By Rose Donohoe
As a skinny 13-year-old, she captivated the world as the star of the Sydney 2000 Olympics opening and closing ceremonies – but Nikki Webster has been off the radar of most Australians in the decade since.
Belting out the patriotic ‘Under These Southern Skies’ in a pink sundress and blonde curls, Webster became every young girl’s hero when she flew 25 metres above Homebush Stadium and journeyed from the Dreamtime to modern day Australia with local icons Kylie Minogue, Yothu Yindi and Midnight Oil.
Sure, they had model Gisele Bündchen stomp the runway, but watching Rio’s effort last week, it was clear their opening ceremony would not produce a Nikki Webster.
But like so many child stars before (and after) her, Webster’s rise to fame was ultimately unsustainable.
Now 29, the mother-of-one and dance school owner boasts a resume that includes everything from a controversial appearance on Dancing With the Stars, a duet with Michael Jackson and a misdirected men’s magazine cover shoot.
“There were a lot people trying to dictate me doing the sexy thing … so I said to mum and dad, ‘I’m off’,” Webster told Today Extra on Monday.
‘She needed to be fearless’
In his book Master of the Ceremonies, director Ric Birch wrote that the decision to choose Webster in 2000 was unanimous.
“She epitomised young Australia – frank, friendly and fearless, an innocent on the edge of greatness,” he said.
When the crop of 2000 Olympic hopefuls was whittled down to a final four, it was clear Webster – who had already starred in stage productions of Les Miserables and The Sound of Music – had a unique advantage over the other girls.
“Some of them just weren’t keen at all about being suspended 35–40 metres above an arena with no net and on one single line, and which was quite safe, but scary,” choreographer David Atkins said.
‘So many beautiful memories’
Webster holds happy memories from her time in the spotlight, posting a message on Instagram last week in which she expressed her joy.
“Feeling very nostalgic and emotional today, remembering 16 years ago I was lucky enough to play the hero girl in the incredible Sydney 2000 Olympic opening ceremony,” she wrote.
“Thank you David Atkins and Ric Birch for believing in me and allowing me to play this beautiful role and bring your vision to the world. What a huge honor [sic].
“So many beautiful memories of everyone I got to work with and meet during the Olympics.
“I am so blessed to have an amazing career following my dreams and working in the entertainment industry – making music, and running performing arts studios teaching the young stars of tomorrow in my beautiful country.
“So proud to be an Aussie and so excited to watch our athletes bring home the medals.”
Post-Olympics and ‘Strawberry Kisses’
In the afterglow of Sydney 2000, Webster was signed to record label BMG Music and immediately produced a hit.
The sickly sweet and undeniably catchy ‘Strawberry Kisses’ shot to number two on the ARIA charts, playing on Webster’s status as a cutesy tween idol.
But five albums later, the singer still hadn’t come close to matching the success of ‘Strawberry Kisses’ and had unwittingly become a national punchline – something she blamed on tall poppy syndrome.
Trying to dismantle her pre-teen image, by 19 Webster had starred on not one but two men’s magazine covers.
“I need something to shock people a little bit,” she said at the time.
But the racy shoots did little to reinvent Webster’s image – so inextricably tied to the little girl in the pink dress.
“It was quite dark and I think that’s why I went to LA, because I thought ‘I need to do this by myself’,” she told The Daily Telegraph last year.
Returning to Australia in 2005, Webster still couldn’t catch a break, criticised as a contestant on Dancing With the Stars for having an “unfair advantage” due to her dance training growing up.
The media storm culminated in judge Todd McKenney giving Webster a paltry 1/10 for her routine and embarrassing her on national television.
Since then, Webster’s life appears much more settled.
The singer opened the first of her Nikki Webster-branded talent studios in 2010 with her brother Scott.
She’s also a mother her two-year-old daughter, Skylah, with husband Matthew McMah, who works in aviation.
Source: thenewdaily.com.au