Nailympia COMPETITIONS NEWS

Immerse in competition highlights, interviews & points to note from the Nailympia realm, with its global director, ALEX FOX

20 years of Nailympia 2005-2024

It’s exciting to see six locations confirmed for Nailympia across the globe for 2024. Introducing Vietnam and China to the Nailympia family is a welcome tonic to the event as it steps into Asia, while Mexico brings delight to those on the opposite side of the world who wish to get involved again after its long sabbatical.

In the Nailympia office, the team is keen to return to the competition’s London arena, as 2024 marks the UK event’s 20th year. This is bound to bring some nail joy and excitement to those participating. Don’t miss this extra special competition vibe, and be sure to register for both arena and online categories.

Global Cup criteria

If you’re chomping at the bit to be the next Nailympia Global Champion, please note that the Global Cup requires competitors to accrue scores from three Nailympia locations. Anyone competing in more than three will have their three highest scores counted. The relevant categories are L&P & Sculpture, LED Gel Tip & Overlay and Stiletto Nails. In locations where there is no Gel Tip & Overlay, the L&P Acrylic Tip & Overlay score will be harvested and vice versa.

“Nail competitors need to integrate the training process into their everyday life, take time to practice and invest in learning.”

WINNER INTERVIEW

Get to know Germany’s Olena Oezman, two-time Nailympia Global Cup champion, as she shares her competition tales and triumphs…

In a first for Nailympia, Olena Oezman of Germany won the Global Cup trophy two years in a row: in 2022 and 2023. She is decorated in nail titles, scooping awards across various competitions around the world, and notably in a number of Nailympia locations. These awards include over 100 first place medals, and Winner of Winners and Highest Individual Scorer trophies in live competitions.

“I have met a lot of people on the competition floor, and we each have different thoughts on what drives us to take part in a competition for the first time, and repeatedly after that,” Olena tells Scratch. “It’s not always easy or joyful to be a competitor, and most people only see the end result and performance in the arena. There is so much more behind it.

“Nail competitors need to integrate the training process into their everyday life, take time to practice and invest in learning. Also, if you aim for better results, you automatically face self-doubt, and it’s a huge journey of personal growth. Everyone has their own ‘why’ that drives them.

“I came to the competition arena out of curiosity. I had no expectations and just wanted to have fun. The atmosphere was overwhelming and showed me a world of nails I’d never imagined. But the reason I stayed? I was driven by excellence. There is no perfection, but 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 them, and to explore if there is any special ‘why’

behind their decision. 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.

“I’ve learned that the process of competing, and the evaluation of criteria, helps me create nails I never thought possible. Competing gives me self-doubt, but also self-belief, and makes me weak but also very strong. It brings envy and it brings very deep friendships.

“Winning the Nailympia Global Cup the first time was very special for me. But, due to the pandemic, some competitors did not take part, and I had many points so my win was relatively predictable. The second Nailympia Global Cup was for my personal vision of my abilities and strength. This cup was hard. I did 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. Therefore, the 2023 trophy is 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’. It’s a great cup for European competitors, to motivate them to travel between Germany and the UK to strive for this special trophy.”