Back in June, Scratch announced the launch of a contest to excite the industry and champion professional artistry and creativity across North America. Entries came in droves, before a shortlist was announced on 23 September.
These shortlisted nail professionals from the USA, Canada and Mexico, are competing in monthly challenges, each sponsored by a high profile nail brand. At the end of each challenge, those through to the next round will be announced, alongside techs who will enter a Wild Card stage to fight for their place in the contest. Eliminations are made at each stage, until a top three will battle it out for the title of North America’s Star Nail Artist. They will be flown to Orlando in June 2025, where a winner will be unveiled at a special event at the Premiere Orlando exhibition on 1 June.
Challenge One: Stylishly Spooky
CND™ sent all shortlisted nail artists a box of enhancement products. The task? To build a haunted house across five nails on one hand, using a minimum of one of each of the enhancement products.
All contestants had to provide a video showcasing the products being used. They were free to interpret the haunted house theme however they saw fit, as long as they demonstrated creativity and attention to detail. To get in the spirit even more, contestants were also required to submit a brief scary story in their video, so that judges could get to know each contestant.
THE JUDGES
• Helena Biggs, editorial & partnerships director at Scratch.
• Jan Arnold, co-founder & style director at CND™.
• Danny Haile, CEO & founder of Gelish.
• Lezlie McConnell, co-founder at Light Elegance.
• Annabel Maginnis, co-founder at Glitterbels.
• Mr. Luis, celebrity nail artist & educator at LeChat Nails.
• Elaine Watson, global education director at Light Elegance.
• Vu Nguyen, dean of education at Nail Alliance.
• Beth Livesay, senior manager of education content at CND™.
• Charli Jepson, head of education at Glitterbels.
• Lexy McLellan, creative director at Light Elegance.
• Guin Deadman, master educator at LeChat Nails.
• Katy Pottle, The World’s Star Nail Artist 2023.
• Valérie Ducharme, nail artist & coach.