Posts Tagged ‘nail competition’
Competitor Spotlight…Francesca Paliotto Wins the 3rd Nailympia European Cup 2024
In 2024, Francesca Paliotto claimed the prestigious title of the 3rd Nailympia European Cup winner, receiving her award on the esteemed Nailympia London stage. This competition, renowned for its rigorous evaluation and judging criteria, determines its European champion based on scores from four key categories: Stiletto, Joy of Nails, Salon Nails and Reality Nails.

The Nailympia European Cup rotates across major beauty industry events, with active locations currently at Nailympia Germany hosted by Beauty Düsseldorf and the UK’s Nailympia London hosted at Pro Beauty Autumn 2025). The cup is presented at the London event, solidifying the competition’s status as a pinnacle of excellence in the nail industry.
Hailing from Ferrara, a city in northern Italy, Francesca’s journey into the world of nails began at just 12 years old, driven by pure passion. Six years ago, she took a significant step by opening her own nail studio, marking the start of her professional career. Her dedication to the craft led her to train with various educators, but she credits her mentor, Italy’s award-winning Deborah Cocco, as a fundamental influence in her journey through nail competitions.

“I love everything about nails, from the simplest salon manicures to the most technical and complex works,” Francesca shares. Her success in competitions is rooted in her relentless training, keen attention to detail and commitment to continuous improvement. She believes that every small mistake presents an opportunity to refine her skills further.

Francesca finds immense motivation in competing against the best nail artists worldwide. “Meeting and comparing myself with top competitors is invaluable – you always learn something new,” she says. Her advice to aspiring competitors is clear, “Train hard and always believe in your abilities.”
Winning the Nailympia European Cup is a milestone that Francesca holds dear, as it symbolises the rewards of her hard work and sacrifices. This achievement has significantly contributed to her personal and professional growth, reinforcing her belief in perseverance and dedication.

Francesca has a particular preference for UV hard gel and acrygel systems, as they were the first techniques she mastered and feels most comfortable working with. Looking ahead, she plans to expand her academy’s training courses and participate in more competitions, though she prefers to embrace opportunities as they come rather than plan too rigidly.

Francesca remains optimistic about the future of the nail industry, believing that it will continue to evolve with innovative techniques. One thing is certain – she will keep competing, as the experience not only enhances her skills but also brings an unmatched sense of accomplishment and excitement.

After dedicating the past two years to competitions, Francesca acknowledges the challenges but affirms, “Even though it was hard, I did it.” With her unwavering determination and love for the craft, there is no doubt that she will continue to leave her mark on the global nail competition scene. We look forward to seeing more stunning nail work from Francesca in 2025.
FB: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61558412801294
IG: francesca.paliotto

Nailympia Anaheim 2025: THE RESULTS
The second Nailympia Anaheim nail competition took place 23-24 February 2025 at Premiere Anaheim, California, welcoming 40 competitors from eight countries.
Here are the results:
RUNWAY NAILS – VINTAGE VOGUE
Division 1
- 1st – Anastasiia Akzamova – USA
- 2nd – Kim Sizemore – USA
- 3rd – Elena Soldatenkova – USA
Division 2
- 1st – Thomas Pham – USA
- 2nd – Kim Oanh – Vietnam
Division 3
- 1st – Nicolas Paggi – Argentina
- 2nd – Veronica Luviano – USA
- 3rd – Maryna Kozhevnikova – USA
REALITY NAILS – 3 THEMES: STREETWEAR CHRONICLES/ PREPPY REIMAGINED / Y2K GLAM REVIVAL
Division 1
- 1st – Vu Thi Phuong Lien – USA
- 2nd – Kim Sizemore – USA
- 3rd – Elena Soldatenkova – USA
Division 2
- 1st – Thomas Pham – USA
- 2nd – Margarita Yutsaytis – USA
- 3rd – Kim Oanh – Vietnam
Division 3
- 1st – Deborah Cocco – Italy
- 2nd – Nicolas Paggi – Argentina
- 3rd – Veronica Luviano – USA

