Nikki Webster

Nicole Marie Webster[1] (born 30 April 1987) is an Australian pop singer. She is best known for her role in performing at the 2000 Sydney Summer Olympics opening ceremony and her song "Strawberry Kisses", which made number 21 on the list of Top 25 singles in Australia released in 2001.

Nikki Webster
Background information
Birth nameNicole Marie Webster
Born (1987-04-30) 30 April 1987
Sydney, Australia
GenresPop
Occupation(s)Singer, actress, dancer
Years active1992–present
LabelsGotham (2001–2004)
Piller Records (2006–2010)
Spirit Music Group + Yummie Records (2012–present)
Websitenikkiwebster.com.au

Early life

Webster was born on 30 April 1987, to parents Tina and Mark Webster in Sydney, New South Wales. At a young age, she told her parents that she wanted to go into show business, so she started taking lessons.[2] She attended the McDonald College of Performing Arts in Sydney.[3]

Early career

Webster's first job was as part of the ensemble cast in the pantomime Cinderella at the State Theatre in Sydney, at the age of five.[4] The production starred Jo Beth Taylor as Cinderella, Nancye Hayes as the Fairy Godmother, Lochie Daddo as the Prince, Bert Newton as The Baron, and Bruce Spence and Paul Blackwell as the Ugly Step-sisters. The following year she appeared in a production of Aladdin.

Webster appeared in television commercials including Twisties, Lay's chips and Campbell's Soup.[5] At 10 years old, Webster played the Young Cosette in Les Misérables, and in 1999–2000 starred as Brigitta Von Trapp in a stage production of The Sound of Music, alongside Lisa McCune, John Waters and Bert Newton.

In March 2000, Webster auditioned for an unknown part in the 2000 Summer Olympics opening ceremony. In August following an elimination process, she was told by opening ceremony artistic director/producer David Atkins that the role was hers.[6]

At the age of 13, Webster played a major part in the opening ceremony, including performing the song "Under Southern Skies". She also performed "We'll Be One" at the closing ceremony.

Recording career

2000–2004: Follow Your Heart, Bliss and Let's Dance

Webster signed a contract with BMG at the age of 13, after her success in the Olympics and her first single "Strawberry Kisses" reached No. 2 on the Australian singles charts in 2001 holding the position for 7 weeks. Her debut album Follow Your Heart also went platinum with second single "Depend on Me" going top 20 and third single "The Best Days"/"Over the Rainbow" reaching No. 21. She also starred as Dorothy in an Australian stage performance of The Wizard of Oz which ran between 2001 and 2002. Webster was nominated for an ARIA Award for Best Selling album and she won a John O'Keefe Encouragement Award at the 2001 Mo Awards.

Webster's 2002 BLISS album also went gold with a cover of American girl group P.Y.T.'s "Something More Beautiful" reaching No. 13 and going gold, while the second single "24/7 (Crazy 'bout Your Smile)" also reached the top 20.

Later, Webster released a cover version of "Dancing in the Street" by Martha and the Vandellas which reached the top twenty while her 2004 single "Let's Dance" reached the top 40 in Australia. A greatest hits album was released soon afterwards.

2005–present

In early 2005, Webster hosted The Greatest Circus Acts of All Time on the Seven Network. She was announced as one of the contestants in season 2 of Dancing with the Stars. She was criticized for having an "unfair advantage" over other dancers because of her previous dancing experience.[7] Webster and dance partner Sasha Farber were eliminated in week six of the series after judge Todd McKenney gave them a score of one out of 10.[8] Webster appeared on the May 2005 cover of FHM after the magazine approached her to do the shoot as a celebration of turning 18.[9] She was voted #7 in the FHM Australia 100 Sexiest Women 2005 list.[10] Webster also appeared in one episode of Australian TV series Thank God You're Here as a cast member.

In 2006, Webster stated in interviews that she was living and working in Nashville, United States, writing with well-known writers working on her new album. It was also revealed she headed to Los Angeles to develop a new style of music heading for a more mature pop sound. In 2006, she modelled for the cover of Zoo Weekly to celebrate her 19th birthday.

In May 2007, Webster played the lead role of Sheila in a Perth production of the rock musical Hair along with Rob Mills and Cosima De Vito. In September 2007, Webster raised eyebrows by performing as a wind-up doll at the Sydney gay and lesbian dance party Sleaze Ball.[11] This and her October 2006 photoshoot appearance in men's magazine FHM were seen as an attempt to mature her image, but attracted wide ridicule given her previous role in the 2000 Olympics. Webster regularly appeared on the show 20 to 1.

In January 2008, Webster announced she would be opening a performing arts school in February with brother Scott in a bid to help young people get into the industry.[12] In January 2012 they opened a second school on the Central Coast, NSW.[13] It was announced in May 2009 that Nikki was set to release her first new single in five years, "Devilicious", on 12 June. She performed "Devilicious" on The Morning Show in August 2009 in order to promote the single.

Webster made a guest appearance on 15 July 2009 episode of The Chaser's War on Everything, in a music video parody of the Barack Obama viral video "Yes We Can", the parody based on Kevin Rudd's speeches.[14]

In February 2010, Webster and her brother Scott opened a talent and modeling agency for kids, Talent @ Nikki Webster.

Webster had a role in the 2012 independent feature Circle of Lies.[15][16]

Other work

In 2001, Webster was named the face of Jager Cosmetics' "It's a Girl Thing" range for young teens.[17] She was featured on their website and in print ads.

