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Dancing with the stars

Relive the magic of The Scratch Stars Party 2024, at which the UK&I nail industry was celebrated in glittering fashion

It’s been just over a month since 300 party-loving nail professionals and their peers descended onto London in full glam for the most anticipated night in the industry calendar – and it’s still being talked about. At Scratch, we dare to do things a little differently, and the annual Scratch Stars Party is not your average awards event. There’s no black tie dress code, no side plates with stale bread rolls, and no long speeches. Instead, the night serves up live entertainment, a celebrity host, themed cocktails – and plenty of surprises.

Stunning London venue, The Underglobe, was the destination for this year’s eventgoers, who enjoyed the view of the River Thames and posed for photos against the city skyline before entry. The unique location is adjacent to the iconic Shakespeare’s Globe, and pays homage to the enchanted wood featured in the writer’s play, A Midsummer Night’s Dream. After tickets were checked, each guest walked down a staircase of golden mirrors to be met with a candy floss-topped glass of fizz, and the spectacular sight of a full-sized model oak tree, lit in Scratch’s signature fuchsia pink and decorated in twinkling lights, as if from a fairytale.

Twenty-eight round tables, each laden with goody bags, were dotted around the space and sprinkled with golden star confetti. The starry theme continued at each centrepiece, with glossy gold, black and pink balloons creating a dazzling effect. Guests met and mingled with online friends and colleagues, enjoyed canapés and free-flowing drinks, before it was time for the first half of the Scratch Stars Awards presentation.

DJ, podcaster & former Rugby Union star, James Haskell, was this year’s celebrity host: a popular choice with the audience, who were enamoured by the tall sportsman. He joined me on stage to welcome guests and recognise the importance of the nail industry, revealing that he has enjoyed pedicures with a gold sparkly CND Shellac™ finish for a number of years. He also proudly showed off a navy blue manicure for the evening’s celebrations. Thanks were given to sponsors and judges, before the winners of nine Scratch Stars Awards categories were revealed.

More omissions into the Scratch Stars Hall of Fame were witnessed than in any previous year, with Cambridgeshire’s Catriona Leith celebrating her third win in both the One Stroke Artist and Gel Tech of the Year categories. Fellow HD Pro Nails team member, Kayley Cairns from Essex, joined her in the Hall of Fame after being revealed as Scratch Stars Nail Stylist of the Year for a third time, and Jiak Hing took the title of Ultimate Gel Polish Stylist after her trio of consecutive successes. Three wins in the same Scratch Stars category deems nail pros as the ‘Ultimate’ champion of that category, and they are invited to become a judge; ineligible to compete for the same title again.

The exciting first half of the awards presentation concluded with an Oscars-style selfie, with James and I posing on stage with guests cheering behind us. It was then time to welcome the first live act of the evening: the talented Shola Ama, who got everyone on their feet with her setlist, which included hit songs, ‘Imagine’ and ‘You Might Need Somebody.’

Digital caricaturist, Christian Marshall of @sensiblepencil, created incredible – and hilarious – drawings of attendees at speed, which were emailed to them to upload to social media.

Guests indulged in a choice of cocktails, aptly named ‘Scratch-tini’, ‘Starry Starry Night’ and ‘Go For Gold’, and could write the shining moment of their nail career on a golden star to stick on a feature board.

Representatives from the Hair & Beauty Charity, for which Scratch is a media partner, sold raffle tickets, with the prize of a GHD hairstyling bundle presented towards the end of the evening. Over £800 was raised to help industry professionals and their families who have fallen on hard times, and all tickets are entered into the charity’s annual raffle later this year.

Following Shola Ama’s performance, canapés and pick ‘n’ mix were enjoyed, and James and I returned to the stage for the second and final part of the awards celebrations. Nine winners across salon and education categories were announced, with cheers and joyous tears in abundance. Each posed for a professional photo, courtesy of long-time Scratch Stars Awards photographer, Jon Bradley, in front of a gold sequin wall framed by balloons. It was then time for the group winners’ photo. A 60-second countdown encouraged the 18 Scratch Stars Awards winners to rush to the stage, before they raised their gold star trophies in jubilation for the snap.

The rapturous applause continued, as UK Garage music legends, DJ Luck & MC Neat, jumped onto stage with incredible energy, playing classic tracks that caused the millennials in the audience to go wild, and all guests to find a spot on the dancefloor. The hour-long set saw attendees singing (and rapping) along to the likes of ‘A Little Bit Of Luck’ and ‘Masterblaster’, with some enthusiasts even joining MC Neat on stage to join in with the hits.

It truly was a magnificent evening, with guests enjoying the celebrations wholeheartedly, making new friends and marking the achievements of the UK&I nail industry. The liveliness continued until the early hours, but the sparkle never waned. Roll on next year’s event!

“I am elated to have won both the One Stroke Artist of the Year and Gel Tech of the Year titles. The Scratch Stars Awards has meant so much to me and been a huge career highlight. Five years ago, I set myself the challenge of winning one award, so to have won six in the last three years has been amazing. To now enter the Hall of Fame for both categories is so exciting, and I can’t wait to begin the next chapter of my career on the judging panel.

“Thank you so much to Helena and the team at Scratch. For anyone in the industry who is looking to compete in the Scratch Stars Awards, just go for it! It’s an incredible event that celebrates all that’s brilliant about the nail sector.”

Catriona Leith, Scratch Stars Gel Tech of the Year & One Stroke Artist of the Year 2024

“I am so proud to be recognised as Scratch Stars Natural Nail Specialist of the Year 2024, as I competed against incredibly talented nail technicians. The quality of work gets higher every year, and it’s an honour to receive such a prestigious award. I appreciate Scratch’s continuous efforts to raise standards in the industry.”