EXTREME NAIL POSTER STYLING
Division 1
- 1st – Anzhelika Safina – Russia
- 2nd – Thoang Le – Vietnam
- 3rd – An na Le – Vietnam
Division 2
- 1st – Margarita Yutsaytis – USA
- 2nd – Daria Orlova – USA
- 3rd – Galina Farmanyan – Russia
Division 3
- 2nd – Shayna Osazuwa – Canada
TO STILETTO & BEYOND – COSMIC BUTTERFLIES
Division 2
- 1st – Margarita Yutsaytis – USA
- 2nd – Thomas Pham – USA
Division 3
- 1st – Mai Thi Dinh – Vietnam
- 2nd – Yuliia Kovalchuk – USA
- 3rd – Thi Huong Nguyen – Vietnam

FLAT ART – 10 NAILS – URBAN GRAFFITI – SPREAD A POWERFUL MESSAGE
Division 1
- 1st – Vu Thi Phuong Lien – USA
Division 2
- 1st – Thomas Pham – USA
Division 3
- 1st – Nicolas Paggi – Argentina
- 2nd – Anastasiia Moskaliuk – USA
- 3rd – Maryna Kozhevnikova – USA
GEL POLISH MANICURE
Division 1
- 1st – Tetiana Dolhosheia – USA
- 2nd – Singhay Nguyen – USA
- 3rd – Elena Soldatenkova – USA
Division 2
- 1st – Nataliia Zapara – USA
- 2nd – Margarita Yutis – USA
Division 3
- 1st – Anastasiia Moskaliuk – USA
- 2nd – Alessandra Pizzari – Italy
- 3rd – Carlotta Silveri – Italy

SALON NAILS
Division 1
- 3rd – Elena Soldatenkova – USA
Division 2
- 2nd – Nataliia Zapara – USA
- 3rd – Margarita Yutsaytis – USA
Division 3
- 1st – Deborah Cocco – Italy
- 2nd – Flemming Nordqvist – Denmark
- 3rd – Alessandra Pizzari – Italy
THE JOY OF NAILS
Division 1
- 1st – Elena Soldatenkova – USA
- 2nd – Alejandra Duenas Lira – USA
- 3rd – Singhay Nguyen – USA
Division 2
- 2nd – Margarita Yutsaytis – USA
Division 3
- 1st – Nicolas Paggi – Argentina
- 2nd – Deborah Cocco – Italy
- 3rd – Alessandra Pizzari – Italy

UV HARD GEL COMPETITION NAILS
Division 3
- 1st – Deborah Cocco – Italy
- 2nd – Alessandra Pizzari – Italy
- 3rd – Flemming Nordqvist – Denmark
ACRYLIC COMPETITION NAILS
Division 3
- 1st – Deborah Cocco – Italy
- 2nd – Flemming Nordqvist – Denmark
- 3rd – Alessandra Pizzari – Italy
PERFECT MATCH
Division 3
- 1st – Deborah Cocco – Italy
- 2nd – Alessandra Pizzari – Italy
- 3rd – Flemming Nordqvist – Denmark

STILETTO NAILS
Division 1
- 3rd – Elena Soldatenkova – USA
Division 2
- 2nd – Nataliia Zapara – USA
Division 3
- 1st – Deborah Cocco – Italy
- 2nd – Alessandra Pizzari – Italy
- 3rd – Flemming Nordqvist – Denmark

TOP USA TECH
Veronica Luviano – Division 3
ART WINNER OF WINNERS
Nicolas Paggi – Argentina
WINNER OF WINNERS
Division 1 – Elena Soldatenkova – USA
Division 2 – Nataliia Zapara – USA
Division 3 – Deborah Cocco – Italy
OVERALL TOP SCORER
Deborah Cocco – Italy
To find out more about Nailympia Competitions and to register for an upcoming event, click here.
Nailympia 2025 locations revealed
The world-renowned Nailympia competition has officially announced its locations for the 2025 season, with the first event set to take place at the Premiere Anaheim trade show in Anaheim, California. Scheduled for February, this marks an exciting start to a year packed with talent, creativity and global participation in nail artistry.
As part of the esteemed Premiere Show Group, Nailympia Anaheim will attract nail technicians, artists and industry professionals from around the globe, offering a platform to showcase unparalleled skill and innovation. Nailympia continues to hold its place as the ultimate competition for nail professionals, celebrated for its non-biased judging system and commitment to fairness.

