Nailympia London 2022- a look around the arena
Judge – Zrinka Vuksan – Canada / Croatia
“Nailympia London, the home of Nailympia, was satisfaction guaranteed and pure pleasure. To be part of it, to meet and see people I’d met before through my nail journey, was more than I expected. Thank you for giving me the opportunity to work with the amazing judges, as this is something I will remember forever. Mexico here we come!”
Lucie Kovarikova Czech Champion – 2 x gold, 1 x bronze medallist London 2022
“For me, Nailympia was an incredible experience. So many crazy, talented people in one place, and everyone so nice and supportive towards colleagues. I certainly dreamed of winning one of the arena categories, but I was even more surprised when it actually happened, because I saw some of my colleague’s works, and they were all incredibly good. I have never been so moved and happy. I didn´t even dream that I might place more than once. Thank you so much, Nailympia brings people together and makes dreams come true.”
Kayley Cairns – UK – Art Winner of Winners Div 3
“I used to dream of being ‘good enough’ for Nailympia, the most prestigious nail competition in the world, and it took me years to get enough courage to give it a go. I used to come to see the artwork and I was in awe.
“My house is a mess and I have bags under my eyes from squeezing in time to create my competition work around life over the last 6-8 weeks, but I would (and will!) do it all again because it’s an unrivalled experience. You start off tired and nervous (I shake like a leaf), but the judges are smiley and calming. Despite the fact that you compete against each other, there’s a sense of friendship and comradery with those around you. You want to help if someone’s forgotten something and the feeling is mutual. You’re in it together, so the feeling of watching someone you’ve laughed and hung out with over the weekend have success, is second only to hearing your own name be called. I screamed as much watching Andreea take the UK Top Tech trophy, as I did for my own win.
“I enter lots of categories as I’m there, so I may as well just do them and get the learning experience, but the one that takes my time and energy is fantasy. That’s what I love, so winning really validates the neglect over the rest of my life that entering leads to! I didn’t get medals in the other art categories, so I was convinced I wouldn’t have secured enough points for the Art Winner of Winners, although after winning it in division 2, I really did want it. Hearing my name was so unexpected, I just erupted into screeching and jumping with my team around me and bounced up to the stage, utterly elated! To imagine taking home the Art Winner of Winners Division 3 is an insane feeling I never dreamed would happen. Division 3 always seemed so far away, yet here I am, I can’t actually believe I made it. I’m one of ‘them’! I’m just so happy, I thank Nailympia (Alex and your team!) for making such a thorough, fair and aspirational competition. This is the highlight in my career!”
Annie Pham – Winner of Winners – Division 2
“Competing at Nailympia has been an amazing journey for me. It was a whole new level of experience. I feel like I’ve grown so much in the two days I was there. It wasn’t as scary as I thought. It was actually fun and exciting. It was eye-opening. Coming to Nailympia, I said one thing to myself, ‘It’s doesn’t matter if I win or not, I will compete with my heart’ . Winning the trophy was unexpected. I couldn’t believe I did it. It’s a huge achievement to be added to my career journey.”
Deborah Cocco – Winner of Winners Division 3 – Italy
“I participated for the first time at Nailympia London in 2017, winning five first places and the Winner of Winners in Division 2. That day was one of the best days of my life and I promised myself that one day I would win the Winner of Winners in Division 3 by beating the best competitors in the world. That day was 3rd October 2022. A date that I will tattoo on my skin because it is the demonstration that with sacrifice, suffering and determination you can get everything you crave. Thanks Nailympia for giving me these indescribable emotions!”
