North America's Star Nail Artist: Now & Zen

The North America’s Star Nail Artist contest is heating up, and the finale is just three months away. Marvel at the creations of 24 contestants vying to stay in the contest

The first season of the North America’s Star Nail Artist (NASNA) contest is over the halfway mark, and 40 shortlisted pros from the USA, Canada and Mexico have been whittled down to 24 based on the results of three exciting challenges.

Every month since last October – except for December – a challenge has been set by a sponsor company, and eliminations have taken place at the end of each. For challenge four, the team at Gelish set a task to tie in with the launch of the brand’s dreamy spring nail colour collection, Now & Zen.

Contestants showcased their hand-painting skills across five nails, unveiling nature-inspired artistry and calming scenes. A write-up and video complemented each entry, unveiling the inspiration behind the design, alongside artistic tips and techniques used. At the time of writing, 10 contestants are competing in a Wild Card challenge, and six will be eliminated, leaving 18 hungry for the championship title and ready to compete in challenge five. After the sixth and final challenge, the top three artists will be flown to the Premiere Orlando trade exhibition in June, at which one will be awarded the North America’s Star Nail Artist – season one accolade.

Challenge Four: Now & Zen

Gelish set the task of designing a trendy, original and fashion-forward nail style using hand-painting skills. The art could be on either natural nails, soft gel tips, PolyGel or L&P acrylic enhancements. For the video element of this task, contestants were required to share the stories behind their creations.

“Now & Zen is inspired by the whimsical tones pulled straight from nature’s most stunning everyday landscapes. From sea to sky and everything in between, the Now & Zen collection draws playful pops of creativity from the colours that seem to bloom from the atmosphere around us when we slow down long enough to take in its effortless beauty.”

The brief

Using the shades and story behind Gelish’s spring 2025 nail collection, Now & Zen, as inspiration, contestants were required to create 2D (flat) nail art. Designed to elevate hand-painting techniques, only gel polish, nail polish, gel and acrylic paints could be used within this challenge, alongside nail art tools such as brushes, dotters and sponges.

Contestants were free to interpret the concept of the collection however they saw fit, demonstrating creativity and attention to detail. Designs could be individual to each nail, or flow across the five nails.

THE JUDGING PANEL:

• Helena Biggs, editorial & partnerships director atScratch

• Jan Arnold, co-founder & style director at CND™

• Danny Haile,CEO & founder of Gelish

• Elaine Watson, global education director at Light Elegance

• Vu Nguyen, dean of education at Nail Alliance

• Annabel Maginnis, co-founder at Glitterbels

• Mr. Luis, celebrity nail artist & educator at LeChat Nails

• Giorgia Cappella, head of education & spa at The GelBottle Inc UK

• Beth Livesay, senior manager of education content at CND™

• Charli Jepson, head of education at Glitterbels

• Guin Deadman, master educator at LeChat Nails

• Katy Pottle, The World’s Star Nail Artist2023

Amberley Robinson

Aspen Aguirre

Aura Aponte-Flores

Tina Zavala

Carolina Quintero

Isabelle Calhoun

Hirsch Hunty

Kelsey Waldo

Michelle Soto

Elizabeth Citalan

Tatiana Savostikova

Jennie Shaw

Hope Jung

Sierra Pagan

Jane Tuttle

Yuliia Kovalchuk

Jessica Vero

Lila Nguyen

Melissa Whiffen

Ashley Biasella

“Contestants were free to interpret the concept of the collection however they saw fit, demonstrating creativity and attention to detail.”

Erin Paschke

Kelsey McQuay

Anastasia Totty