Competitors From Around the World that Support Nailympia Competitions
2 Nailympia Competitor
Anuja S. Mathur
India
Academy| Salon
Area of competition expertise: 3D sculptural nails (figurines/dolls) | Hyper-realistic face & potrait painting | Conceptual art nails
Years competiting: 2
Number of Nailympia events competed at: 2
Nailympia events competed at: Online
Divisions awarded medals in: Division 3
Are you an educator?: Yes
Have you been a judge?: Yes
Why did you choose to join the Nailympia circuit?: I chose to join the Nailympia circuit because it is one of the oldest, most respected & prestigious nail championships in the world. The competition attracts top-level nail artists globally & winning here means being recognised at an international standard of excellence. For me, Nailympia is not just a competition - it is a platform where my work can be evaluated by industry experts, appreciated on a world stage & acknowledged for the hard work, creativity & skill that goes into it.
What has winning at Nailympia done for your career & confidence?: Winning at Nailympia has been transformative for both my confidence & my career. Competing against some of the world’s best artists — & earning podium placements — showed me that my work can stand on an international stage. Every win pushed my self-belief to a new level.
It has also given me a sense of pride & responsibility. India had never been represented in many of these categories before & being able to compete & win has helped put my country on the global nail map. Becoming the first Indian to participate in & win multiple international championships has opened doors in my career, increased recognition for my work & positioned me as a benchmark for nail artistry in India.
Nailympia gave me more than awards — it gave me validation, visibility & a stronger belief in what I am capable of achieving.
Industry accolades: Brilliant Cup, Dubai 2024 –
1st Place
NailPro Poland 2024 – 2nd
& 3rd Place
Nailympia London 2024 –
1st & 3rd Place
Nailon Global 2024 – 1st
Place
NailPro Europe Final Cup
2024 – 1st & 2nd Place
International Nail
Competition 2025 – 1st Place
IEBBA 3D Acrylic Sculpture
(In Premium Judge Category)
— 1st Place
Best of the Best Nail
Trainer — IEBBA
Nailympia London 2025 —
Division 3
[1 - Silver, 2 - Bronze]
Nail Maestro - 2
[1 - Silver, 1 - Gold
Favourite nail brands: Apre GelX (US), Nail Republic (Russia), Glitter Bels, Born Pretty, Canni & Venalisa
Career biography: My journey into nail artistry began unexpectedly. I always loved getting my nails done, but when I hired technicians, I realised the quality of work in India didn’t match international standards. I decided that if I wanted to elevate the work, I needed to learn it myself.
For the first year & a half, I was completely self-taught — studying, practicing & refining techniques on my own. As my work started gaining recognition, I travelled to Russia for specialised professional training to deepen my skills & refine my artistry.
That changed everything.
I discovered that nails were the perfect miniature canvas to express fine art - detailed, intricate & challenging.
What began as a side interest became my passion & my profession. Today, with 15+ international championship wins, I am the first & only nail artist from India to achieve this level of recognition on the global stage
Personal biography: Besides nail artistry, I am also a serial entrepreneur. I co-manage our jewellery brand Boho Mantra in the UK and support our family’s US-based jewellery brand Boho Gal, handling manufacturing & sourcing from India. I am also involved in my husband’s clothing manufacturing business.
When I’m not working or teaching, my husband & I love travelling & exploring new places & occasionally unwinding with movies.
Why you believe in nail competitions?: I believe in nail competitions because they push you beyond the limits of everyday salon work. In the salon, we often create what clients want — classic, commercial designs. Competitions, on the other hand, open the door to imagination & innovation. They allow you to explore artistry on nails in ways you never thought possible: creating sculptures, jewellery, fantasy concepts & highly technical work that challenges both skill & creativity.
Competitions force you to think beyond 'pretty nails' — they make you an artist, an inventor & a problem-solver. Every category teaches you something new, whether it’s perfect structure, cleaner execution, or how to turn an idea into a masterpiece under pressure. Competing pushes me to grow technically & creatively, to constantly learn, improve & raise the standard of what nails can be.
That is why I believe in competitions — they don’t just test you, they transform you.
Advice to other competitors: Don’t overthink — just jump in.
If you let fear or doubt hold you back, you’ll never discover how good you really are. Competitions give you clarity: you see where you stand, what others are creating & exactly what you need to improve to become the best version of yourself. The only way to grow is to start.
Nail work
