Posts Tagged ‘nailpro’
Competitor Spotlight…Francesca Paliotto Wins the 3rd Nailympia European Cup 2024
In 2024, Francesca Paliotto claimed the prestigious title of the 3rd Nailympia European Cup winner, receiving her award on the esteemed Nailympia London stage. This competition, renowned for its rigorous evaluation and judging criteria, determines its European champion based on scores from four key categories: Stiletto, Joy of Nails, Salon Nails and Reality Nails.
The Nailympia European Cup rotates across major beauty industry events, with active locations currently at Nailympia Germany hosted by Beauty Düsseldorf and the UK’s Nailympia London hosted at Pro Beauty Autumn 2025). The cup is presented at the London event, solidifying the competition’s status as a pinnacle of excellence in the nail industry.
Hailing from Ferrara, a city in northern Italy, Francesca’s journey into the world of nails began at just 12 years old, driven by pure passion. Six years ago, she took a significant step by opening her own nail studio, marking the start of her professional career. Her dedication to the craft led her to train with various educators, but she credits her mentor, Italy’s award-winning Deborah Cocco, as a fundamental influence in her journey through nail competitions.
“I love everything about nails, from the simplest salon manicures to the most technical and complex works,” Francesca shares. Her success in competitions is rooted in her relentless training, keen attention to detail and commitment to continuous improvement. She believes that every small mistake presents an opportunity to refine her skills further.
Francesca finds immense motivation in competing against the best nail artists worldwide. “Meeting and comparing myself with top competitors is invaluable – you always learn something new,” she says. Her advice to aspiring competitors is clear, “Train hard and always believe in your abilities.”
Winning the Nailympia European Cup is a milestone that Francesca holds dear, as it symbolises the rewards of her hard work and sacrifices. This achievement has significantly contributed to her personal and professional growth, reinforcing her belief in perseverance and dedication.
Francesca has a particular preference for UV hard gel and acrygel systems, as they were the first techniques she mastered and feels most comfortable working with. Looking ahead, she plans to expand her academy’s training courses and participate in more competitions, though she prefers to embrace opportunities as they come rather than plan too rigidly.
Francesca remains optimistic about the future of the nail industry, believing that it will continue to evolve with innovative techniques. One thing is certain – she will keep competing, as the experience not only enhances her skills but also brings an unmatched sense of accomplishment and excitement.
After dedicating the past two years to competitions, Francesca acknowledges the challenges but affirms, “Even though it was hard, I did it.” With her unwavering determination and love for the craft, there is no doubt that she will continue to leave her mark on the global nail competition scene. We look forward to seeing more stunning nail work from Francesca in 2025.
FB: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61558412801294
IG: francesca.paliotto
Pivot Point & Nailympia Webinar: Insights into The Competition Arena
WATCH via this link: using Passcode – LB6*#7dJ – to access the video
The recent 90-minute Nailympia webinar hosted by education platform Pivot Point, featured Buddy Sims, learning experience (LX) specialist at Pivot Point and Alex Fox, global director of Nailympia Competitions. This session provided an in-depth look at Nailympia’s past, present and future, along with expert advice for competitors looking to enter this prestigious nail competition circuit.
Nailympia: A Global Phenomenon
Originally launched as the Nail Olympics in 2000 Las Vegas, Nailympia has grown into a globally recognised competition, owned by Scratch maagzine.
After discussing it’s 20-year long history and relationship to Scratch magazine, Alex Fox highlighted the first competition of the year, Nailympia Anaheim, (23-24 February at Premiere Anaheim), discussing how it compares to other locations and how themes vary across different events. Alex also covered the 2025 competition calendar, including opportunities for international competitors to participate remotely.
Competition Categories & Judging Standards
The webinar detailed the competition structure, including:
- Various categories available at Anaheim & other locations
- Thematic differences across different Nailympia locations.
- Eligibility based on three-division tier system of competing
- Digital & online integration for remote competitors.
To ensure fair judging, Nailympia follows strict guidelines and regulations, ensuring personal biases do not impact results. Judges adhere to standardised scoring methods and all participants must comply with clear competition rules.
Competing at Nailympia: What You Need to Know
For those preparing to compete, the webinar provided valuable insights:
- Preparation & training tips.
- Materials & tools provided during the event.
- Available support for competitors.
- Common mistakes & expert advice from judges.
- Feedback process after the competition
- Where to source a coach/mentor
Website Walkthrough
The webinar concluded with a guided tour of the Nailympia website, highlighting essential sections such as:
- The free downloadable competition guidelines
- FAQ.
- Event itinerary, rules & costs.
- News, picture galleries, judges’ profiles & trophies.
With its rich history, transparent judging and commitment to fostering nail artistry, Nailympia continues to be a premier competition in the beauty industry. Whether you’re a newcomer or a seasoned pro, this competition offers a platform to showcase talent, gain recognition and be part of a global nail community.
NEW Rules & Scoresheets for 2025
The Nailympia team is thrilled to announce new rules and score sheets for 2025!
This comprehensive revamp addresses common competition questions, unifies Nailympia events worldwide and offers clearer guidance for all participants. The rules have been refined and score sheets have been updated to align with these improvements.
All competitors are encouraged to read the updated rules to maximise their scoring potential. Notably, the UV Gel Pink & White and Acrylic Liquid & Powder competitions have been restructured, allowing competitors to select their preferred technique – whether Tip & Overlay or Sculpture. These are now called “UV Gel (or Acrylic) Pink & White Competition Nails.” Additionally, the Salon Nails category no longer requires a feature design on the ring finger.
More judges will now be present in each booth to focus on specific scoring aspects, benefiting both judges and competitors. Time adjustments have been made to some competitions, with certain categories receiving more time and others slightly less.
Be sure to review the updated rules and score sheets at http://www.nailympia.de to stay informed on all changes.
Registration is open for Nailympia Anaheim (February 2025) and Nailympia Germany (March 2025).
Nailympia 2025
Nailympia Premiere Anaheim, CA, USA – 23-24 February
Nailympia Germany, Dusseldorf – 28-29 – 30 March
Nailympia China., Pudong, Shanghai – 8-9-10 May
Nailympia Premiere Orlando, FL, USA – 1-2 June
Nailympia Premiere San Antonio, TX, USA – 28-29 September
Nailympia Vietnam – TBA-
Nailympia London – 12- 13 October – Pro Beauty Autumn