8 mins
Nailympia competition 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
Nailympia Mexico 2024:
The results
For the fourth Nailympia event of the year, 172
competitors gathered in Mexico City. The third
iteration of Nailympia Mexico was hosted by Dafne
Fernandez on 6-7 July 2024 and welcomed a vibrant
turnout of spectators and sponsors, who filled the
arena to witness the nail artistry spectacle
The competitions were intense, with nine events running back-to-back over the two days. Participants from 14 countries: Italy, Paraguay, Chile, Argentina, Peru, Nepal, Poland, the UK, USA, Germany, Hungary, Colombia, Portugal and Mexico, showcased their exceptional skills and creativity.
Eight distinguished booth judges evaluated entries behind the scenes. Vincenzo Russello (Germany), Zrinka Vuksan (Canada/ Croatia), Yeo Jung Shim (USA/Korea), Guin Deadman-Littlefield (USA), Fabiola Flores (Mexico), Hemi Park (USA/Korea) and Rocio Del Prado (Mexico) were joined by acting head judge, Alisha Rimando (USA). Meanwhile, 15 floor judges, trained by Dafne Fernandez, ensured that the competition ran smoothly.
The event enjoyed robust support from sponsors, who showcased their nail products, collections and tools. Sponsors, Stanzy Nails & Beauty, Lovely Nails, Covett Nails, Ixzo Nails, Wapizima, Golden Nails, Ä Nails, Roubloff Mexico, Rome*Nails and Glamourosa Nails, offered prizes for winners and special gifts for the judges.
This nail fayre and competition duo was in a league of its own. Dafne and her husband, Oscar, presented a first-class nail experience that filled a large void for nail-focused events in this part of the world. The arena was fully decorated and ready to rumble. And rumble it did! Music filled the air and booths were crammed with visitors eager to explore products, while the buzz and thrill of competitions radiated through the atmosphere. We were all immersed in the wonderful, motivating energy that Nailympia cultivates.
Two Nailympia events remain in 2024: Nailympia San Antonio (15-16 September) and Nailympia London (13-14 October) at Salon Beauty, Excel, London, marking its 20th anniversary. Both events are open for registration.
Supreme Grand Champion – Individual Top Scorer Nicolas Paggi – Argentina
WINNER OF WINNERS Division 1 – Vanessa Michel Calvo – Mexico Division 2 – Paola Betanzos Licea – Mexico Division 3 – Olena Oezman – Germany
ART WINNERS OF WINNERS Division 1 – Dennys Alejandra Almazán Villanueva – Mexico Division 2 – Zury Cruz – Mexico Division 3 – Ismael Camero Alavez – Mexico
TOP MEXICAN TECH Division 1 – Vanessa Michel Calvo Division 2 – Paola Betanzos Licea Division 3 – Adriana Ivette Lopez Montes
TEAM TROPHY Division 1 – Bichotas Uñeras 1 – Mexico Division 2 – Bichotas Uñeras 2 – Mexico Division 3 – Team Beauté – Mexico, Italy, Argentina
GEL POLISH MANICURE
Division 1 1st – Reina Xochitl Ascencion Castro – Mexico 2nd – Chantal Castro Cruz – Mexico 3rd – Brenda Guadarrama Díaz – Mexico
Division 2 1st – Perla Rubi Montano Castillo – Mexico 2nd – Areli Naharai Carvajal Rios – Mexico 3rd – Rocío Patricio Rojas – Mexico
Division 3 1st – Francesca Paliotto – Italy 2nd – Nicolas Paggi – Argentina 3rd – Maria Fernanda Avila Ramirez – Mexico
