'I was the punch line of everyone's joke': Child star Nikki Webster describes her time in the spotlight as 'dark' and says public criticism nearly drove her out of Australia
She sang her way into the hearts of the nation 15 years ago, when she took centre stage flying over the crowd of the 2000 Sydney Olympic Games.
But although she enjoyed all the trimmings of fame at just the tender age of 13, Nikki Webster has described the period of her life that came after as 'dark.'
Speaking to The Daily Telegraph on Saturday, the former child star – now 28-years-old - revealed she moved to Los Angeles to escape the negative attention from the public at the time after saying: 'I was the punch line of everyone's joke and I was just a kid.'
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Revealing: Nikki Webster enjoyed all the trimmings of fame at just the tender age of 13, but has described the period of her life that came after as 'dark'
The public criticism that followed Nikki's rise to fame almost drove the iconic Australian talent out of the country for good.
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'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 admitted.
'I did question whether I wanted to come back as an artist here at all.'
The Strawberry Kisses singer admitted that she never had expected to be judged as harshly as she was and says that it was a hard thing to cope with as a teenager, relating the experience to Tall Poppy Syndrome.
'I was the punch line of everyone's joke and I was just a kid': Nikki revealed that she moved to Los Angeles to escape the negative attention she was receiving from the public at the time
Nikki says at the time she was focused on working hard on her career but wasn't getting the reception she had anticipated.
She was also dealing with harsh public backlash over her image as she felt pressured by the public to remain as the little girl who graced the Olympic stage in a sweet summer dress and golden locks tied with pink ribbons.
Speaking of her quick rise to fame, Nikki says that after the experience she never really returned back to normality.
'It became my norm - it became my life,' she says of the experience in the spotlight.
New role: Webster told Channel Seven's The Daily Edition in 2012 that she was loving being a mother
The vocalist and her husband Mark McMah, who tied the knot in November 2012, welcomed their new daughter Skylah on February 6 last year.
Webster told Channel Seven's The Daily Edition at the time that she's loving her new role as mother.
The singer, who currently runs two dance studios, even hinted that Skylah's future may already be paved with stardom - whether she likes it or not.
'It'll be up to her whether she wants it as a career,' she said.
'But then again she might not have a choice.'
Soulmates: The vocalist and her husband Mark McMah tied the knot in November 2012 and share a daughter
The apple doesn't fall far from the tree: The pair welcomed their new daughter Skylah on February 6 last year
Webster appeared on Dancing With The Stars in 2005 but was later criticised for having an unfair advantage over other contestants due to her previous dancing experience.
She was eliminated in week six after Judge Todd McKenney gave her a score of one out of ten.
In the same year, a racy Nikki appeared on the cover of FHM magazine the same year after she was asked to do the shoot in celebration of turning 18.
She was subsequently voted seventh in the FHM Australia 100 Sexiest Women 2005 list.
Celebrating adulthood: Nikki appeared on the cover of FHM magazine in 2005 in celebration of turning 18
Covergirl: Back in 2006, Nikki Webster was featured on the cover of Zoo magazine
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