Case 1 - Singapore’s youngest Michael Jackson impersonator building a network through Facebook

While veteran American journalist Aphrodite Jones finds herself part of a global movement to restore Jackson’s good name brewing in the social media, a 12-year-old Singaporean Indian girl is also building up her little network to spread what she believes to be the ‘truth about Michael Jackson’ by being a young Jackson and building up her network in Facebook with 1,463 fans in her account by April 20.

The Moonwalk, the anti-gravity lean, spins and toe stand, Kasturi Nair performs all these moves with such ease and passion that you’d be forgiven for mistaking the 12-year-old for the King of Pop himself.

Thirty eight years apart, the local born Indian-Singaporean girl seems to have the late 50-year-old Michael Jackson in her blood and in her bones.

The 12-year-old has been wowing audiences in the past six months, performing in events such as the Singapore Expo, the 2010 countdown and various charitable organizations.

Unlike other impersonators of the legend who passed away last June, the youngest Michael Jackson impersonator in Singapore, better known as KMJ, performs with a mission passed on to her from her father, Shanjey Nair, 39, who has been a Jackson fan since the 1970s and hopes Jackson’s music and message about love will live forever.

Father and daughter were among millions around the world who mourned and struggled to digest the news about the loss of the world’s greatest entertainer as they watched the memorial service on July 7 last year.

“My father hugged and asked me: ‘Can you dance like Michael Jackson?’ I said: Yes. I felt very happy in my heart,” Kasturi recalled and she started researching on Jackson dances by watching Youtube clippings with her father the next day. Her first dance was Billie Jean.

Apart from impersonating Jackson, Kasturi shares the Jackson spirit which is to love and share – a value that the family has firmly embedded within the Nair family. The 12-year-old gives free performances at shows organized in aide of sick children or the disadvantaged.

Every move Kaaturi makes captures attention from children to elderly who ask for pictures and more dancing. KMJ also prepares candies as give-aways to children who want to have their picture taken with her.

Kasturi’s father is happy about the rekindled interest and love of Jackson since his passing-away, “People start to think and like Michael Jackson again and I feel very happy. He is a good man. I want little kids to know about him then they grow up and like his music. I hope Kasturi can spread the message of love with her talents,” Mr Nair said.

Picture Credits: Froilan Gallardo