UV GEL TIP & OVERLAY
Division 1 3rd – Patsy Laurel Ramírez – Mexico
Division 2 1st – Ma Viridiana Oliva Ramirez – Mexico 2nd – Guadalupe Gonzalez Vazquez – Mexico 3rd – Paola Betanzos Licea – Mexico
Division 3 1st – Olena Oezman – Germany 2nd – Francesca Paliotto – Italy 3rd – Natalia Trefon-Ociepka – Poland
L&P ACRYLIC SCULPTURE
Division 1 1st – Vanessa Michel Calvo – Mexico 2nd – Dennys Alejandra Almazán Villanueva – Mexico 3rd – Norma Marín Garduño – Mexico
Division 2 1st – Areli Naharai Carvajal Rios – Mexico 2nd –Ma Viridiana Oliva Ramirez – Mexico 3rd – Lizbeth Vera Rodríguez – Mexico
Division 3 1st – Olena Oezman – Germany 2nd – Natalia Trefon-Ociepka – Poland 3rd – Nicolas Paggi – Argentina
FRENCH TWIST
Division 1 1st – Dennys Alejandra Almazán Villanueva – Mexico 2nd – Vanessa Michel Calvo – Mexico 3rd –Frida Sophia Cuevas Hernandez –Mexico
Division 2 1st – Grisel Aguilar Mena – Mexico 2nd – Paola Betanzos Licea – Mexico 3rd – Luz Sarahi Tamayo Buendia – Mexico
Division 3 1st – Olena Oezman – Germany 2nd – Natalia Trefon-Ociepka – Poland 3rd – Mino Vo – UK
Dafne Fernandez
“This year’s event in Mexico was particularly remarkable, as we sold all competition seats in just over two weeks. The demand continued, so additional space was booked to accommodate more competitors,” enthuses Dafne Fernandez, host & organiser of Nailympia Mexico. “I sensed early on that people were both excited and anxious for Nailympia to return to Mexico. They dedicated significant time and effort to train, investing their resources and sacrificing family time to practice in their salons. I’m fortunate to know many of them personally, which makes it a big commitment for me to deliver the best possible experience. I care deeply about them and the community we create during each event. Witnessing the growth of nail technicians in Mexico fills me with pride, and they will continue to develop new and better skills, which is one of the reasons I believe Nailympia is so important in the industry.”
JOY OF NAILS WITH BLING
Division 1 1st – Maribel Mireya Vazquez Pérez – Mexico 2nd – Vanessa Michel Calvo – Mexico 3rd – Daniela Quevedo Gonzalez – Mexico
Division 2 1st – Antonio Arredondo – Mexico 2nd – Maria Teresa Ruiz Veja – Mexico 3rd – Andrea Vega Domínguez – Mexico
Division 3 1st – Nicolas Paggi – Argentina 2nd – Mino Vo – UK 3rd – Francesca Paliotto – Italy
SALON NAILS
Division 1 1st – Vanessa Michel Calvo – Mexico 2nd –Frida Sophia Cuevas Hernandez –Mexico 3rd – Brenda Guadarrama Díaz – Mexico
Division 2 1st – Areli Naharai Carvajal Rios – Mexico 2nd – Perla Rubi Montano Castillo – Mexico 3rd – Klaudia Serratos – Mexico
Division 3 1st – Olena Oezman – Germany 2nd – Marta Deja – Poland 3rd – Francesca Paliotto – Italy
L&P TRADITIONAL SCULPTED FRENCH
Division 1 1st – Vanessa Michel Calvo – Mexico 2nd – Dennys Alejandra Almazán Villanueva – Mexico 3rd – Frida Sophia Cuevas Hernandez – Mexico
Division 2 1st – Klaudia Serratos – Mexico 2nd –Kariadna Alejandra Trejo Macias –Mexico 3rd – Paola Betanzos Licea – Mexico
Division 3 1st – Olena Oezman – Germany 2nd – Nicolas Paggi – Argentina 3rd –Adriana Ivette Lopez Montes –Mexico
STILETTO NAILS