Nailympia’s Unique Approach to Competition
Nailympia has built its reputation as a competition free from brand influence, ensuring that skill and creativity are at the forefront of its judging criteria. It caters to all skill levels and its evolved judging system remains true to its founding principles:
- Blind Judging: All competitions are judged anonymously. Judges have no knowledge of the competitor whose work they are assessing, ensuring fairness and transparency.
- Unified Divisions: Competitors from all divisions are judged together based on merit, allowing for instances where a Division 1 competitor can outscore higher divisions.
- Skill-Centric: Nailympia evaluates competitors purely on their technical skills and artistic creativity, making it an open playing field for all participants, regardless of the brands or systems they use.
Expanding the 2025 Schedule
While six confirmed locations are already in place, Nailympia is exploring the possibility of adding a second event in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam, for 2025. This expansion aligns with the competition’s global mission of reaching new markets and providing opportunities for nail artists worldwide.
The Origins of Nailympia
Nailympia’s roots trace back to The Nail Olympics USA, a competition founded in 2001 in Las Vegas. Created by three organisations—IBD (run by Lee Tomlinson), Too Much Fun (Dianne D’Agnolo & James Johnson), and EZ Flow (David Daniel & Danny Haile) – its concept was revolutionary:
- Competitors could use any system or brand.
- Judging would be division-based and anonymous, ensuring fairness.
- Skill levels would determine divisions, with competitors ranked only after judging was complete.
This ethos laid the foundation for Nailympia, which was later introduced to London in 2005, with Alex Fox – then editor-in-chief of Scratch Magazine – serving as the global competition director.
Looking Ahead to 2025
As Nailympia prepares to dazzle audiences once again, it reaffirms its commitment to showcasing exceptional talent, fostering creativity and maintaining a fair and inclusive environment. Whether in Anaheim, Ho Chi Minh City, or its other global stops, Nailympia 2025 promises to be a thrilling year for competitors.
New rules & score sheets can be viewed on this website www.nailympia.de

Nail imagery for 2025 – with thanks to Elena Popova
Nails – Elena Popova @popovaelena_nfp
Photographer – Elena Gelberg @pena_litrova
Make-Up Artist – Varvara Tabutarova @varvara_tabu
Hair Stylist – Ksenia Golubeva @ksenja_golubeva
Model – Alina Philipskaya @alina__0606

NEW Rules & Scoresheets for 2025
The Nailympia team is thrilled to announce new rules and score sheets for 2025!
This comprehensive revamp addresses common competition questions, unifies Nailympia events worldwide and offers clearer guidance for all participants. The rules have been refined and score sheets have been updated to align with these improvements.
All competitors are encouraged to read the updated rules to maximise their scoring potential. Notably, the UV Gel Pink & White and Acrylic Liquid & Powder competitions have been restructured, allowing competitors to select their preferred technique – whether Tip & Overlay or Sculpture. These are now called “UV Gel (or Acrylic) Pink & White Competition Nails.” Additionally, the Salon Nails category no longer requires a feature design on the ring finger.
More judges will now be present in each booth to focus on specific scoring aspects, benefiting both judges and competitors. Time adjustments have been made to some competitions, with certain categories receiving more time and others slightly less.
Be sure to review the updated rules and score sheets at http://www.nailympia.de to stay informed on all changes.
Registration is open for Nailympia Anaheim (February 2025) and Nailympia Germany (March 2025).
Nailympia 2025
Nailympia Premiere Anaheim, CA, USA – 23-24 February
Nailympia Germany, Dusseldorf – 28-29 – 30 March
Nailympia China., Pudong, Shanghai – 8-9-10 May
Nailympia Premiere Orlando, FL, USA – 1-2 June
Nailympia Premiere San Antonio, TX, USA – 28-29 September
Nailympia Vietnam – TBA-
Nailympia London – 12- 13 October – Pro Beauty Autumn

