Competitors From Around the World that Support Nailympia Competitions
2 Nailympia Competitor
Karyna Kyliushyk
United States
Academy| Online training| Salon
Area of competition expertise: Gel Polish Nails, Salon Nails & Joy of Nails
Years competiting: 3
Number of Nailympia events competed at: 2
Nailympia events competed at: Anaheim, San Antonio
Divisions awarded medals in: Division 2
Are you an educator?: Yes
Have you been a judge?: Yes
Why did you choose to join the Nailympia circuit?: Nailympia is where the real competition happens. I wanted to test myself against the best nail artists in the world & see how far my skills could take me. Winning at San Antonio proved I belonged here & now I'm hungry to compete in more locations. It's not just about medals - it's about being part of a community that pushes nail art forward. Every competition teaches me something new that I bring back to my students & my own work.
What has winning at Nailympia done for your career & confidence?: Winning at San Antonio was huge for me. It validated everything I've been working towards - the long hours perfecting my technique, teaching my students, pushing my creativity further. It gave me the confidence to say I'm not just good at what I do, I'm competitive at the highest level. Now when I teach, my students see me differently. They know their instructor has proven herself on an international stage. Career-wise, it's opened doors I didn't expect - brand opportunities, collaboration talks & recognition in the industry. It also solidified my decision to keep competing. One win isn't enough. I want to compete across different Nailympia locations & keep building my name globally. It shifted how I see myself as an artist, not just a technician.
Industry accolades: Nailympia San Antonio 2025 - Division 2 - THE JOY OF NAILS - 1st place - Gold
Nailympia Anaheim 2026 - Division 3 - AI Nail Vision Poster - 3rd Place - Bronze
Favourite nail brands: Hey Love, LUNAmoon, DNKa', Luxio, Komilfo, Fox, Saga, Staleks, Touch, American Creator, Da’23, Dark, Edlen & Shelly
Career biography: I'm a nail artist & educator with 10+ years of experience across Ukraine, Switzerland & the USA. I started as a home-based technician & evolved into a top master, building a loyal client base in every country I've worked in. Teaching became central to my path - I developed my own methodology combining technical precision, creativity & psychology to help students not just learn skills, but love the profession. My competitive journey pushes me to constantly elevate my craft & explore new boundaries in nail artistry. I stay connected to global trends & industry standards, always seeking to grow & innovate.
Personal biography: Beyond nails, I love photography - it's how I document my work & create visual content that reflects my style. Painting & design directly influence my nail art & I'm always exploring new techniques. I travel constantly, which keeps me inspired by different cultures & artistic approaches. Growing up in Kyiv, my creative inclinations shaped everything; now I enjoy connecting with artists worldwide & finding unexpected inspiration.
Why you believe in nail competitions?: Competitions push you to be better. In the salon, you can get comfortable doing the same things over & over. But when you're preparing for a competition, you're researching new techniques, studying other artists' work, experimenting with ideas you wouldn't normally try. That growth translates into better work for my clients & better education for my students. I also believe competitions are what keep the nail industry evolving. They set standards, they inspire people & they create opportunities for artists who deserve recognition but might never get it otherwise. Without competitions like Nailympia, nail art would stagnate. It's a platform where creativity matters & skill gets recognised on a global level.
Advice to other competitors: Don't compare your work to someone else's final result. You're only seeing their best moment, not the hundreds of hours they put in before the competition. Focus on your own journey & what you want to say through your nails.
Also, really understand the competition rules & categories before you enter. Know exactly what the judges are looking for. I spend time studying past winners & understanding the scoring system - it helps you prepare strategically, not just creatively.
Most importantly, compete for yourself, not for the medal. If you're there because you genuinely want to challenge yourself & grow as an artist, that energy shows in your work. The wins come naturally when you're doing it for the right reasons. And remember, even if you don't place, you're still competing alongside the best in the world.
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