Past Global Cup Champions
GLOBAL CHAMPION 2022 & 2023: Olena Oezman - Germany
"I have met a lot of people on the competition floor, and each of us has different values on what drives us to take part in a competition for the first time and even more, to keep on competing. Let's be honest, it's not always easy and definitely not always joyful to be a competitor," shares Olena Oezman. "Most people only see the 'end result' and the performance on the competition floor. There's in fact, so much more behind it. One needs to integrate the training process into everyday life, take time for practice and invest in learning. Also, if you aim better results, you automatically face self-doubt, and it's a huge personal growth journey. Behind this decision, everyone has their own 'why' that drives them.
"I came to the competition arena due to curiosity, without any expectations, but to have fun. The atmosphere was overwhelming and showed me a world of nails I'd never imagined. But the reason I stayed? I driven by excellence! There is no perfection! However, there is excellence, and I set myself a goal to reach it.
"I want to motivate everyone to try competing and see how they feel, what it does for a person. And observe if there is any special 'why' for them behind it. One person's 'why' will be very different to another's and that's great, as not everyone is destined to compete. It doesn't make you a less valuable nail professional. However, competing can be so much fun. For me, I figured out that competing and the criteria helped me to do nails I'd never thought possible. Competing gave me self-doubt, but also self-belief. It made me weak but also very strong. It brought envy, but it also brought very deep friendship.
"Winning the Nailympia Global Cup the first time was very special for me, because I did it. But, due to covid, some competitors did not take part, and I had many points, so my win was relatively predictable. And, you know, the thing about excellence, is you achieve excellent results under pressure, in a challenge, unpredictable and not by coincidence!
"The second Nailympia Global Cup was for me! For my personal vision of my abilities and strength. This cup was hard. I did not not have the usual circumstances for practice, I had some health issues, and some new, huge and important projects. It was challenging and at the same time, a wonderful journey. The 2023 cup is definitely more meaningful to me, even though I enjoyed them both enormously.
"Also, winning the first Nailympia European Cup in 2022 was great, as it was the first one ever given, and I generally like the word 'first. The best combination, winning it for the first time! It's a great cup for European competitors to motivate them to travel between Germany and the UK to strive for this special trophy."
Olena Oezman has been an active competitor for about eight years. Starting in 2015 Oelna now holds the titles:
- German Champion 2x
- Grand Champion in Rome: The Nailympion (INJA)
- Grand Champion in Ukraine: The Nailympion (INJA)
- Grand Champion in Argentina (INJA)
- Champion of Russia (Nevakie Berega)
- Nail Technician of the Year (INES)
- Global French Champion INJA: x
- Global Champion Nailympia: 2x
- French Master in Nailsolympic Poland
Olena has over 100 ? 1st places, Winner of Winners and Highest Personal Scorer in different live competitions around the world.
Olena is a mentor and educator for competition-style nails through her academy https://nailacademy-online.com/en/
NAILYMPIA EUROPEAN CUP 2023: Deborah Cocco - Italy
Deborah Cocco is just 26 years old and is the founder of DECO Academy & Nail Aalon as well as Nailearn ®.
"I've been in the nail world since the age of 12," Deborah shares. "I've always loved nail art and since I was a little girl I started taking training around Italy while also practicing at every opportunity. I started competing in 2017, at the age of 20, and have not stopped.
"Currently my career as a competitor has afforded more than 60 trophies including: 5 Winner Of Winners Nailympia (London 2017, London 2022, Germany 2023, Orlando 2023, London 2023), 3 Team Trophies and the 2023 Nailymnpia European Cup.
Deborah confesses, "Winning the Nailympia European Cup 2023 was no easy task, given the very high level of competitors I was up against, however, I'm extremely happy that my efforts and hard work have also brought me to this goal!"
1st AMERICAS CUP 2023: Katarzyna Kruszynska - Ireland
In the competing world, Katarzyna (Kate) Kruszynska has achieved the highest championship title in Ireland: 'Irish National Nail Champion. She's also a multiple award winner in nail styling championships' all over the world. Recently, in the past year (2023), Kate has represented Ireland in Mexico, Germany, USA: Orlando, Texas and Ohio where overall she won 40 medals and trophies.
"This year I was honoured to achieve the Nailympia Americas Cup, The Nailympia Premiere Cup, Nailympia Art winner of winners and Individual Top Scorer awards. Also, the success of my business was recognised with the 'Best Established Business' award from the Local Enterprise Office in 2019."
Born and raised in Poland, Katarzyna Kruszynska worked as a police officer in the Traffic Accident Department for a number of years, before deciding to follow her heart and move to Ireland.
In 2010 nails became her full-time job starting with a small nail table in the corner of her kitchen where she would find herself often in tears believing she wasn't good enough.
However, with the support of her family and friends, Kate did do it and eventually opened a nail bar in 2015.
"I have been successfully running Beauty Vision Ltd and an accredited training centre and am the creator and owner of the Kohana Professional nail brand. Kohana is my brand of professional beauty products for nails, eyelashes and eyebrows. The name Kohana comes from many different places and is very unique. In the Japanese language it means 'little flower', but it has two more very personal meanings for me: I love Walt Disney productions, and in the movie Lilo & Stitch, I heard that: 'ohana means family and family means nobody gets left behind or forgotten', and from there the Kohana name was born. Using 'K' for Kate, and 'Ohana' for family. Together they make 'Kohana', for Kate's family.