Webster was approached by executives at Kmart to create her own range of clothing. The 'Nikki Webster' clothing and accessories range for girls aged between 5–10 was first released in stores in August 2003. She said, "My clothes are more about fun and they're all bright colours. I want kids to have fun and be individuals in my clothes."[18] Webster designed the clothes herself and travelled to L.A. and London to "have a look at international fashion for inspiration."[19]

In 2019, Webster appeared as a contestant on The Masked Singer Australia as Alien, and was voted off in the third episode.[20]

Personal life

Webster got engaged to Matthew McMah in January 2011,[21][22][23] and they were married on 10 November 2012.[24] They separated in 2018[25] and have two children together.[26][27]

Webster owns a children's dance school with three studios in Sydney called "Dance At Nikki Webster".[28][29]

Discography
Main article: Nikki Webster discography

Performances
Film
Year Title Role Notes
2012 Circle of Lies V One of the exclusives
Theatre
Year Title Role Notes
2001 The Wizard of Oz Dorothy Ran between 2001 and 2002.
2007 Hair Sheila Only in Perth, Western Australia
Rent Maureen Only in Bunbury and Perth, Western Australia
Television
Year Title Role Notes
2010 Sunday Night: Stars of Sydney Herself
2009 Talkin' 'bout your Generation Herself
The Chaser's War on Everything Herself Sketch: "In Due Season" (a parody of "Yes We Can") from Series 3, Episode 6
The Merrick & Rosso Show Herself Sketch: Australian Story Season 2, Episode 3 and Sketch: Celebrity Skip Gotcha! Season 2, Episode 9
Advertising
Year Title Role Notes
2013 BPAY Herself [30]
19xx Twisties Herself
19xx Australian Toaster Biscuits Herself [31]

Awards and nominations

ARIA Music Awards

The ARIA Music Awards is an annual awards ceremony that recognises excellence, innovation, and achievement across all genres of Australian music. It commenced in 1987.

Year Nominee / work Award Result
2001 "Strawberry Kisses" ARIA Award for Highest Selling Single Nominated
2002 Follow Your Heart ARIA Award for Highest Selling Album Nominated

Mo Awards

The Australian Entertainment Mo Awards (commonly known informally as the Mo Awards), were annual Australian entertainment industry awards. They recognise achievements in live entertainment in Australia from 1975 to 2016.[32]

Year Nominee / work Award Result (wins only)
2000 Nikki Webster The Johnny O'Keefe Encouragement Award Won

Nerf Herder wrote a song about Webster that was included as a bonus track on their 2001 EP My E.P..

References
  1. "Nikki Webster and Jamie from BB07 in a radio interview". YouTube. 30 May 2009. Archived from the original on 22 December 2021.
  2. "Nice Life, how'd you get it?". Dolly. June 2005.
  3. "Alumni – The McDonald College". www.mcdonald.nsw.edu.au/. Retrieved 13 August 2021.
  4. "It pays to have a great accountant". WA Today. 13 April 2008.
  5. "Still flying high". The Sun-Herald. 10 December 2000.
  6. "Child Stars – What happens when they grow up?". Stage Whispers. November 2011.
  7. "Fair game?". TV Week. 2005.
  8. "Dancing controversy". TheAge.com.au. 17 March 2005.
  9. "Game on, says Nikki". smh.com.au. 6 April 2005.
  10. "Bec Australia's sexiest". THEAGE.COM.AU. 28 April 2005.
  11. "Daring Nikki has never feared the cutting edge of life". The Sydney Morning Herald. 30 September 2007.
  12. "Singer gives dance a chance". The Sydney Morning Herald.
  13. "Nikki Webster set to expand her business to the Central Coast". Central Coast Business Insider. Archived from the original on 18 February 2012. Retrieved 19 July 2012.
  14. "In Due Season". The Chaser's War on Everything. Australian Broadcasting Corporation. Archived from the original on 22 December 2021. Retrieved 13 June 2010.
  15. "Big break for Nikki Webster". The Sunday Telegraph. 27 March 2011.
  16. "Circle of Lies". IMDb. Retrieved 27 November 2016.
  17. "Nikki Webster's cosmetics deal". B&T. 2 March 2001. Archived from the original on 31 December 2012.
  18. "Nikki takes on the big girls of pop". smh.com.au. 6 October 2003.
  19. "Nikki Webster". Girl Power. February 2005.
  20. Elshawarby, Nadia (2 October 2019). "The Masked Singer: Nikki Webster hints she's making a music comeback", Who. Retrieved 3 October 2019.
  21. "Woman's Day". Nikki Webster Fan. 28 February 2011.
  22. "Nikki Webster all grown up and engaged". The Advertiser. 28 February 2011.
  23. "Nikki Webster's Olympic ring". Herald Sun. 22 February 2011.
  24. "NIKKI WEBSTER GETS MARRIED – The Hype Yahoo!7". Archived from the original on 28 November 2012. Retrieved 19 November 2012.
  25. "Nikki Webster's shock split: My new life as a single mum!". nowtolove.com.au. Retrieved 8 October 2019.
  26. "Nikki Webster reveals: I'm pregnant!". Woman's Day. 16 December 2013.
  27. "Nikki Webster: Meet my little star!". Woman's Day. 10 March 2014.
  28. "Dance Nikki Webster – Dance @ Nikki Webster offers a huge range of dance classes for students of any experience level, from two to 18 years". Dance Nikki Webster. Retrieved 13 August 2021.
  29. "Nikki Webster devastated as coronavirus forces her to shut down dance studios". celebrity.nine.com.au. 24 March 2020. Retrieved 13 August 2021.
  30. "BPAY View: Nikki Webster". SoundCloud.
  31. "Australian Toaster Biscuits: Nikki Webster". YouTube. Archived from the original on 22 December 2021.
  32. "MO Award Winners". Mo Awards. Retrieved 16 March 2022.
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