NAILYMPIA LONDON 2024: The results
The 20th iteration of Nailympia London took place at the Salon Beauty expo, 13-14 October 2024, and wrapped up a phenomenal year of competitions for the global nail sector.
Nailympia was hosted in six locations in 2024, with Germany run by Stefanie Lo Re, Mexico by Dafne Fernandez, Vietnam by Damon Ho, and in association with the Premiere Show Group in Orlando and San Antonio. The London contest featured 10 categories that could be entered online, and nine that took place in the Salon Beauty arena. Across these 19 categories, 165 competitors from 32 countries took 544 competition seats.
Categories were judged by a team of global experts, who each boast exceptional prowess in the nail sector, and Nailympia is administered under Alex Fox, who celebrates 20 years as global director of Nailympia this autumn.
Here are the results…
EXTREME NAIL STYLING POSTER
Division 1
- 3rd – Alina Novikova – Italy
- 2nd – Elisa Tonetti – Italy
- 1st – Paula Emilia Socaci – Italy
Division 2
- 2nd – Renata Deak – Hungary
- 1st – Andrea Lorincz – Hungary
Division 3
- 3rd – Anita Chahal – United Kingdom
- 2nd – Evelin Nagy – Hungary
- 1st – Eva Pasztorne Balog – Hungary
ART ON NAILS: INTERNATIONAL SPORTING EVENTS
Division 1
- 3rd – Ewa Speyer – United Kingdom
- 2nd – Széll Anikó Henriett – Hungary
Division 2
- 2nd – Elizaveta Bekker – United Kingdom
Division 3
- 3rd – Selcan Ercan – The Netherlands
- 2nd – Mino Vo – United Kingdom
- 1st – Loi Van Nguyen – United Kingdom
RUNWAY NAILS: INDUSTRIAL REVOLUTION
Division 1
- 3rd – Alice Stefani – Italy
- 2nd – Miu Tran – United Kingdom
- 1st – Rose Ann Pagliawan – Philippines
Division 2
- 3rd – Anya Nguyen – United Kingdom
- 2nd – Delia Caruso – United States
- 1st – Francesca Ciaponi – Italy
Division 3
- 3rd – Kelsey McQuay – United States
- 2nd – Selcan Ercan – The Netherlands
- 1st – Magdalena Dabrowska – Poland
REALITY NAILS: GEOMETRIC CHIC / VINTAGE VIBES / GOTHIC GRANDEUR
Division 1
- 3rd – Daniela Blahova – Slovakia
- 2nd – Fran Humphrey – United Kingdom
- 1st – Rose Anna Pagliawan – Philippines
Division 2
- 3rd – Francesca Ciaponi – Italy
- 2nd – Kim Poels – The Netherlands
- 1st – Anuja S. Mathur – India
Division 3
- 3rd – Dung (Fox) Nguyen – United States
- 2nd – Katarzyna Kruszynska – Ireland
- 1st – Mino Vo – United Kingdom
FLAT ART BOXED: SACRED SYMBOLS
Division 1
- 3rd – Kimberley Moseley-Woodhouse – United Kingdom
- 2nd – Gemma Riley – United Kingdom
- 1st – Adél Horváth – Hungary
Division 2
- 3rd – Emma Brock – United Kingdom
- 2nd – Francesca Ciaponi – Italy
- 1st – Khyati Patel – India
Division 3
- 3rd – Paola Marrone – Italy
- 2nd – Diana Vig – United Kingdom
- 1st – Tatiana Bianchi – Italy
DESIGN NAILS FOR AN ALBUM COVER: ELECTRO POP
Division 1
- 3rd – Daniela Blahova – Slovakia
- 2nd – Miu Tran – United Kingdom
- 1st – Adél Horváth – Hungary
Division 2
- 3rd – Anuja S. Mathur – India
- 2nd – Monika Sliwinska – Poland
- 1st – Francesca Ciaponi – Italy
Division 3
- 3rd – Diana Vig – United Kingdom
- 2nd – Vanessa Grossi – Aland Islands
- 1st – Silvia Gago – Spain
POSTER PEDICURE
Division 1
- 1st – Sarah Akhtyrska – United States
Division 2
- 3rd – Stacy Forsyth – Canada
- 2nd – Francesca Ciaponi – Italy
- 1st – Laura Pote – United Kingdom
Division 3
- 3rd – Veronika Pogány-Gócza – Hungary
- 2nd – Iuliia Prokopchuk – Canada
- 1st – Katarzyna Kruszynska – Ireland
POSTER MANICURE
Division 1
- 3rd – Sofia Capretti – Italy
- 2nd – Adél Horváth – Hungary
- 1st – Livia Major – Hungary
Division 2
- 3rd – Laura Pote – United Kingdom
- 2nd – Anita Cyruk – United Kingdom
- 1st – Zsofia Nagy – Hungary
Division 3
- 3rd – Marta Kolodziejczyk – Poland
- 2nd – Renata Jurinovits – Hungary
- 1st – Katarzyna Kruszynska – Ireland
MIXED MEDIA BOXED ART (Open theme)
Division 1
- 3rd – Chun Ling Kwok – Hong Kong
- 2nd – Adél Horváth – Hungary
- 1st – Daniela Blahova – Slovakia
Division 2
- 3rd – Renáta Deák – Hungary
- 2nd – Anya Nguyen – United Kingdom
- 1st – Thao Nguyen – United States
Division 3
- 3rd – Alice Nali – United Kingdom
- 2nd – Melinda Tamas – Hungary
- 1st – Silvia Gago – Spain

