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Nailympia COMPETITION NEWS

Nailympia San Antonio : The results

Immerse in competition highlights, interviews & points to note from the Nailympia realm, with its global director, ALEX FOX

The third edition of Nailympia San Antonio took place 28-29 September 2025 at the Premiere San Antonio trade beauty exhibition in Texas, bringing together talent from across the globe. The competition featured an esteemed international judging panel, led by head judge, Alisha Rimando, to ensure the highest standards of fairness on the arena floor.

Competitors from eight countries: USA, Mexico, Russia, Italy, UK, Serbia, Canada and Argentina, took part, and there was a vibrant mix of familiar faces and exciting new talent. The event highlighted not only the diversity of the global nail community, but the growing popularity of competition training, both in-person and online.

With a noticeable increase in entries, it’s clear that the nail industry is moving beyond the salon and into the competition arena more than ever before. The passion, camaraderie and exceptional skill levels on display in Texas reflect an industry embracing growth, creativity and international collaboration. It’s an exciting time for nails, as we’re seeing a real surge of energy in competitions, especially across the three USA locations:

Anaheim, California; Orlando, Florida and San Antonio, Texas. It’s inspiring to witness the training, mentoring and artistry that are being shared across the globe.

THE 3RD NAILYMPIA PREMIERE CUP 2025

Deborah Cocco – Italy (1,324 points)

INDIVIDUAL TOP SCORER

Deborah Cocco – Italy (1,287 points)

WINNER OF WINNERS

Division 1 – Truong Ngo – USA Division 2 – Elena Solatenkova – USA Division 3 – Deborah Cocco – Italy

TOP USA TECH

Veronica Luviano

ART WINNER OF WINNERS

Nicolas Paggi – Argentina

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GEL POLISH MANICURE

Division 1 1st – Yulia Yushko – USA

2nd – Aminat Ionova – USA

3rd – Oksana Schcherbik – USA

Division 2 1st – Jaquelin Robles – USA

2nd – Viktoriya Komar – USA

3rd – Viktoriia Fedorovykh – USA

Division 3 1st – Veronica Luviano – USA

2nd – Anastasiia Huzhevnikova – USA

3rd – Nicolas Paggi – Argentina

REALITY NAILS

Division 1 1st – Long Ngo – USA

2nd – Phi Dang – USA

3rd – Halyna Kaliugina – USA

Division 2 1st – Tammy Huynh – USA

2nd – Vinh Le – USA

3rd – Sofia Mazur – USA

Division 3 1st – Thomas Pham – USA

2nd – Nicolas Paggi – Argentina

3rd – Mino Vo – United Kingdom

RUNWAY NAILS

Division 1 1st – Long Ngo – USA

2nd – Phi Dang – USA

3rd – Halyna Kaliugina – USA

Division 2 1st – Sofia Mazur – USA

2nd – Vinh Le – USA

3rd – Jaquelin Robles – USA

Division 3 1st – Thomas Pham – USA

2nd – Veronica Luviano – USA

3rd – Nicolas Paggi – Argentina

SALON NAILS

Division 1 1st – Yevheniia Chernyshova – USA

2nd – Aminat Ionova – USA

3rd – Truong Ngo – USA

Division 2 1st – Jaquelin Robles – USA

2nd – Elena Solatenova – USA

3rd – Viktoriya Komar – USA

Division 3 1st – Deborah Cocco – Italy

2nd – Mino Vo – United Kingdom

3rd – Nicolas Paggi – Argentina

“The event highlighted not only the diversity of the global nail community, but the growing popularity of competition training, both in-person and online.” >

