Like most 10-year old girls, Xelinne Ryan-Andrews loves Hannah Montana. She likes to shop. Occasionally, she plays with make up.

But there’s one thing that makes her different from other girls her age. Xelinne holds a black belt in Taekwondo, and has already won the national championships in Australia two years in a row.

Xelinne’s family migrated to the town of Bundaberg, Central Queensland in 2004. Like many newly arrived migrants, it was difficult for Xelinne to adjust to life in another country.

“When I started school I made friends straight away and I felt confident and stuff but it was different from school in the Philippines and it was also hard to understand English,” recalls Xelinne.

Asked what she found most difficult to get used to, she said, “Living away from my cousin.  We lived in the same house. And the noise. It’s too quiet here,” says Xelinne.

Concerned about school bullies, Xelinne’s step-father Dennis encouraged her to take up taekwondo. Her coach, Mario Rejtano, soon reported she had a natural ability. She went from a yellow belt to blue, red and black faster than the average child. But no one expected Xelinne to excel in the sport the way that she has.

Taekwondo has played a big role in helping Xelinne adjust to life in Australia.

“I made much more friends when I started taekwondo,” she says. “I always go to the competitions and I’m always winning and my friends usually see me in the newspaper. Now I’m popular and everyone knows me,” she says.

The town of Bundaberg is best known for its rhum, but coach Rejtano says it may one day become popular for being home to a taekwondo champ.

Rejtano says he believes Xelinne has what it takes to make it to the World Championships or even the Olympics.

“I think she could go all the way, represent Australia because she lives here, and make her Filipino country very proud of her as well,” said Rejitano.

That, according to Xelinne, is exactly what she intends to do.