Lucy Price-Marshall, Scratch Stars Natural Nail Specialist of the Year 2024

“Winning the SocialMediaStarofthe Yeartitle is a huge achievement, and I feel grateful and blessed to be part of the ScratchStarsAwardsexperience. I have been working very hard to produce content for my social media channels that inspires and motivates my fellow nail technicians. My hard work has been recognised, which gives me an immense sense of achievement, satisfaction and drive to work even harder.”

Kamila Borowiec, Scratch Stars Social Media Star of the Year 2024

“Taking part in such a highly regarded competition, full of talented professionals, has pushed me beyond my comfort zone, and allowed me to grow both professionally and personally. The Scratch Stars Awards has offered opportunities that I never dreamed possible, and I have made some amazing friends along the way. I never let myself believe that I would be a winner this year, as the work of all finalists was of such a high standard, so to win two trophies was beyond my wildest dreams!”

Danielle Brindley, Scratch Stars Mixed Media Artist of the Year & Polish & Paint Artist of the Year 2024

“Winning the GelPolishStylistoftheYearaward is an incredible honour and a dream come true. The recognition means the world to me and is a testament to the hard work, passion and dedication I have put into my craft. I am grateful to Scratchfor this amazing competition and awards party, and excited for what the future holds.”

Jiak Hing, Scratch Stars Gel Polish Stylist of the Year 2024

“I had taken a year off competing in 2023 and felt nervous to enter the ScratchStarsAwardsthis year, but was excited to be announced as a finalist. I practiced as much as I could around family commitments, nail clients and completing a PGCE. The judges put me at ease on the competition day, and when I was announced as the winner at The Scratch Stars Party, I was elated! This achievement shows that even pros who are introverted and don’t have a huge online presence can be recognised for their skills. The Scratch Stars Awards is for everyone. “I first entered this competition eight years ago and didn’t make it to the final. It was another two years before I won an award, and now I am in the Scratch Stars Hall of Fame after winning Nail Stylist of the Year three times. With hard work, perseverance and the courage to keep on trying, you too can succeed!”

Kayley Cairns, Scratch Stars Nail Stylist of the Year 2024

“I am truly grateful to be recognised as Mobile Nailist of the Year. It is a dream come true, and I will continue to work hard to offer the best experience to my clients.”

Stela Angelova, Scratch Stars Mobile Nailist of the Year 2024

“Receiving the award for Scratch Stars L&P Tech of the Year has been the proudest moment of my career and validated my sills. I have spent years elevating my craft, so am delighted to be rewarded in an area of nails I am so passionate about.”

Kirsty McDonough, Scratch Stars L&P Tech of the Year 2024

“Winning the Shooting Star Award is the cherry on top of a year of hard work, growth and personal sacrifices. To have my work recognised by such a prestigious judging panel feels amazing, and I am very thankful to the team at Scratch and the judges for this honour.”

Dani Bailey, winner of the Scratch Stars Shooting Star Award 2024

“To win the Scratch Stars Award for Nail Team of the Year feels amazing, as Glitterbels educators have worked so hard this year. To have our achievements recognised by industry peers is wonderful, and I am thankful to the team at Scratch and the judges for this recognition. The entire team is proud to be part of this phenomenal industry.”

Charli Jepson, Glitterbels head of education, on behalf of the Glitterbels Education Team, Scratch Stars Nail Team of the Year 2024

“Winning the Scratch Stars Award for Services to the Nail Industry is a true honour, and validation for the passion and dedication I pour into my craft every day. I am grateful for this recognition and will continue to strive for excellence in everything I do.”

Kirsty Meakin, winner of the Scratch Stars Services to the Nail Industry Award

“The entire Nailspa team is thrilled to be recognised in the Scratch Stars Awards, and our clients have enjoyed celebrating with us and following our competition journey. The awards process allows us to assess our work and customer service, and provides a report that we can refer back to and use to set our next goals.”

Nailspa, Huddersfield, Scratch Stars Nail & Beauty Salon of the Year 2024

“To be recognised with the Scratch Stars Nail Business Mentor Award is testament to the dedication and passion I have for empowering others in the industry. I am also incredibly grateful to be the most decorated nail professional in Scratch Stars Awards history. My achievements not only reflect my commitment to excellence, but the support and encouragement I receive from my clients, colleagues and mentors. This incredible recognition inspires me to continue to push boundaries and strive for greatness in every aspect of my work.”

Hazel Dixon, winner of the Scratch Stars Nail Business Mentor Award 2024

“I am absolutely delighted to have won this award, and to gain recognition for my work and home salon setup. Thank you to the Scratch Stars Awards!”

Kirsty Brown of Paintbrush Nails, Stirling, winner of Scratch Stars Home Nail Salon of the Year 2024

“The Niche Nails & Beauty team is incredibly happy and proud to be named Scratch Stars Nail Salon of the Year. To be recognised for our hard work and dedication with such a prestigious award is humbling, and proves that with dedication, anything is possible.”

Niche Nails & Beauty, Witney, Scratch Stars Nail Salon of the Year 2024

“Receiving the Educator of the Year title truly cements the quality of education I provide and underscores my unwavering commitment to my students. This recognition fuels my passion to continue striving for excellence, ensuring that every course I offer is of the highest standard. A heartfelt thank you to Scratch for this amazing opportunity.”

Melanie Lewendon, Scratch Stars Educator of the Year 2024