Competitors From Around the World that Support Nailympia Competitions
2 Nailympia Competitor
Naoe Shiraishi
Japan
Academy| Salon
Area of competition expertise: Flat Art
Years competiting: 5
Number of Nailympia events competed at: 2
Nailympia events competed at: London, Online
Divisions awarded medals in: Division 2
Are you an educator?: No
Have you been a judge?: No
Why did you choose to join the Nailympia circuit?: The decision to join the Nailympia circuit was driven by a strong desire to push my boundaries as a nail artist & test my skills on a truly global platform. Nail art is more than just a profession; it is my passion & a source of self expression.
Also Nailympia is recognised as one of the world's most rigorously & fairly judged competitions. Challenging these high standards allows nail art to be not just a job, but a source of my passion & self-expression. Furthermore, it is a platform where I can accelerate my professional growth & gain inspiration from top artists globally. I am particularly passionate about the Flat Art category because it is where I can materialise the knowledge gained from studying Contemporary Art at university onto the minimal canvas of a nail. This experience has pushed me to the next level, both in my artistry & in my conceptual thinking.
What has winning at Nailympia done for your career & confidence?: Winning 3rd place at Nailympia has had an immeasurable impact on my career. It serves as powerful validation that my technique & artistry are recognised by international judges. This achievement has instantly boosted the trust & credibility I receive from clients & industry peers, significantly expanding my professional opportunities.
On a personal level, this success has dramatically elevated my confidence. Achieving a world-class result in Flat Art, leveraging my Contemporary Art background, solidified my conviction in my creative vision. Crucially, this experience has lit a fire within me to aim for even bigger goals next year. It serves as a strong motivation to continue pushing my own boundaries & striving for the top in future competitions.
Industry accolades: HanaNails Salon&School Owner / Nail artist
Education First Nails / Master instructor
2023 BriliantWorldCup
Grand Prix Best Master Place 1
2024 Tokyo Nail Expo
Nail art photo contest Place 5
2025 Nailymia Online London
Flat art Place 3
Favourite nail brands: Education First Nails - lceGel - LeafGel - Ibd - Paragel - Kokoist - OPI
Career biography: 2008 JNA First Grade Manicurist Examination
2011 Nails&Eyelush Salon Open
2016 Nail salon & school Open
2025 EducationFirstNails Master instructor
Personal biography: 1998 Graduated from Saga University of Arts
1998〜2002 Working for display company
2000〜 Painting Artist for shop's wall or canvas
2003 Apply fos a working holiday visa to U.K
2003〜2008 Traveling & Painting activity
at Oceania , Europe
2008 Nail technician school & working
2015 give birth to a baby girl
Hobbies Painting/Traveling/MusicFestival/Fashion
Why you believe in nail competitions?: The greatest appeal of nail competitions lies in the opportunity to validate my skills globally & accelerate my professional growth. It is the ultimate platform for me to constantly push my boundaries & refine the precision & artistry of my technique.Furthermore, competitions are where top artists from around the world converge. Witnessing their creative masterpieces provides me with an endless source of inspiration. Highly judged events, such as Nailympia with its stringent standards, motivate me to constantly strive for the highest level of excellence. Finally, competitions are a space to pursue pure creativity & self-expression that might not be possible in daily salon work. The sense of accomplishment gained through competing & the motivation to aim for the next goal are the unwavering reasons why I am drawn to the competition circuit.
Advice to other competitors: The first step to success is to master your fundamental techniques perfectly. In competitions, precision & finish are often judged more heavily than novelty alone. Practice repeatedly & develop a time management strategy to achieve the best result within the limit. It is crucial to thoroughly understand the judging criteria during your preparation phase. Drawing from my university background, stay true to your creative vision. Don't just follow trends; be clear about what you want to communicate through your piece. Especially in categories like Flat Art, it is your unique concept & artistry, not mere imitation, that makes your work memorable to the judges.
You need the mental toughness to stay calm under pressure during the competition. Regardless of the result, participating is a huge step in your professional growth. View every experience as feedback: learn from the critiques & turn them into fuel for your passion for the next challenge.
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