Kyliric Masella is in the running to be nominated for the Graham Kennedy Award for Best New Talent for her lead role as Fuzzy McCardell in NITV children’s TV drama series Grace Beside Me.
Born and raised in Sydney, the 13-year-old, better known as Kiki, has cultural ties to Dharumbal Aboriginal people of Central Queensland and to Tonga.
Kiki has been singing and dancing since she was a toddler and is one of the youngest people to be recognised as a candidate to receive a Logie award nomination.
"It's pretty surreal for me now," she told SBS News on Wednesday.
"I sat there for like five minutes thinking 'wow, what would I do if I would go to the Logies'."
Kyliric Masella plays the lead role in Grace Beside Me. Source: NITV
In 1988, a 19-year-old Kylie Minogue became the youngest recipient of a Gold Logie for her role as Charlene Mitchell in Neighbours.
Role model
Grace Beside Me is about an Indigenous girl and her supernatural gift. The TV series, which premiered in February on NITV, is adapted from the novel of the same name by Sue McPherson.
Kiki told SBS News she was proud of the character she plays on the show, and she and 'Fuzzy Mac' have a lot in common.
"Fuzzy has a very strong connection to her culture," Kiki said.
“She’s a very bright and happy girl and loves to hang out with her mates.
"In the show, they show Aboriginal culture and South Sea Islander culture which is very important."
Success in the arts runs in the family. Kiki’s sister 17-year-old Mi-Kaisha is also a singer, and the two share a very special bond.
“When I found out Kiki was nominated for a Logie it was honestly just surreal,” Mi-Kaisha told SBS News.
Kyliric Masella and Mi-Kaisha Masella Source: SBS
"For her to have this nomination at such a young age is really crazy.
“Even me being her older sister, someone who she should probably look up to, but I look up to her because she's just powerful and has so much courage, and I'm really proud of her.”
Shining example
Kiki attends International Grammar School in Sydney's CBD, a school that prides itself on being culturally diverse. Deputy Principal David Hamper said Kiki's nomination is a reflection of her skill and talent.
"For students like Kiki who are able to take their talents out to the wider world is exactly what we want our students here at IGS to do.
"It's also a great recognition of how she's putting her culture out there, and making it a really important part of who she is and indeed who we are as a school," Mr Hamper said.
The 60th TV WEEK Logie Awards will take place on 1 July at The Star Gold Coast in Queensland.