TO STILETTO & BEYOND: BOTANICAL GARDENS
Division 1
- 3rd – Mariia Riakhovskaia – United States
- 2nd – Alena Muraveva – United States
- 1st – Tuong Minh – Vietnam
Division 2
- 3rd – Emma Brock – United Kingdom
- 2nd – Dorte Steenhold – Denmark
- 1st – Yuliia Kovalchuk – United States
Division 3
- 3rd – Loi Van Nguyen – United Kingdom
- 2nd – Abbie Nguyen – United States
- 1st – Tatyana Texter – Germany
GEL POLISH MANICURE
Division 1
- 3rd – Sandra Marciniak – Poland
- 2nd – Zsofia Szeker – Hungary
- 1st – Paulina Baltyka – Poland
Division 2
- 3rd – Areli Naharai Carvajal Rios – Mexico
- 2nd – Marie Juranova – United Kingdom
- 1st – Francesca Ciaponi – Italy
Division 3
- 3rd – Magdalena Dabrowska – Poland
- 2nd – Natalia Trefon-Ociepka – Poland
- 1st – Aleksandra Dworzynska – Poland
THE JOY OF NAILS
Division 1
- 3rd – Maksymilian Borowy – Ireland
- 2nd – Miu Tran – United Kingdom
- 1st – Anita Pazmandi – Hungary
Division 2
- 3rd – Dorte Steenhold – Denmark
- 2nd – Francesca Ciaponi – Italy
Division 3
- 3rd – Natalia Trefon-Ociepka – Poland
- 2nd – Francesca Paliotto – Italy
- 1st – Mino Vo – United Kingdom
FANTASY COMPLETE LOOK
Division 3
- 3rd – Alice Nali – United Kingdom
- 2nd – Justyna Maris – Poland
- 1st – Melinda Tamás – Hungary

