Judges From Around the World that Support Nailympia Competitions
3 Nailympia Judge
Analuisa Franklin
United States
Academy & Distribution| Consultant| Influencer| Product Research & Development
Area of judging expertise: Nail Art, Nail Structure & Floor
Years as a judge: 3
Number of Nailympia events judged: 3
Nailympia events judged: Orlando, San Antonio
Are you an educator?: No
Industry accolades: 6-year licensed nail technician , owner of NailedAF LLC, co-founder of the most popular Nail Subscription Box for nail technicians (NAILBOXY), Nailympia Judge 2022-present, COO of Red Iguana Professional Nail Products, social media Influencer, sales & marketing director.
Favourite nail brands: I have so many that I love it's hard to choose - 3 Brands that I have grown with & built amazing relationships with are: Red Iguana, Aprés, NotPolish & Light Elegance! I love trying new brands & seeing all the new innovative products that companies continue to deliver to the nail industry.
Industry figures you admire: I have so many mentors & inspirations in this amazing industry, to name a few: April Ryan (Red Iguana), Kirsty Meakin, Michelle Soto, Alex Fox & so many more!
Career biography: In 2018, I left my bartending life behind for a career in the nail industry. I graduated from the Academy of Hair Design in Las Vegas with my Nail Technology license that same year. I worked in my friend's salon for about a year and realised I wanted to work for myself & have my own clientele, so I opened my studio in 2019 till 2021. My best friend, April Ryan & I collaborated on an amazing nail subscription box 'NAILBOXY', the most popular nail subscription box due to providing a variety of products from different nail companies in the industry. One of my favourite projects & a highlight of my nail career for 4 amazing years! During this time I worked alongside Red Iguana (April Ryan) on her popular Silicone Hands & professional product line. My duties as Red Iguana COO, included social media management, public relations & warehouse operations. In 2022, I launched my own product line, NailedAF. I work my business alongside my duties with Red Iguana.
Personal biography: My name is Analuisa but everyone calls me Ana! I am 35 years old. I am half Filipino & Puerto Rican. I am wife & a mother of two amazing boys! I love being a mummy! My kids are so much fun, I love their personalities & how they view life, so we hang out a lot. We love cooking, baking, video games, trying new restaurants, watching movies/shows & our favourite Animes. I love to travel & visit new places! In my free time I work out, do yoga, read romance & mystery novels, paint & of course create beautiful nail art.
Why you believe in nail competitions?: Every industry has a competitive field where everyone goes to challenge themselves. From a psychological perspective, it's essential for those passionate about their careers to be around other like-minded individuals for some healthy competition. To show off your skills, step out of your comfort zone & be inspired by others who share that same love for your industry. Nail competitions have a set of rules for organisation & structure, but they also create structure with offering different categories for more options for participation & different tier levels so that competitors are matched up with those on their level. I have met with so many competitors; their determination & love for the nail industry is inspiring. I truly wish more would compete because there is so much to take away from the experience: trophies, medals, recognition, teamwork, inspiration & the opportunity to meet the leaders/trailblazers in the industry. I stand by Nailympia's mission!
Advice to competitors: "Take the chance, you will be glad you did". Competitions are a great way to grow. Challenging yourself is important for growth. Win or lose, you will gain so much; a community of people that are passionate & inspiring, details to help you improve & understanding of industry & competition standards. I see that many do not compete because they are scared to step out of their comfort zone or have their worked judged. As scary as it sounds, it is the most rewarding experience. Do not be afraid to fail because we grow more from our failures than we do our successes. So go for it, because you will be so happy you did & you will have so much fun! Especially with the amazing Nailympia Family!