"The other very special meaning with Kohana is in the Polish language Kohana means 'loved one', and so I thought that this was just prefect for my brand name, because every person is loved and considered family.
"Behind the business, I'm a loving wife and a mother to three wonderful children. I am an animal lover, with two dogs and one cat at home. I love travelling and trying different foods, and I'm hugely passionate about a fit and healthy lifestyle.
"I've been sharing my work and knowledge on social media to help others for a while now and absolutely love this element of my work. I started posting on different social media platforms three years ago and since then I've reached over 60,000 followers. The content I share is all about nails, nail art and beauty as well as my business.
"To think that I'm sharing my creativity with so many is an amazing feeling and being able to meet other nail enthusiasts through the world of social media is exciting. I enjoy teaching people who are also passionate about this line of work through my courses and I pride myself on Kohana being a place where someone can learn new skills in a great atmosphere.
"I'm so thankful for the life this business has given me. Not everyone can say that they love their job, but I'm one of the lucky few who can."
GLOBAL CHAMPION 2019: Joanna Bandurska
Joanna Bandurska is an Indigo nail expert and educator. She currently holds the national record for the number of awards won individually in the shortest possible time in Poland for the cosmetics industry.
She's a judge of the Polish and European Championships with an impressive 159 medals won during her career to date. Known as a versatile champion, this is displayed by winning titles such as Top Master, Overall Champion, Grand Master, Winner of Winners and Art Winner of Winners as well as taking the 2nd Vice World Championship of Nailympion.
Joanna has been styling nails since 2008 when she first came across L&P acrylic. Confessing it's hard to choose one favourite technique, Joanna admits to loving both acrylic and UV gel media, as each offers something special and unique, when crafting the perfect French. Joanna's versatility means she's also just as excited by nail art and design. "I love to paint and sculpt, create 3D acrylic, flat design, hand painting, encapsulation and all the possibilities associated with nail art. Nail styling has become my greatest passion," Joanna enthuses.
"I take part in international nail styling championships as often as possible. I enter to prove to myself that I'm in the right place and to show that anything and everything is possible if you want it badly enough. Thanks to my achievements I feel sensational in my role as an educator.
"Thanks to my extensive experience, I'm able to teach students how to style nails correctly from the basics right up to advanced skills and prepare them for international championships.
"I've trained many students who are now taking their work further. This drives and motivates me. Students and colleagues alike say that patience is my strength - indeed, nails can silence me even after the biggest storm.
"My goal is continuous development and mentoring the next pearls and masters in the fabulous world of nail styling."
GLOBAL CHAMPION 2018: Lena Kurach
Lena Kurach joined the nail industry in 2005 and after her initial training in nails, she opened her first beauty salon. Based in Warsaw, Poland, Lena spent the first 10 years focusing on hard work and observing the work of others, of which Tom Holcomb was her main inspiration. Those years of practice helped Lena create her own style and motivated her to start competing.
This guided Lena to develop her own, one of a kind technique - the NSM Manicure, which gains the best results without the use of scissors or cutting tools. At that time she didn't have a favoured brand, but instead preferred using different products and brands in order to understand their differences and create her own, optimal, high quality line of products.
Lena began competing in 2015 in Poznan, Poland and that year also entered into London. "I appreciate all competitions as they give me a shot of adrenaline and help me improve my skills and work under pressure, but I think, and am certain that most readers will agree, that Nailympia is the most prestigious one and is the biggest event in this field. My first Nailympia competition was held in London in 2015. I've always felt my skills could get me through the toughest competitions and winning the Nailympia Global Cup was my goal, which I'm proud to say, I've reached.
"Competing, and most importantly, winning has helped me prove to my students that they learn from the best and I feel that, thanks to their trust, they've managed to become leaders and award-winning competitors themselves," admits Lena. "Since my victories, my students are mainly nail educators who desire to improve their skills. Moreover, being a widely renowned nail stylist, has allowed me to start thinking about creating my own team and line of products.
"My victory, as well as success in preparing other stylists for their own career and competitions, has allowed me to believe in myself. I've recently created my own brand called Better Nails and my own product line, Q by Better Nails. 'Q' stands for quality, which is the most important ingredient in everything we do. I've also put together a team of instructors who educate in Poland and a few other European countries. My brand incorporates quality salons willing to benefit from my know-how that use my products. Currently my team has 25 extremely talented instructors, but will grow larger this year. I'm always looking for ambitious and talented nail stylists that are ready to spread my idea of fair trading, fair play and are willing to join a team."
GLOBAL CHAMPION 2017: Madelene Wolf
Madelene owns and runs the M&M Nail & Beauty Center in Gothenburg, Sweden. Starting with nails back in 2001, Madelene's passion and creativity know no bounds. "Every day I wake and still find nails fun and inspiring. In recent years, since winning the 1st Nailympia Global Cup, I hold nail therapist training; beginner, further and advanced education classes across Sweden and all over the world.
"I've competed extensively throughout the years in nail design and have many great accolades on my track record. I've taken Swedish Champion, European Champion twice and in 2017 I became the Nailympia Global Champion.
"At the salon I have a total of 61 trophies - from 1st to 3rd places - that I've won in competitions from all around the world. I'm a distributor for INDIGO, which is a major professional nail brand that i believe in ."