FLAT ART BOXED

Division 1 1st – Phi Dang – USA

2nd – Cristina Reyes Sanchez – Mexico

3rd – Sofia Pena – USA

Division 2 1st – Vinh Le – USA

Division 3 1st – Thomas Pham – USA

2nd – Nicolas Paggi – Argentina

3rd – Natsuko Amano – USA

TO STILETTO & BEYONSD

Division 1

3rd – Cristina Reyes Sanchez – Mexico

Division 2 1st – Tammy Huynh – USA

2nd – Viktoriya Komar – USA

3rd – Vinh Le – USA

Division 3 1st – Maryna Kozhevnikova – USA

2nd – Nicolas Paggi – Argentina

3rd – Natalia Yefremova – USA

EXTREME NAILS POSTER

Division 1

1st – Yevheniia Chernyshova – USA

2nd – Mario Zatkovsky – United Kingdom

3rd – Oksana Shcherbii – USA

Division 2 1st – Kateryna Tsabilieva – USA

2nd – Valentina Treskina – Germany

3rd – Chloe Elizabeth Reed – USA

Division 3 1st – Anita Chahal – United Kingdom

2nd – Natalia Yefremova – USA

3rd – Georgina Takács – United Kingdom

UV HARD GEL COMPETITION NAILS

Division 1

1st – Yevheniia Chernyshova – USA

2nd – Yulia Yushko – USA

3rd – Aminat Ionova – USA

Division 2 2nd – Elena Solatenkova – USA

3rd – Sofiia Mazur – USA

Division 3 1st – Deborah Cocco – Italy

2nd – Nicolas Paggi – Argentina

3rd – Mino Vo – United Kingdom

L&P ACRYLIC COMPETITION NAILS

Division 1

3rd – Truong Ngo – USA

Division 2 2nd – Elena Solatenkova – USA

3rd – Sofiia Mazur – USA

Division 3 1st – Deborah Cocco – Italy

2nd – Nicolas Paggi – Argentina

3rd – Mino Vo – United Kingdom

PERFECT MATCH

Division 2

2nd – Elena Solatenova – USA

3rd – Sofiia Mazur – USA

Division 3 1st – Deborah Cocco – Italy

2nd – Nicolas Paggi – Argentina

3rd – Mino Vo - United Kingdom

THE JOY OF NAILS

Division 1

1st – Truong Ngo – USA

2nd – Kseniia Diagileva – USA

3rd – Yulia Yushko – USA

Division 2 1st – Karyna Kyliushyk – USA

2nd – Viktoriya Komar – USA

3rd – Elena Solatenova – USA

Division 3 1st – Deborah Cocco – Italy

2nd – Mino Vo – United Kingdom

3rd – Nicolas Paggi – Argentina

STILETTO NAILS

Division 1

1st – Truong Ngo – USA

2nd – Yulia Yushko – USA

3rd – Nadiia Fedyshyn – USA

Division 2 1st – Viktoriya Komar – USA

2nd – Elena Solatenkova – USA

3rd – Sofiia Mazur – USA

Division 3 1st – Deborah Cocco – Italy

2nd – Nicolas Paggi – Argentina

3rd – Mino Vo – United Kingdom

“With a noticeable increase in entries, it’s clear that the nail industry is moving beyond the salon and into the competition arena more than ever before. The passion, camaraderie and exceptional skill levels on display in Texas reflect an industry embracing growth, creativity and international collaboration.”

CHAMPION SPOTLIGHT: Olena Oezman

Three-time Nailympia Global Cup champion, based in Germany

Q: You were crowned Nailympia Global Champion in 2022, 2023 & 2024 and won the Nailympia European Cup in 2022.

How does it feel to have achieved such an extraordinary record?

A: These achievements don’t just sound good – they feel incredible. But it’s not just the titles that are rewarding; what’s truly meaningful is realising how much personal growth stands behind them. Knowing that I hold this record is special, but understanding the journey behind it is what makes it powerful.

Q: How did you discover nails and what drew you to the craft?

A: My mum says my love for nail polish started early on, and I didn’t just want my nails painted, but sought to paint the nails of others. By the time I was five, I had six or seven bottles of nail polish that were mine. Still, I never considered becoming a nail tech.

On leaving school, I worked in an office and started doing nails for some friends. As someone who always wants to improve, I loved witnessing my nail skills grow daily, and discovered that there is no limit to what can be learned.

Q: You’re known for your skill in sculpting pink & white L&P acrylic competition nails. What does it take to master this technique at champion level?

