Judges From Around the World that Support Nailympia Competitions
1 Nailympia Judge
Yuliia Kovalchuk
United States
Academy| Influencer| Online training| Salon
Area of judging expertise: Sculpting, salon style, competition nails, extreme nails & nail art
Years as a judge: 1
Number of Nailympia events judged: 1
Nailympia events judged: Orlando
Are you an educator?: Yes
Industry accolades: • Nailympia London – Gold - To Stiletto and Beyond (Division 2)
• Nailympia San Antonio – Silver - To Stiletto and Beyond (Division 2); Bronze | Runway Nails, Salon Nails
• Nailympia Anaheim – Silver - To Stiletto and Beyond (Division 3)
• Cecilia Nail Art France – Gold - Poster (Division 3)
Top 24 finalist of the North American Star Nail Artist (NASNA) competition.
Exhibiting artist at nail industry showcases in New York, Miami & Canada.
Certified competition trainer & expert in sculptural, extreme shape & artistic nail design.
Founder of advanced educational programs in nail architecture, extreme forms & creative nail art.
Nail stylist for creative projects & editorial shoots.
Member of the International Trainers Alliance (ITA) & UPU (Union of Professionals of Ukraine).
Actively engaged in educational & awareness initiatives addressing health risks associated with work in the nail industry, as well as their prevention.
Favourite nail brands: CND, Gelish, Light Elegance, NSI, LeChat Akzéntz & The Gel Bottle
Industry figures you admire: What inspires me most are those who dedicate their time & energy to shaping the nail industry - not only through their skills, but through mentorship, innovation & long-term contribution. Elena Popova, Alex Fox, Elena Maltseva & many others are the names I truly respect for their influence & continuous support of our craft.
Career biography: I have been working in the nail industry for over 15 years. I began my career in Ukraine, where I owned a salon, taught professional courses & took part in national beauty events. After relocating to the United States, I continued developing professionally as an international competitor, educator & competition trainer.
I am a medalist in multiple Nailympia events, including London, San Antonio & Anaheim & I received a gold award at Cecilia Nail Art France. I was a Top 24 finalist in the NASNA (North American Star Nail Artist) competition. My work has been featured in Scratch Magazine & exhibited in New York, Miami & Canada.
I am a certified competition trainer & a member of the International Trainers Alliance (ITA) & the Union of Professionals of Ukraine (UPU). I am also the founder of advanced educational programs focused on sculptural nail architecture, extreme shapes & creative nail art. In addition, I work as a nail stylist on creative & editorial projects
Personal biography: Outside of my work in the nail industry, I’m passionate about art & music. My husband & I have a small musical project — we write original songs, record covers & create video content together. We’ve also performed at a music festival in New York. I enjoy spending time in nature & right now I’m focused on improving my English to support my professional growth.
Why you believe in nail competitions?: With over 15 years in the nail industry, I’ve seen it evolve constantly & not a single day has passed when it stood still. New materials, techniques & ideas keep emerging. Nail art moves in sync with the world - with fashion, film, culture & has long become an integral part of modern expression & identity.
When I was just starting out, there was no internet & we learned by studying images in printed magazines. I witnessed the shift from acrylic to gel systems & adapted alongside the industry’s growth. This constant movement is what keeps us learning, improving & staying connected.
I believe in nail competitions because they help artists stay motivated, fight burnout, expand their skill sets & feel part of a professional & creative community. Competitions challenge us, unite us & remind us why we chose this craft in the first place.
Advice to competitors: Trust yourself & dare to take that first step - even if it feels like a leap into the unknown. I know what it’s like to stand at the beginning, unsure, comparing yourself to others. But competitions are not just about winning - they are about discovering your own potential.
Study the rules, prepare with care, ask questions & don’t be afraid to make mistakes - they teach you more than easy victories. The competition floor is where you grow faster than anywhere else. Stay curious, stay open & let your passion speak through your work.
Remember: it’s not about being better than someone else - it’s about being bolder than you were yesterday.
Nail work