Division 1 1st – Vanessa Michel Calvo – Mexico 2nd – Marisol Antonio Estrada – Mexico 3rd – Maribel Mireya Vazquez Pérez – Mexico
Division 2 1st – Antonio Arredondo – Mexico 2nd – Maria Teresa Ruiz Veja – Music 3rd – Perla Rubi Montano Castillo – Mexico
Division 3 1st – Olena Oezman – Germany 2nd – Natalia Trefon-Ociepka – Poland 3rd – Mino Vo – UK
FANTASY NAILS & COMPLETE LOOK
Division 1 1st – Noemi Salinas – Mexico 2nd – Yahir Alberto Manjarrez Fernández – Mexico
Division 2 1st – Rocío Patricio Rojas – Mexico 2nd – Zury Cruz – Mexico 3rd – Alex Castro – Mexico
Division 3 1st – Ismael Camero Alavez – Mexico 2nd –Vanessa Paola Martínez González –Mexico 3rd – Adriana Ivette Lopez Montes – Mexico
EXTREME NAIL STYLING POSTER
Division 1 1st – Dennys Alejandra Almazán Villanueva – Mexico 2nd – Maribel Mireya Vazquez Pérez – Mexico 3rd – Alma Delia Pulido Morales – Mexico
Division 2 1st – Zury Cruz – Mexico 2nd – Lizbeth Berenice Mendoza – Mexico 3rd – Nicté Santillán Maldonado – Mexico
Division 3 1st – Melinda Tamás – Hungary 2nd – Adriana Ivette Lopez Montes – Mexico 3rd – Fátima Ramírez Mejía – Mexico
MIXED MEDIA BOXED ART
Division 1 1st – Edna Sofía Negrete Lagunas – Mexico 2nd – Inés Karen García Rosas – Mexico 3rd – Dalia Rangel Arellanes – Mexico
Division 2 1st – Monica Aguirre Mejia – Mexico 2nd – Maria de los Angeles Estrada Jiménez – Mexico 3rd – Zury Cruz – Mexico
Division 3 1st – Ismael Camero AlavezMexico 2nd – Paulina Guadalupe Gutiérrez Valdez – Mexico 3rd – Miguel Diaz – Mexico
FLAT ART BOXED
Division 1 1st – Leisy Karen Canche Tzec – Mexico 2nd – Sarahi Santiago Gutierrez – Mexico 3rd – Danae Fuentes Hernandez – Mexico
Division 2 1st – Ximena Coatzin – Mexico 2nd – Dulce Ivone Macedo Osorio – Mexico 3rd – Teresa Lobato Manzano – Mexico
Division 3 1st – Ismael Camero Alavez – Mexico 2nd – Paulina Guadalupe Gutiérrez Valdez – Mexico 3rd – Dulce Pérez Cruz – Mexico
Nailympia competitions are powered by
TO STILETTO & BEYOND
(was Invent A Nail Shape)
Division 1 1st – Ana Karen Espinoza Mena – Mexico 2nd – Griselda Zamora Torres – Mexico 3rd – Marylu Cas – Mexico
Division 2 1st – Nayelli Buendía Cedillo – Mexico 2nd – Maria de los Angeles Estrada Jiménez – Mexico 3rd – Klaudia Serratos – Mexico
Division 3 1st – Mino Vo – UK 2nd – Miguel Diaz – Mexico 3rd – Laura Ledes – Mexico
The Nailympia 2024 marketing imagery comes courtesy of: HAND IMAGE Nail artist: Èva Pásztornè Balog (@evaprofessionalnails)
Photographer: Zsolt Kőszegi Model: Kitty Kovács Make-up artist: Ivett Orosz
WARRIOR IMAGE Nail artist: Melinda Tamás (@tamasmela)
Photographer: Jozsef Balogh Model: Agnes Koltai Make-up artist: Lívia Rideg Retoucher: Anna Petrovas
UPCOMING LOCATIONS: San Antonio: 15-16 September London: 13-14 October
For information about Nailympia competitions including how to enter, visit www.nailympia.com /Nailympia @nailympiacompetitions
Nailympia competitions are powered by
The Nailympia 2024 marketing imagery comes courtesy of: HAND IMAGE Nail artist: Èva Pásztornè Balog (@evaprofessionalnails)
Photographer: Zsolt Kőszegi Model: Kitty Kovács Make-up artist: Ivett Orosz
WARRIOR IMAGE Nail artist: Melinda Tamás (@tamasmela)
Photographer: Jozsef Balogh Model: Agnes Koltai Make-up artist: Lívia Rideg Retoucher: Anna Petrovas