Coca-Cola and Jim Beam Fiji Island Party

Last week I flew out to beautiful Fiji to perform once again at the Coca-Cola & Jim Beam Fiji Island Party! I was so excited when I was asked to perform again this year as I had such an amazing time on my last trip and this time was no different. I had the best time ever with an amazing cast and crew and a big group of some of my closest friends. Here's the breakdown of what we got up to each day...

Day 1:
I arrived in Fiji and we headed straight to our hotel resort on Denarau Island, checked in and had a quick cast and crew dinner. We then headed down to the beach to do a final technical rehearsal on our big stage built on the waters edge. Very cool.

Day 2: 

We have the entire day to ourselves, so after a morning walk down to Port Denarau Marina I spent the day swimming and drinking cocktails by the pool. The weather is absolutely amazing, so beautiful and sunny. Doing it really tough!! 

Tonight is our first show for the opening night of the Coca-Cola & Jim Beam parties choreographed and styled by the incredible Ame Delves. Our first performance on the waterfront stage is a mix of lingerie, leather and corsets and the second performance was all about black, gold and silver with lots of sequins and sparkles. I wore a black sequin skirt, corseted top, black diamante high heels and an amazing super sparkly diamante necklace.

Day 3: 

Today was again spent by the pool swimming and dancing to the DJ's spinning tunes by the pool. Lots of fun. 

In the evening we headed down to Sandy Point beach for a quick tech rehearsal at sunset before the guests arrived, on our stage built in the sand right in the middle of the beach. 

Tonight's show has a "Paradise" theme so the dancers and I are styled in various Mijanou swimwear pieces. I wore a black one shoulder one piece swimsuit with cut-out details and wore a wreath of real flowers made by the local Fijian women on my head! How cool is that?! The flowers smelled divine. The show began with the dancers and myself being carried out on to the beach and being placed on the stage on the shoulders of some big Fijian men! That was definitely a first for me!!

After the show we hit up the Coca-Cola Jim Beam nightclub bar where we danced the night away to some super cool music played by the live band and DJ's. 

Day 4: 

Today was yet another day of absolutely stunning weather! Sooo hot and sunny!! I spent the day dancing on the beach to some awesome tunes played by the DJ's, and drinking fresh coconuts in the pool. This is absolute bliss and I don't want it to end!!!

Later that evening the dancers headed out to tonight's venue for the big final night of the Coca-Cola and Jim Beam island parties where they performed various sets dancing in beautiful costumes adorned with diamante jewellery and Victoria's Secret inspired huge feathered or silver mirror ball angel wings. 

I arrived soon after and performed my contortion show to a live rock band! It was so much fun. I can't even explain how much I love performing accompanied with a live band!! I wore my flesh coloured Swarovski encrusted signature catsuit with metallic gold PeepToe high heels and chandelier earrings. 

After my performance Samantha Jade took to the stage who was then followed by Diesel! We stayed and partied with the performers, band and DJ's. It was such a fun night with a great group of people. 

Samantha Jade

Diesel

With vocalist and guitarist Andre Kaman who played during my contortion performance

Day 5: 

We were up super early this morning, surviving on next to no sleep...and actually no sleep for some of us after a crazy night last night to catch our early morning flight back to Sydney. Fiji certainly knows how to turn on a great sunrise. So beautiful. I had such an AMAZING time in Fiji and am so sad to leave, I can't wait to head back again soon. I think I said this last time but I really do mean it. Best job ever. 

The X Factor Grand Final

Tonight was The X Factor Grand Final and I was very privileged to be asked to open the entire show with a special performance involving a huge python, some amazing dancers and the top 11 contestants!
Read on and I will take you through the lead up to the big show including backstage, on stage, rehearsals and getting up close and personal with Bailey the python!

Day 1:
I arrived at stage 5 at Fox Studios for day 1 of rehearsals for the big Grand Final opening performance. The dancers and I spent a few hours learning choreography and rehearsing with the shows creative directors, The Squared Division.

Day 2: 

Back to Fox Studios for a very early morning of rehearsals and a directors run through with all top 11 contestants including Samantha Jade, The Collective, Jason Owen, Bella Ferraro, Nathaniel Willemse, Fourtunate, What About Tonight, Shiane Hawke, Angel Tupai, Carmelo Minzone and Justin Standley. 

Props backstage. The giant skull for my opening sequence

Day 3: 

I arrived bright and early to the set for a morning technical rehearsal, camera run through and to meet Bailey, the python I was going to be working with for my performance on the show!

I was so excited and slightly anxious to finally get to hold the huge python with only hours before he and I were going on stage live! Bailey is a 10 year old, 2.5m albino Burmese python and is the only one of his kind in Australia! Upon our first encounter I was a little uncomfortable with him constantly slithering around my face and his little tongue touching me, but the more I held him the more comfortable and confident I grew with him. 

Next it was in to hair and makeup for hours and hours with my favourite team Martin Bray and Lores Giglio. Martin was feeling inspired by the python in my performance so my head was airbrushed multiple colours to create an almost rainbow effect and netting placed over my face to create the lines for the snake scales to be drawn on. I was then decorated with various colours of glitter and diamantes to add extra sparkle. My nails were painted a midnight blue colour and dipped in holographic green glitter, and to finish the look off the top of my plait and the back of my head was painted with a mixture of hair gel and pink, green and blue glitter! 

In hair and makeup with Martin Bray

It was almost show time so the cast and crew grabbed a quick bite to eat for dinner in the catering tent, then we all went in to wardrobe to get our costumes on. I wore a specially made black lace catsuit over a black bra and high-waisted black underwear. 

Backstage ready to perform

Backstage with Samantha Jade

Bailey in his box resting before we go on stage

It's show time! I opened the Grand Final show after being revealed behind a giant skull adorned with roses which was raised up to the ceiling and performed with the white and yellow python. My contortion moves had to be altered due to the handlers requirements for the snake which included not moving too quickly or moving the snake around too much, so the original routine which included a lot more skills was adjusted before going on stage but even though we couldn't do the full routine Bailey the python was great and looked fantastic! I absolutely loved working with him!! 

The top 11 contestants, the dancers and I performed to the song On The Floor. It was a great opening number and even featured the ceiling pouring rain down over the dancers! 

After the show the judges came backstage and Natalie Bassingthwaighte even held Bailey too. 

With Guy Sebastian

 With Mel B

With Natalie Bassingthwaighte

 Backstage with Nathaniel Willemse

 Bella Ferraro giving kisses to Bailey the python

I had a great time on The X factor and after a long 13 hour day I could not wait to get home and get to bed! Let's not even talk about how long it took me to get that makeup off!