Competitors From Around the World that Support Nailympia Competitions
3 Nailympia Competitor
Yuliia Kovalchuk
United States
Area of competition expertise: Stiletto & Beyond, Runway nails, Salon nails
Years competiting: 16
Number of Nailympia events competed at: 3
Nailympia events competed at: London, Anaheim, San Antonio
Divisions awarded medals in: Division 3
Are you an educator?: Yes
Have you been a judge?: Yes
Why did you choose to join the Nailympia circuit?: I joined Nailympia because I wanted to grow, challenge myself & see where I really stand among the best nail artists in the world. It’s not just a competition - it’s a platform where creativity, technique & vision are truly recognised. Every time I prepare for Nailympia, I step out of my comfort zone & become stronger as an artist. It has opened doors, given me international exposure & connected me with amazing professionals who inspire me.
What has winning at Nailympia done for your career & confidence?: Winning at Nailympia has given me a huge boost of confidence. It's proved to me that my ideas & techniques are strong enough to stand out on an international level. It's helped build my name in the industry, opened new professional opportunities & made me believe even more in the power of creative vision. After each win, I feel more motivated to go further, grow as an educator & judge.
Industry accolades: International nail judge, speaker & educator. Member of the Union of Beauty Industry Professionals of Ukraine & the International Trainers’ Alliance. Author of educational & research-based publications in the field of nail artistry.
Participant in international nail art galleries including ACRYLICS (New York) & Nail Art Exhibition (Miami).
Winner and finalist of prestigious international competitions:
• Nailympia San Antonio 2024
• Nailympia London 2024
• Cecilia Nail Art France 2024
• Nailympia Anaheim 2025
Favourite nail brands: CND, Gelish, Lechat, The Gel Bottle & NailsBtch
Career biography: I started my career 16 years ago after completing my first nail courses. I gained experience through practice, competitions, and exhibitions. Later, I began teaching in training centers, and in 2011 I opened my first studio.
Over the years, I moved several times. In each city, I opened a new studio and continued teaching. I worked with clients, trained students, and participated in championships.
Now I live in New York, USA. I work as an educator, international judge, and speaker. I also publish materials related to nail education. I continue to develop professionally and support the nail community.
Personal biography: In my personal life, I enjoy singing & spending time with my family. My husband & I perform original songs & covers; in our free time we also record music videos. We even perform at a music festival in New York. I also love long walks, nature & visiting art exhibitions. I’m interested in design & architecture. Right now, I’m focused on improving my English to grow further in my international work.
Why you believe in nail competitions?: I believe that competitions push us to grow faster. They help improve skills, think more creatively & step outside our comfort zone. It’s a chance to see your level, learn from others & become stronger as a professional. Competitions give me confidence, motivation & have opened up new opportunities. That’s why I keep coming back - each experience makes me better.
Advice to other competitors: Competitions are, first of all, fun! Don’t let fear stop you - everyone feels nervous & that’s normal. But the moment you take part, you grow. Win or not, participation is already a victory over yourself. You’ll never be the same after — it’s 100% personal & professional growth. Your confidence will rise, you’ll discover new sides of your creativity & you’ll meet like-minded people. It’s also a great way to become part of the professional community. Enjoy the process & be proud of yourself!
Nail work
