry Kisses. She says it was odd ‘getting into that pink suit again’ but luckily, it still fits the growing girl.

‘Performing in front of all those kids who can’t speak your language but love your music – it was a great reward,’ Nikki says. In London, Nikki caught up with her friend and mentor Kylie Minogue.

‘She has given me great advice – mainly to be myself and take each day as it comes.’ It seems Kylie has a great sense of humour, too. During the Olympics, Kylie was having dinner with Nikki’s family at a Sydney restaurant when some Americans sent a bottle of wine to their table. Kylie went over with Nikki to thank them.

‘There I was, standing with someone so big – my idol – who has hit number one everywhere. They told me I was great and I said “thank you.” Then I stepped back to let Kylie speak and they said: “Oh, who are you?”’ Nikki giggles. ‘Kylie just laughed. That was before she had her big success in the US.’

Like Nikki, the music on her new album has grown up quite a bit. ‘The first single Something More Beautiful is not really a pop song and it’s not really a ballad. It’s in between. It’s definitely a lot older than Strawberry Kisses,’ she says.

‘It’s about a boy and it’s about wanting something more beautiful. I think everybody wants something more out of what they already have. I don’t have a boyfriend yet – so I’m sort of singing about I don’t know what!’

The video clip is set underwater and was shot on a green screen to allow for the digital wizardry to be added during post production. ‘It was fun to make,’ she says. ‘I had quite a bit of input into the idea. I designed all the clothes again. They [record executives] don’t have the point of view of a 15-year-old so for me to put that in is just great for my fans.’

Apart from her new album, Nikki has moved to Melbourne for her role as Dorothy in The Wizard of Oz and she’s completing Year 10. Despite having first-hand knowledge of the music industry, Nikki believes learning maths and English is just as important. ‘I want to continue my schooling through Years 11, 12 and university,’ she says.

Success hasn’t changed the girl who performed in front of 3.7 billion people. ‘It might have changed my life – travelling overseas and things like that – but not me as a person. I’m still pretty normal. It’s good to have the support of my friends and family.’

So what does the future hold?

‘I’m sure when I’m older I’ll look back on the Strawberry Kisses video and say: “Oh my God! Is that what I looked like?” I was watching old videos of Kylie – when she was doing Locomotion – and I thought: “What does she think when she looks back at those videos?”’ Nikki laughs.

‘Hopefully I’ll be around that long so I can look back on my old videos and say: “I can’t believe I wore that!”’

By Monique Butterworth

Source: New Idea
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