[footage plays]
Our introduction to Nikki Webster came as a surprise and was watched by billions of people. At just 13, she was barely a speck as she flew through the skies above Sydney Olympic Stadium and into a nation’s heart.
NIKKI WEBSTER: No-one knew that I was gonna fly up, so it was like a total… amazing for the whole audience.
It launched a career as a bubblegum pop star. And that tiny schoolgirl grew before our eyes. Sometimes a little too quickly. But for Nikki Webster, what started with an Olympics has led to a life doing what she dreamed of at age five: performing.
[footage ends]
HERMIONE: And Nikki joins us now on the desk. Welcome, Nikki.
NIKKI: Thank-you.
HERMIONE: How do you feel when you see that opening ceremony vision now?
NIKKI: It just brings back amazing memories. I mean it was such an incredible fantasy to be a part of, to play that Hero Girl that connected the whole opening ceremony and to hold that role, was incredible and it was memories that I’ll never forget. I was so blessed to be working with such an incredible team in Australia. And just the whole atmosphere on the night was electric and I’m so excited to see London’s opening ceremony.
BRAD McEWAN: Nikki that was 12 years ago though, do you still get recognized, you know in the supermarket people look at you and go, “Was that you or wasn’t that you?”
NIKKI: Yeah, I still get… A lot of people go, “You look like Nikki Webster,” and I say, “That’s ’cause I am,” and they go, “No you’re not!” And then I never know how to answer. But I definitely, depending on how I look on the day, if I’m looking really scraggly I get away with it but if I actually have make-up on then I do get recognized.
ANGELA BISHOP: It led to so many other career opportunities for you of course. You had an absolutely fantastic pop career and today, with all of the Jackson family in the news today, it’s a good time to remember you actually performed a duet with Michael Jackson…
NIKKI: I did!
ANGELA: And then went back to his room.
NIKKI: I did, I went back to his room that he gave to me.
BRAD: Really?!
NIKKI: That was before the Olympics!
ANGELA: Nothing sinister.
BRAD: No, no, no, but really?
NIKKI: Yeah! We had M&M fights in his hotel room and I was lucky enough to sing Heal The World with him on his last HIStory Tour in Australia, on stage. So I’ve got wonderful memories. I’ve been so lucky. I’ve traveled around the world with my music and performing, performed with such Australian icons as well, so I’m very lucky.
HERMIONE: The focus now for you is your dancing schools, you’ve got two different ones.
NIKKI: That’s right, I have. Two dance studios, Dance @ Nikki Webster – one in Sydney and now we’ve just opened one on the Central Coast. So I’m teaching kids, I’m seeing such inspirational children and it’s really, I guess rekindled my love of performing to see them and teach them what I can along the way.
BRAD: Let’s get back to Sydney. You must have the most wonderful memories and have met so many special people being out there.
NIKKI: I have met the most incredible people. But I’m kind of sitting here thinking, do I recognize you Hermione? Were you…?
ANGELA: Aaah, yes! [laughs]
HERMIONE: No, no, no.
NIKKI: Were you a part of the opening ceremony in anything?
HERMIONE: I was, I was a part of the Eternity section.
NIKKI: The Eternity!
HERMIONE: With the Tap Dogs, tapping in the old boots.
ANGELA: I think co-stars is the term we’re looking for, here.
HERMIONE: I was just one of the very many others dancing around Nikki.
NIKKI: It wouldn’t have happened without you, that’s for sure. It was everybody, it was teamwork!
HERMIONE: But I agree with you, the atmosphere was absolutely amazing. And just to be a part of what was going to be a huge Games, and yeah it was fantastic.
NIKKI: Yeah, it certainly was and I have these memories for life and I just, you know, I can’t wait to tell everybody throughout my life about the opportunities I had and the people I met from around the world that came to be a part of the opening ceremony.
BRAD: What about after the Games? You had a single that I remember…
NIKKI: I did! I did Strawberry Kisses.
BRAD: I remember it! Strawberry Kisses!
NIKKI: Yeah that little song Strawberry Kisses. That was my biggest hit, probably one of my funnest tracks. And then I did four albums, um, I did Wizard of Oz.
ANGELA: Wizard of Oz, with Bert Newton.
NIKKI: With the amazing Bert. I did tours, I had a clothing range in Kmart, which was the highest-selling girls range, so the Olympics really started and launched such a wonderful career for me, and a journey. It was all, you know, every step of the way was something new and fun.
ANGELA: What advice would you have to any young person who gets that kind of stardom? You know, you’ve grown up, you’re a role model, you haven’t fallen to pieces, you know. What advice would you give?
NIKKI: Family’s always there for you, you know, never forget that, and enjoy the journey. There are gonna be people that wanna take a piece of you, but really kind of work out… if your gut instinct is telling you no, then I would say that that’s something to really follow. And enjoy it! It happens once, enjoy it and see where it takes you.
BRAD: Wonderful.
HERMIONE: Nikki thank you so much for taking a trip down memory lane with us, we really appreciate it!
NIKKI: Oh, it’s wonderful! It’s such an electric time of the year and I wish all the athletes the best of luck.