FRENCH TWIST
Division 1
- 3rd – Zsofia Szeker – Hungary
- 2nd – Sandra Marciniak – Poland
- 1st – Anita Pazmandi – Hungary
Division 2
- 3rd – Dorte Steenhold – Denmark
- 1st – Francesca Ciaponi – Italy
Division 3
- 3rd – Francesca Paliotto – Italy
- 2nd – Marta Deja – Poland
- 1st – Natalia Trefon-Ociepka – Poland
SALON NAILS
Division 1
- 3rd – Zsofia Szeker – Hungary
- 2nd – Anita Pazmandi – Hungary
- 1st – Paulina Baltyka – Poland
Division 2
- 3rd – Areli Naharai Carvajal Rios – Mexico
- 2nd – Katalin Dobo – United Kingdom
Division 3
- 3rd – Olena Oezman – Germany
- 2nd – Agnes Szonyi-Majoros – Hungary
- 1st – Alessandra Pizzari – Italy
UV GEL TIP & OVERLAY
Division 1
- 3rd – Sandra Marcinak – Poland
- 2nd – Paulina Baltyka – Poland
- 1st – Maksymilian Borowy – Ireland
Division 2
- 3rd – Francesca Ciaponi – Italy
- 2nd – Justyna Rozdoba – United Kingdom
- 1st – Tuyet Luong – United Kingdom
Division 3
- 3rd – Francesca Paliotto – Italy
- 2nd – Alessandra Pizzari – Italy
- 1st – Flemming Nordqvist – Denmark

L&P SCULPTURE
Division 1
- 3rd – Miu Tran – United Kingdom
- 2nd – Paulina Baltyka – Poland
- 1st – Anita Pazmandi – Hungary
Division 2
- 3rd – Marie Juranova – United Kingdom
- 2nd – Minna Ukskoski – Finland
- 1st – Areli Naharai Carvajal Rios – Mexico
Division 3
- 3rd – Flemming Nordqvist – Denmark
- 2nd – Natalia Trefon-Ociepka – Poland
- 1st – Alessandra Pizzari – Italy
PERFECT MATCH
Division 1
- 2nd – Paulina Baltyka – Poland
- 1st – Miu Tran – United Kingdom
Division 2
- 2nd – Francesca Ciaponi – Italy
Division 3
- 3rd – Flemming Nordqvist – Denmark
- 2nd – Natalia Trefon-Ociepka – Poland
- 1st – Alessandra Pizzari – Italy
STILETTO NAILS
Division 1
- 3rd – Maksymilian Borowy – Ireland
- 2nd – Sandra Marciniak – Poland
- 1st – Anita Pazmandi – Hungary
Division 2
- 3rd – Francesca Ciaponi – Italy
- 2nd – Minna Ukskoski – Finland
- 1st – Katalin Dobo – United Kingdom
Division 3
- 3rd – Flemming Nordqvist – Denmark
- 2nd – Olena Oezman – Germany
- 1st – Francesca Paliotto – Italy
TOP UK TECH
Division 1 – Miu Tran
Division 2 – Katalin Dobo
Division 3 – Mino Vo
ART WINNER OF WINNERS
Division 1 – Miu Tran – United Kingdom
Division 2 – Francesca Ciaponi – Italy
Division 3 –Melinda Tamás – Hungary
WINNER OF WINNERS
Division 1 – Anita Pazmandi – Hungary
Division 2 – Francesca Ciaponi – Italy
Division 3 – Mino Vo – United Kingdom
INDIVIDUAL TOP SCORER
Alessandra Pizzari – 974 points
TEAM TROPHY
Team Indigo
EUROPEAN CUP
Francesca Paliotto – Italy
GLOBAL CUP
Olena Oezman – Germany
Olena enters into the Nailympia Hall of Fame, after winning the Global Cup for a third time.
Olena is officially the only 3 x Global Cup Champion of Nailympia Competitions.
Nailympia Competitions is in association with Scratch magazine.
For information about upcoming Nailympia competitions, visit www.nailympia.com
Top 40 announced in North America’s Star Nail Artist contest: Season 1
An impressive 30,000 nail artists across Canada, the USA and Mexico expressed interest in the first season of North America’s Star Nail Artist contest, and the top 40 techs – who will compete for a grand prize – have been revealed.
Powered by the team behind Scratch magazine and Nailympia Competitions, North America’s Star Nail Artist (‘NASNA’) is a free online contest that champions professional creativity and artistry. Monthly challenges will be revealed – from October 2024 to April 2025, with eliminations after each, until the top three competitors are unveiled in May 2025.
These three competitors will be flown to the Premiere Orlando trade event, at which an event will be hosted to reveal the champion, who scoops a prize package with a $10,000 value: a mix of cash and industry opportunities.
Meet the 40 shortlisted pros who be be battling it out to be named North America’s Star Nail Artist:
- Aisha Corcoran – Alberta, Canada
- Amberley Robinson – New Mexico, USA
- Anastasia Totty – Florida, USA
- Ashley Biasella – Arizona, USA
- Aspen Aguirre – Texas, USA
- Aura Aponte-Flores – Texas, USA
- Aurelija Dobravalskyte – Alberta, Canada
- Carolina Quintero-Carrillo – Nevada, USA
- Cheryl Derivi – Florida, USA
- Claire Pitts – Indiana, USA
- Dari Williams – Florida, USA
- Elizabeth Citalan – Florida, USA
- Erin Paschke – Oregon, USA
- Gwyneth Scallions – Missouri, USA
- Hirsch Hunty – North Carolina, USA
- Hope Jung – Wisconsin, USA
- Isabelle Calhoun – South Carolina, USA
- Jamie Wilson – Wyoming, USA
- Jane Tuttle – Idaho, USA
- Jennie Shaw – Ontario, Canada
- Jessica Vero – British Columbia, Canada
- Kelsey Mcquay – Florida, USA
- Kelsey Waldo – Saskatchewan, Canada
- Kristal Arevalo – Idaho, USA
- Lauren Mitchell – Florida, USA
- Mary Esparza – California, USA
- Melissa Whiffen – Newfoundland, Canada
- Michelle King – Nebraska, USA
- Michelle Soto – Florida, USA
- Monica Castro – California, USA
- Nancy Okon – Illinois, USA
- Ngoc (Lila) Nguyen – Missouri, USA
- Rebecca Compton – Virginia, USA
- Rebecca Mozzillo – Ohio, USA
- Rochelle Dingman – California, USA
- Sierra Pagan – Florida, USA
- Tatiana Savostikova – Florida, USA
- Tina Zavala – Kentucky, USA
- Yuliia Kovalchuk – New York, USA
- Zaira Vega – Mexico City, Mexico
Each challenge is set by a different sponsor of this season’s contest: CND, Light Elegance, Gelish, LeChat Nails, Glitterbels and 3EM.

