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Sydney Olympics icon opens up on domestic violence abuse

<p>In a rare and candid interview, former child star Nikki Webster has spoken about her challenging journey of recovery from domestic violence.</p> <p>The 37-year-old, known for her iconic performance at the 2000 Sydney Olympics and the hit song "Strawberry Kisses", shared her experiences on KIIS FM’s The Kyle and Jackie O Show.</p> <p>Webster, now a mother of two and the owner of a dance school, opened up about her struggles during a segment of the show. When co-host Kyle Sandilands inquired about her dating life, he seemed unaware of her much-publicised marriage breakdown in 2019, where her ex-husband was charged with a domestic violence offence.</p> <p>“I’m single,” Webster replied, prompting Sandilands to ask, “Why? Where’s your bloke?” She described the situation as “a long story” and “not a very happy story", revealing she had faced “a pretty hard few years”.</p> <p>Webster was previously married to Qantas flight attendant Matthew McMah. The couple, who married in 2012, separated eight years later. In November 2019, it was revealed that McMah had been convicted of assaulting Webster earlier that year. He received an $880 fine at the Downing Centre Local Court.</p> <p>Encouraged by Sandilands' lighthearted questions, Webster chose to share more about her past, mentioning her challenging experiences with domestic violence. “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, you know, focusing on life and kids,” she said. Webster confirmed she is doing "great" now, focusing on her children and her life.</p> <p>In a previous interview with <em>Woman’s Day</em>, Webster expressed hope for future love while reaffirming her commitment to her children. "I hope one day the right person will come along and it will just happen," she said, adding, "But I’m really happy with being a mum; it’s my favourite job in the world."</p> <p><em>Images: Instagram / KIISFM</em></p>

Family & Pets

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Keanu Reeves “gatecrashes” wedding

<p dir="ltr">The last thing anyone would want is for their wedding to be gatecrashed by an unexpected guest. </p> <p dir="ltr">This happened to James and Nikki Roadnight when they were exchanging their vows…but the guest was in fact someone they wanted there.</p> <p dir="ltr">The couple from the UK were celebrating their marriage when James ran into John Wick star Keanu Reeves at the Fawsley Hall where the reception was being held. </p> <p dir="ltr">James invited the Hollywood heartthrob to the wedding and join the guests for a drink if he wanted to. </p> <p dir="ltr">"My husband saw him in the bar area and told him he'd just got married and invited Keanu to come over to say hello and have a drink with us if he wanted to,” Nikki told <a href="https://www.newsweek.com/keanu-reeves-unexpected-appearance-uk-wedding-reception-1736831" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Newsweek</a>. </p> <p dir="ltr">"He was very friendly and said he would later on. We didn't know if he would or not but it was cool that my husband had spoken to him!"</p> <p dir="ltr">About an hour later, hotel staff approached Nikki and told her there was a “special guest” who wanted to speak to her and she was then introduced to Keanu Reeves.</p> <p dir="ltr">"It was all very exciting and I went to say hi and introduce myself, and I offered him a drink but he declined that and said he'd just had a long flight so wouldn't stay long but he was so kind and friendly and congratulated us on our wedding," she said.</p> <p dir="ltr">"He was kind enough to do some pictures and our wedding photographer was able to capture some too! Then he took the time to speak to some of our guests and have more photos done!"</p> <p dir="ltr">The huge Keanu Reeves fans were ecstatic that their day was blessed with the actor’s presence. </p> <p dir="ltr"><em>Images: Facebook</em></p>

Relationships

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Nikki Webster and daughter celebrate 20th anniversary of Sydney Olympics

