STAR Quality

North America’s Star Nail Artist Season One champion, ANASTASIA TOTTY, shares tips & tales from her colourful career

A day in my life

I wake up at 6.30am, and my husband and I get our eight-year-old son ready for school. I head to my studio and spend an hour answering emails, ordering supplies and scrolling through social media for nail art inspiration. I usually see clients five days per week, from 9am to 7pm, so my schedule is quite busy. Between 7pm and 10pm, I enjoy time with my family. We make dinner together and watch our favourite shows on TV.

Some weeks, I’ll travel to events – both across the USA and internationally – in my roles as educator & brand ambassador for LECHAT Nailcare Products. I love meeting fellow industry pros and helping enthusiasts take the first steps into their dream career roles.

The story so far…

I was born and raised in Moldova, a small, beautiful country in Eastern Europe. I never considered nail artistry as a career option, but always had a knack for languages, so studied for a Bachelor’s degree in Education. It was then that I started booking regular nail appointments, and found that I loved dreaming up nail design ideas. When my nail tech relocated, I learned how to do my own nails from magazines and online videos. I read articles about international nail competitions, but never imagined that entering, or even winning such contests, would be in my future.

My husband’s work led us to St. Petersburg, Russia, where I decided to invest in nail education and become a nail professional. In 2014, we moved to the United States, where I continued my journey as a tech and entered my first nail competition. Since then, I have competed, won multiple awards and now hold 61 nail trophies.

I own a salon in Florida, where other beauty professionals rent space. In 2019, I joined the LECHAT team, as I was keen to share my knowledge and techniques with other nail techs. My LECHAT colleagues have taught me so much about the nail industry and support me greatly. I was encouraged to enter Scratch’s North America’s Star Nail Artist contest and was crowned champion on June 1. It was a dream come true.

Why compete?

Those who compete know that each experience is incredibly rewarding. The time and energy spent preparing for each competition is worth it, as skills are developed and refined, and there is a sense of pride when you see your achievements on nails. Competing brings me joy, saves me from burn out, encourages me to learn more techniques and to work on my craft.

My friend and LECHAT colleague, Guin Deadman, says: “You don’t always win, and you learn so much when you don’t.” She inspires me to think outside the box when I conceptualise each creation.

I am a regular Nailympia competitor, and when the themes are announced for each location, it’s a call to action for me and I start planning my submissions. When I realise that I need to improve in a particular area of nails, I search for a mentor who can support me. Being in the competition arena pushes you to work quickly, and in clean and creative ways, so salon techniques improve dramatically.

My North America’s Star Nail Artist experience

The North America’s Star Nail Artist (NASNA) contest ran from October 2024, with the winner’s announcement on June 1, 2025. It was a challenging journey that required intense commitment, but it was an amazing experience. The total scores were not revealed until the winner’s announcement, and the top three competitors in each challenge changed from month to month, so it was hard to determine where I stood, which kept things interesting!

The 40 participants were very worthy and strong competitors. The feedback given after each challenge was so detailed, and it was great to work with new products each month, provided by the challenge sponsors. My favourite brief was Challenge 5: Change & Transformation, sponsored by LECHAT Nailcare Products. It required five fantasy-style nails to be created, inspired by change. I wanted to showcase my progress in the competition and craft nails that showed precision and creativity, so chose to feature an ancient symbol of growth and rebirth: the ouroboros. The icon often includes a snake or dragon swallowing its tail, representing the cycle of life and infinity. I was born in the year of the dragon, so it has a personal meaning. Another ever-changing symbol is the moon, as its phases have a strong impact on nature, so I featured the crescent moon in my design.

Each of the nails has the same structure, but features a unique element:

Butterfly: the quintessential symbol of change and transformation.

Spiral: symbolic of spiritual growth, evolution, change and connection to the divine.

Tree of life: a sign of growth and divinity.

Lotus flower: representing purity, resilience, rebirth and spiritual enlightenment.

Yin & yang: opposing but complementary forces that form a balance essential for harmony and health.

I feel that the different symbols of strength and perseverance represented my journey well, which is why I chose this nail design to feature on this month’s Scratch cover.

When it was announced that I was one of the top three nail artists in the contest, I was elated. Winning has validated my professional skills and been an incredible reward for my efforts.

Adventures in Orlando

As a NASNA finalist, I was invited by Scratch magazine to attend a number of events in Orlando, including the Premiere Orlando exhibition, Beauty Changes Lives Gala, and the Scratch Social – at which I was revealed as NASNA Season One champion. It was the most fun I have had over a Premiere Orlando exhibition weekend, as I got to dress up and network with people I previously only dared follow on social media.

The Gala was a beautiful event and raised funds to provide scholarships and support for future generations of beauty professionals. The stories shared reminded me of my own journey. I had the pleasure of meeting my fellow NASNA top three finalists, Jessica Vero and Michelle Soto, and spent the evening getting to know them. They were both deserving winners and such nice people who I truly connected with. I loved reliving the memories of the competition with them!

Top trends

While I love competing and travelling, the majority of my time is spent providing high-quality salon services for my clients and ensuring that their ideas are brought to life on nails.

Some of the most popular requests this season have been bright colour combinations, chrome effects and 3D gel art, and I enjoy incorporating textured art and nail charms into designs. Mermaid and seashell styles are trending, and even clients who tend to choose subtle milky nails or French manicures have chosen to add mermaid accents for playful finishes.