Helena Biggs
Helena Biggs, editorial & partnerships director at Scratch magazine, comments: “North America’s Star Nail Artist represents an opportunity to celebrate the talent and creativity that define our industry, and the shortlisted professionals have already shown immense talent and imagination via their entries. We can’t wait to see the innovative designs and techniques that they will bring at each challenge stage.”
The competition invited nail professionals from the USA, Canada, Mexico and Greenland, regardless of their industry experience, to showcase their creativity and flair. They entered online with a video and images of their work, and entry closed August 31.
Follow the journey of our contestants by clicking here, or view their work on their own challenge pages by clicking their names above.
Whether contestants specialize in intricate hand-painted designs, avant-garde sculptures or dazzling embellishments, North America’s Star Nail Artist – Season 1 promises to offer a platform for their talents to shine.
Keen to compete at Nailympia London? Global director, Alex Fox answers your questions
Scratch’s Helena Biggs chats to Alex Fox, global director of Nailympia Competitions, about the 2024 London event – which celebrates its 20th anniversary this year.
She answers questions about the online & arena categories & serves up encouraging words for pros ?
Watch the full video here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V3WmTdBRY7E
DON’T FORGET:
9 August: Online categories deadline
27 September: Arena categories deadline
? @salonbeauty.uk – London
?️ 13-14 October
ENTRY OPEN for North America’s Star Nail Artist contest: Season 1
Entry has opened for North America’s Star Nail Artist: a new online contest for nail professionals.
Created by the team behind nail industry resource, Scratch magazine, and international nail competition organisation, Nailympia, this exciting 11-month adventure seeks to unite the North American nail sector: elevating the creativity and imagination of nail pros while celebrating talent and innovation.
It is supported by is prominent industry brands: CND™ (founding sponsor), Light Elegance, Gelish, LeChat and Glitterbels, who will each play a huge role in setting monthly challenges for 50 shortlisted creatives.
The competition invites nail professionals from the USA, Canada, Mexico and Greenland, regardless of their industry experience, to showcase their creativity and flair. Whether contestants specialize in intricate hand-painted designs, avant-garde sculptures or dazzling embellishments, North America’s Star Nail Artist – Season 1 promises to offer a platform for talents to shine.
Timeline of events:
- July 1 – August 31: Nail artists enter the contest by clicking here.
- September 27: A shortlist of 50 creatives is announced.
- October 1 – April 31: Monthly nail art challenges commence (7 total), with eliminations after each challenge.
- May 1: The top 3 nail artists are announced.
- June 1: The winner is announced at The Scratch Social networking event, Orlando, FL.
The competition consists of seven monthly challenges, each designed to challenge participants and push the boundaries of nail artistry. A panel of esteemed judges, comprised of industry experts, sponsors and luminaries, will evaluate entries based on criteria such as originality, technical skill and overall impact.
The top three nail artists at the end of the seven challenges will be flown to Orlando, FL, for the finale, where they’ll each receive a cash prize, products and press coverage. The winner of North America’s Star Nail Artist will not only receive recognition as a leader in the field, but opportunities throughout their reigning year and a stunning trophy to showcase their success.
Set to captivate nail enthusiasts and professionals alike, this event promises to showcase the diverse talents and techniques that make North America a hub of nail art excellence.
“We are incredibly excited to introduce this contest to the vibrant North American nail community,” says Helena Biggs, editorial & partnerships director at Scratch magazine. “This competition represents an opportunity to celebrate the incredible talent and creativity that define our industry. We can’t wait to see the innovative designs and techniques that participants will bring at each challenge stage.”
Entry for North America’s Star Nail Artist – Season 1 closes August 31, with the first round of the competition scheduled to begin on October 1.
Lecah Maloney, Competitor from Trinidad & Tobago Stars in Local Media
Nailympia Orlando gold medal champion Lecah Maloney from Trinidad & Tobago was highlighted in two of her local media when arriving back home after the event.

