Judges From Around the World that Support Nailympia Competitions
3 Nailympia Judge
Samantha Sweet
United Kingdom
Academy| Academy & Distribution| Consultant| Distribution| Online training
Area of judging expertise: L&P, GP & simple Nail Art
Years as a judge: 20
Number of Nailympia events judged: 3
Nailympia events judged: London, Online
Are you an educator?: Yes
Industry accolades: 2023/2024 Scratch Stars Services to the Nail Industry Samantha & Samuel Sweet
2024 CND IDC Best Influencer Strategy
CND IDC 2021 Academy Squared (A2) Online Launch
2019
Guild Award of Excellence Best Training School
National Beauty Awards Best Nail Brand - CND
National Beauty Awards Best Spa Brand - CND
National Beauty Awards Best New Beauty Innovation- CND Vinylux
National Beauty Awards Best Hand and Nail Product- CND SolarOil
2017
Guild Award of Excellence Best Gel Nails Supplier / CND Shellac
Guild Award of Excellence Best Training School
Guild Award of Excellence Best Customer Service
Favourite nail brands: CND, Artistic, Footlogix Famous Names IBX / ACESO, :YOURS, KUPA & IMix
Industry figures you admire: Jan Arnold, Jim Nordstrom, Gigi Rouse, Marian Newman, Alex Fox, Samuel Sweet, Hazel Dixon, Kirsty Meakin, ALL CND EA's & ALL Artistic EA's, Danielle Olive, Samantha Birkett-Leigh, Fee Wallace & Danny Haile.
Career biography: I have a 30+ year pedigree career in the nail industry, which started back in the early 90’s with my parents in (what was then) a new sector of beauty; nail enhancements! In 06 my husband Samuel & I created Sweet Squared & in 07 won our first big brand to represent across the UK & ROI, Creative Nail Design - CND™. Fast forward 17 years & S2 now boasts 18 ‘best in show’ brands that we deliver to our customers with ‘Love & Respect’.
Back in 2008 I won BABTAC Services to the Nail Industry Award & along with Sam, we both won Scratch Stars 'Services to the Nail Industry' in 2023. A very proud moment for us both!
I believe that when you do what you love from your heart, knowing you can make a difference to others, you win in so many ways & I believe in this passionately. Do it from the heart, do it the right way - or don’t do it at all!
Personal biography: Let's see!! I love to cook & I'm very good at looking after orchids (who knew)? I am a clothes / fashion demon & as I have 'matured' I am more colourful!
My favourite past times are hanging out with my family & hanging with my nail family, which is extensive & across the globe!! I like to walk, but I am not great at working out - I blame it on the weather!! I love to go back to my old home once a year (Sarasota, Florida), where I hang out with my cousins who I adore! I feel incredibly grateful & blessed for all the wonderful people in my life that I have met - through nails!!!
Why you believe in nail competitions?: Competitions are an opportunity for nail artists to shine & showcase their talents. Comps give them invaluable experience in technique & speed, which only help them become better at what they excel at - NAILS! Finally it widens your comfort zone & gives you confidence! Even if you're not a winner it's a very satisfying experience that you should be proud & you learn something new every time!
Advice to competitors: Make lists & PREP WELL. Check & double check you have EVERYTHING required to create the looks you need for the category you are entering. Practice, practice, practice. Make sure you remember that the environment of the comp hall may be different to your salon (it may be warmer or colder & your products may react differently), so think of all eventualities & you'll be fine!!
Last but definitely not least, find yourself a model with gorgeous hands & long nail plates - that's the BEST advice I could ever give to any competitor!! Your model is KEY!