Former child star Nikki Webster has spoken about her ‘tough time’ after leaving her ex-husband who was convicted of common assault.
The 37-year-old rose to fame aged 13 after performing at the 2000 Sydney Olympics opening ceremony.
She went on to release the hit song Strawberry Kisses which has since become the unofficial anthem of Australia’s women’s football team, The Matildas.
As well as her music career, the Sydney native has also appeared on Dancing with the Stars and The Masked Singer Australia.
In a new interview on the Kyle and Jackie O show she spoke candidly about her past relationship with estranged husband Matthew McMah who she was married to from 2012 to 2018.
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Nikki told presenter Kyle Sandilands that the reason she is currently single is ‘not a very happy story’, adding that she has had a ‘pretty bad few years’.
When pushed about why she hasn’t struck up a new relationship, she added: ‘I think that it’s just not the right time and I’ve been focusing on my kids and going through quite a tough time.’
She had two children with her former partner, Skylah, 10, and son Malachi, seven.
‘I come from quite a bad background of some domestic violence and stuff so I’m happy to be on the other side of that and I’ve just been focusing on life and kids,’ she said.
Kyle then expressed his shock at the news, wondering: ‘Where was the world’s media when that was happening?’
Nikki replied: ‘I think it’s more of a private matter and just making sure everyone is okay.’
Although Nikki, who runs three Sydney-based dance studios, added that she is ‘really good’ now.
In 2019, according to the Daily Telegraph in Australia, a police report detailed that flight attendant Matthew had been convicted of common assault domestic violence and fined $880 after an altercation outside Nikki’s Leichhardt Sydney dance studio.
During the incident, Matthew reportedly pulled his car outside the studio and got into a heated argument with Nikki. Nikki then leaned into the back of the car after which ‘began slowly rolling the car forward a short distance and stopped’.
After demanding she close the door, he left the driver’s seat and grabbed her forearms ‘causing immediate pain and causing her to fall to the ground.’ Nikki then retreated and called the police.
Last year, Nikki made headlines after she performed Strawberry Kisses with the Matildas in person after they started using the tune for their dressing room arm up.
At the time goalie, Mackenzie Arnold, told the press: ‘Strawberry Kisses by Nikki Webster has been a team favourite the last couple week.
‘I don’t know where that’s come from. I think actually it is [teammate] Steph Catley’s favourite song and now we’ve all jumped on the wagon.’
Speaking about her connection to the song, Steph said in a social media video: ‘It’s a banger of a song. Iconic. I had it as a CD in my Walkman, and it was a single, and I’d just listen to it over and over again,” she said.
‘So it reminds me of my childhood. It’s happiness in a song and, yeah, just gets me going on the day. And in the changeroom apparently now.’