https://newsday.co.tt/2024/06/09/trini-nail-tech-wins-big-at-international-competition/


Nail Nations Championship 2024: A Celebration of Global Nail Artistry
The Nailympia team is pleased to support the inaugural Nail Nations Championship, an international showcase of nail artistry and technique, set to take place at Paris Disneyland on 28-29 September 2024. Organised by Nail Art France Events, this prestigious event, is led by president Cécilia Gimenez and judges president Tatiana Litvinov, international Nailympia judge.

Competitors from around the globe are invited to register for this unique championship, which offers a platform to exhibit exceptional skills and creativity. With participation from every continent, this is a rare opportunity to represent your country and impress a distinguished panel of judges.
The arena technical events on offer feature pink & whites, Stiletto and Free Form Style, with 12 seats available per event.
The online nail art contests present diverse themes such as The 5 Elements of Feng Shui and Ancient Egyptian Jewellery with 15 seats available per theme. The online date for submission is 4 November, so there’s plenty of time to get your entry ready.

Inspired by the spirit of the Paris 2024 Olympic Games, the championship includes:
Saturday 28 September 28: Morning: Pink & White competition with the Stiletto nail art challenge in the afternoon. On Sunday 29 September Free Form Style on one nail will start the day and the afternoon will host the awards ceremony at 2:30pm.

A team of international experts, including Nailympia Germany’s Stefanie Lo Ré, will evaluate each participant. Judging follows Olympic-style scoring with gold, silver and bronze medals. Points from the medals will determine the Nation’s Championship podium, recognising the top countries in nail art and technical skills.
For event rules and registration details, visit the Nail Art France Events link below. Register soon to secure your place on this global celebration of nail artistry. The total points from all the events will also contribute to a special nation ranking.
https://nailartfrance-events.fr