<div class="post_body_wrapper"> <div class="post_body"> <div class="body_text "> <p>Nikki Webster made headlines when she performed at the opening ceremony of the Sydney Olympics and 20 years on has decided to share what the experience was like.</p> <p>“There was no written book on how to do it right. We just kind of went with it. Took the experience for what it was and that,” she explained.</p> <p>“I got to be immersed with so many different people from around the world, I got to make music and clothing ranges and do so much,” she added.</p> <p>The 33-year-old recently shared with <em>news.com.au </em>just how stressful the opening night ceremony was.</p> <p>“The only thing I was nervous about was being able to fly, because that was a major part of it,” she said.</p> <p>“I think in two of the dress rehearsals the week before it was so windy that I couldn’t fly.</p> <p>“It wasn’t that I didn’t want to, but I wasn’t allowed to.</p> <p>“Then on the day I remember the wind picked up in the afternoon and I thought it wasn’t going to happen, but thankfully it did.”</p> <blockquote style="background: #FFF; border: 0; border-radius: 3px; box-shadow: 0 0 1px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.5),0 1px 10px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.15); margin: 1px; max-width: 540px; min-width: 326px; padding: 0; width: calc(100% - 2px);" class="instagram-media" data-instgrm-permalink="https://www.instagram.com/tv/CFG8MJmnih_/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_campaign=loading" data-instgrm-version="12"> <div style="padding: 16px;"> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: row; align-items: center;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; flex-grow: 0; height: 40px; margin-right: 14px; width: 40px;"></div> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: column; flex-grow: 1; justify-content: center;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px; width: 100px;"></div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; width: 60px;"></div> </div> </div> <div style="padding: 19% 0;"></div> <div style="display: block; height: 50px; margin: 0 auto 12px; width: 50px;"></div> <div style="padding-top: 8px;"> <div style="color: #3897f0; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: 550; line-height: 18px;">View this post on Instagram</div> </div> <p style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 17px; margin-bottom: 0; margin-top: 8px; overflow: hidden; padding: 8px 0 7px; text-align: center; text-overflow: ellipsis; white-space: nowrap;"><a style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 17px; text-decoration: none;" rel="noopener" href="https://www.instagram.com/tv/CFG8MJmnih_/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_campaign=loading" target="_blank">A post shared by Nikki Webster (@nikkiwebsterofficial)</a> on Sep 14, 2020 at 12:25am PDT</p> </div> </blockquote> <p>Webster was in a harness and was flown across the stadium for five minutes before landing and performing <em>Under The Southern Skies</em>.</p> <p>20 years on, she's now the proud mother of two kids, Skylah, 5 and Malachi, 2.</p> <p>To celebrate the anniversary of the Olympics with her family, she got out the pink floral dress that she wore on stage and was surprised her daughter could fit into it.</p> <blockquote style="background: #FFF; border: 0; border-radius: 3px; box-shadow: 0 0 1px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.5),0 1px 10px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.15); margin: 1px; max-width: 540px; min-width: 326px; padding: 0; width: calc(100% - 2px);" class="instagram-media" data-instgrm-captioned="" data-instgrm-permalink="https://www.instagram.com/p/CD-1aronn-E/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_campaign=loading" data-instgrm-version="12"> <div style="padding: 16px;"> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: row; align-items: center;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; flex-grow: 0; height: 40px; margin-right: 14px; width: 40px;"></div> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: column; flex-grow: 1; justify-content: center;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px; width: 100px;"></div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; width: 60px;"></div> </div> </div> <div style="padding: 19% 0;"></div> <div style="display: block; height: 50px; margin: 0 auto 12px; width: 50px;"></div> <div style="padding-top: 8px;"> <div style="color: #3897f0; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: 550; line-height: 18px;">View this post on Instagram</div> </div> <p style="margin: 8px 0 0 0; padding: 0 4px;"><a style="color: #000; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 17px; text-decoration: none; word-wrap: break-word;" rel="noopener" href="https://www.instagram.com/p/CD-1aronn-E/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_campaign=loading" target="_blank">20 years on from #Sydney2000 and I can no longer fit into the dress but someone else can!</a></p> <p style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 17px; margin-bottom: 0; margin-top: 8px; overflow: hidden; padding: 8px 0 7px; text-align: center; text-overflow: ellipsis; white-space: nowrap;">A post shared by <a style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 17px;" rel="noopener" href="https://www.instagram.com/nikkiwebsterofficial/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_campaign=loading" target="_blank"> Nikki Webster</a> (@nikkiwebsterofficial) on Aug 17, 2020 at 12:19am PDT</p> </div> </blockquote> <p>She's also excited to show her children and husband Matthew McMah the entire opening ceremony at the Sydney Olympics.</p> <p>“I think she is ready to watch the whole thing,” she said.</p> <p>“To understand the culture of Australia, the deep sea dreaming, and how the whole thing was represented.”</p> </div> </div> </div>

Beauty & Style

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Merriam-Webster adds abbreviations to dictionary

<p>Among the 2,000 new entries to the Merriam-Webster Unabridged edition of the dictionary was a series of abbreviations that say a lot about the word we live in. Apparently letters now count as words in a dictionary. The most popular additions include:</p> <ul> <li>FOMO <em>n, informa</em>l: "Fear of missing out." The anxiety caused by not being included in something (such as an interesting or enjoyable activity) that others are experiencing</li> <li>ICYMI <em>abbr</em>: "In case you missed it." Used to draw attention to something published or posted online earlier</li> <li>TMI <em>abbr</em>: "Too much information."</li> </ul> <p>If you’re shaking your head in disapproval, take heart that the editors judged these abbreviations seriously, only allowing it onto the pages of the dictionary if it had made a significant mark on language and would likely endure in the future.</p> <p>"It doesn't happen quickly – we monitored many of these words for years before they'd met our criteria for entry – and it's pushed by various fields and endeavours," the company said on their website.</p> <p><strong>Related links: </strong></p> <p><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><strong><a href="http://www.oversixty.co.nz/entertainment/books/2016/03/best-selling-books-of-all-time/"><em>Best-selling books of all time</em></a></strong></span></p> <p><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><strong><a href="http://www.oversixty.co.nz/entertainment/books/2016/03/best-crime-books/"><em>5 crime books you need to read</em></a></strong></span></p> <p><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><strong><a href="http://www.oversixty.co.nz/entertainment/books/2016/03/top-influential-books-of-all-time/"><em>7 of the top influential books of all time</em></a></strong></span></p>

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