Our Olympic darling is back with her own pop single and a movie role. It seems the sky’s the limit for Nikki Webster.
Nikki Webster is no ordinary teenager. At the tender age of 13, Nikki found herself in the international spotlight at the Sydney Olympics. Now, almost a year later, she’s back with a pop single, Strawberry Kisses. Looking more than comfortable in a plush office at record company BMG’s Sydney office, Nikki says she’s looking forward to the new direction in her already impressive career.
“This is a lot more fun [than the Olympics] because I’m doing my own album and video clip, which is fantastic. But they are both different. This is a pop song and a whole new image compared to the Olympics.”
The change is apparent in Nikki’s first video clip, which sees the Sydney teenager toss away her opening ceremony garb before stepping into a pair of funky pink leather pants and a matching midriff top. “I designed all the clothes,” explains Nikki. “I sit down with my stylist and say what I like. But I’m not very good at drawing, so she’s the one who does the sketches then finds the material and stuff like that.”
While Nikki sings about telling a boy how much she likes him, she says she doesn’t have a boyfriend, despite having been linked with pint-sized American pop star Aaron Carter. “We’re just friends,” says Nikki about Aaron, the younger brother of Backstreet Boys’ Nick Carter. “We went out together as friends for a radio station. He’s great and it’s interesting to see how he’s come along in his career as he’s the same age. But I still haven’t got a boyfriend.”
Of course, even at 14, Nikki would hardly have time, with promotional tours and dance classes taking up most of her days. In fact, her life is so busy that if it wasn’t for her regular dance lessons, Nikki would barely see her friends.
“My friends treat me no differently and have been very supportive. They’ve been with me every step of the way. They’re all dancers and so they’re all in the video. It was great to be able to have them share the experience. And hopefully when I do my performances they’ll be able to travel with me.”
Although Nikki hopes to start touring soon, she may have to put her travelling plans on hold to film her first Hollywood feature movie role, Vanilla Gorilla. The film, in which Nikki is set to play the lead, tells the story of a gorilla who teaches Nikki sign language. “Hopefully we’ll start filming that later this year, but because of the actors’ strike [in the US] it’s put us behind a little,” she says.
Not bad for someone who just last year admitted to dreaming of becoming a pop and movie star. “My dream has come true so quickly. I’d like to see my single and album do well next. But I’d also like to become an all-round performer who is around for a long time – someone like Kylie or Olivia, who are my idols and are loved by a whole range of audiences.”
Story: Erin Craven and Paula Shearer
Source: TV Week
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