Nailympia announces its latest location as San Juan, Puerto Rico for Sept 2026

Nailympia Competitions is extremely excited to announce its 15^th location – Puerto Rico – in its 22-year history with Seed Publishing Ltd (Scratch magazine).

This new location will be hosted by two nail industry figures, Michelle Soto (@chellysnails) and Lyssa Avilés of The Nails Expo in San Juan; to be held on 27-28 September 2026.

Talking about her relationship with colleague Lyssa Avilés, Michelle notes, “Lyssa and I have built a beautiful friendship over the years, rooted in mutual respect, shared values and a deep love for our industry and our island.

“We share the same vision for elevating our community and creating opportunities for others. What makes our partnership so special is that our strengths complement each other. Together, we bring leadership, experience, passion and purpose to everything we do. More importantly, we both believe in pouring into others and helping shape the future generation of nail artists and entrepreneurs. At the centre of everything is our faith, which guides our decisions and keeps us focused on serving with intention, integrity and love.”

 

An established international nail educator, mentor, judge and competition figure, Michelle is known for her aspirational nail art style and her incredible skills, which she shares frequently on her social platforms and through her work as an educator and product developer/innovator for Valentino. Moving into competition organisation is a new and exciting world to explore, so when quizzed on what inspired the move to host Nailympia in Puerto Rico, Michelle states, “Puerto Rico is where my journey began. It’s where I first picked up a brush, built my career and dreamed about what was possible. As opportunities opened up for me throughout the years, my dreams continued to grow, but my heart has always remained connected to my island.

“Bringing Nailympia to Puerto Rico is incredibly special because it’s something I wish had existed when I was starting out. I know first-hand how life-changing opportunities like this can be. My vision is to create a platform that opens doors for local nail artists while also inviting professionals from around the world to experience the beauty, culture, talent and warmth of Puerto Rico. This is more than a competition it’s a way of giving back to the place that gave me my start. It’s my Home.” Michelle continues, “What excites me most about this project, is the opportunity it creates for our local nail community. Nailympia is a world-renowned competition, and having it on our island gives artists access to an experience that many have only dreamed about.

“Competition introduces you to a completely different side of the industry. It challenges you, pushes you beyond your comfort zone and helps you discover strengths you didn’t know you had. I believe it will open minds, inspire growth and show nail professionals that their talent can compete on a global stage. For many artists, this could be the beginning of a whole new chapter in their careers.”

What does Michelle hope competitors will take away from this event beyond medals, score sheets and trophies? The answer is simple: she wants every visitor to leave having truly experienced Puerto Rico. While the competition itself is a major draw, Michelle believes the real magic lies in the people, culture and connections that surround it.

“Of course, I want people to enjoy competing and challenging themselves,” she cites. “But beyond that, I want every person who attends to feel Puerto Rico. I want them to experience our culture, our people, our hospitality and the love that we pour into everything we do.”

As host of Nailympia Puerto Rico, Michelle sees the event as an opportunity to showcase not only world-class nail artistry, but also the spirit of the island itself. From the warmth of its welcome to the friendships formed throughout the competition, she hopes visitors will leave with something far more meaningful than a medal. “Puerto Rico has a warmth that is difficult to put into words. It’s something you feel,” she reflects. “My mission is for competitors to leave not only with memories of the competition, but with memories of the island, the connections they made and the feeling that they were welcomed like family.”

It’s becoming clear worldwide that nail competitions provide a level of exposure that can truly change careers and allow artists to be seen not only for their talent, but for their commitment, discipline and dedication to their craft. As Michelle asserts, “Anyone who has competed understands the amount of preparation, sacrifice and heart that goes into it. That’s what makes competition so special. It doesn’t matter if you’ve been in the industry for one year or 20 years, when you step onto that competition floor, your work speaks for itself. My hope is that artists gain confidence, recognition, new opportunities and a deeper belief in what’s possible for their future.

“My dream is for Nailympia Puerto Rico to become the competition destination of the Caribbean. The event that artists mark on their calendars every year because they simply can’t miss it.

“I want it to be known not only for excellence in competition, but also for the energy, culture and unique flavour that Puerto Rico brings. We have something special here. We have talent, passion, and yes, we have ‘SAZÓN’ haha. I hope competitors from all over the world come to experience that magic year after year.

“Nailympia Puerto Rico offers so much more than a competition. It’s an opportunity to challenge yourself professionally while also experiencing one of the most beautiful and welcoming places in the world.

“Come compete, learn, connect and grow, but also come to recharge. Enjoy our culture, our food, our beaches, our music and the warmth of our people. Puerto Rico has a way of filling your heart and your spirit with energy. Our island is ready to welcome everyone with open arms,” Michelle enthuses.

REGISTRATION OPENS SOON.