A: It’s definitely not just about knowing nails. It involves maths, geometry and the ability to think several steps ahead. You need to understand the natural nail and be able to visualise the final result. Beyond that, endless practice is essential. In the last 10 years, I’ve created 1,558 full competition nail sets, and that’s why I always say: ‘Don’t compare my results with yours if you haven’t compared the effort and investment. The outcome only makes sense when you look at the work it took to get there.’

“Reputable competitions are incredibly valuable, and ideal for growth and evolution.”

Q: What do you love about designing and sculpting extreme shapes, and what challenges do they present?

A: At some point, I knew that if I wasn’t as strong in this category as I was in French L&P competition nails, I wouldn’t have a chance at winning global titles. The stiletto is a very technical shape that only looks beautiful if it’s filed sharp and thin. It’s all about geometry, calculations and precise product control – and that’s what I enjoy. The ‘salon stilettos’ offered to customers are a completely different shape.

Q: As someone with so many trophies and medals, what do competitions mean to you personally and professionally?

A: Professionally, they give you status and prove that you can truly walk the talk.

Personally, I’d say every choice in life is both a ‘yes’ and a ‘no’. By saying ‘yes’ to competitions, I said ‘no’ to many other things.

In some ways, it’s a huge win – and at the same time, a sacrifice.

Q: What qualities are essential for anyone aiming to become a champion nail artist?

A: Discipline and the ability to say ‘no’ to yourself. Also, the willingness to work harder than you thought possible.

Q: You’ve travelled the world from your base in Berlin as an international educator & judge. How has this shaped your perspective of the global nail industry?

A: Everywhere I go, I see two kinds of nail techs: those who do nails for money and those who do it from a place of passion. The passionate ones are my people, but I wish more techs would realise that nails is not just a hobby, but a business. It requires management skills, marketing knowledge and continuous investment in education. Yes, there are small cultural differences in every country, but the main weaknesses I see in our industry are the same everywhere.

Q: What do you enjoy most about teaching and mentoring nail professionals across different countries?

A: The long-term impacts of my classes, which are designed to stay with people for years. I love when students reach out long after they have trained with me to say that my teaching changed their perspectives and helped them move forward in their careers. That kind of feedback means everything.

Q: How do you balance competition work with creating salon nails?

A: I currently have around 40 regular clients, compared to the 220 per month I used to see a few years ago. Working in the salon is the best >> splace to practice skills, however I don’t have a salon with employees like I used to. I now spend much of my time running my company, the Olena Oezman Nail Academy, and selling products to professionals.

Q: What do you believe is your greatest contribution to the nail industry?

A: Honestly, I’m not sure. Sometimes I think people don’t even know who I am. I try to live in a way that makes me happy, which seems to inspire others. If something I’ve done has helped someone believe in themselves and reach their goals, that’s amazing. Hopefully, I’ll finish the book about nails that I’m working on, because I believe it will have a real impact. From the feedback I get, I know that my online academy has already become something truly special for many.

Q: What is your vision for the future of nails – both for competitions and the salon world?

A: Some people have had bad experiences in online competitions and lost trust in what they can do. Reputable competitions are incredibly valuable, and ideal for growth and evolution.

In salon work, I see the quality rising. Standard treatments are becoming cleaner and more detailed, and that makes me really happy. However, nail techs need to take more responsibility – especially when it comes to investing in their education.

Q: What advice would you give to aspiring nail artists who dream of following in your footsteps and competing on the world stage?

A: Half-joking, I’d say, ‘Caution -don’t try this at home!’. People who don’t know me often don’t realise how sarcastic and brutally honest I am. Competing often requires a lot of money and that’s why I worked so hard to afford it. But here’s the truth: you will only ever reach your goals if you know your real ‘why’.

nailacademy-online.com

/olenaoezman.nailacademy

@nailacademy.online & @olena_oezman

Dates for the diary 2026

1-2 February Nailympia Anaheim Premiere Anaheim, California, USA

20-22 May Nailympia China Shanghai, China

30 May -1 June Nailympia Orlando Premiere Orlando, Florida, USA

30-31 August Nailympia San Antonio Premiere San Antonio, Texas, USA

August -TBA Nailympia Mexico Mexico City, Mexico

October -TBA Nailympia London London, UK

The Nailympia Competitions 2025 global campaign imagery is courtesy of: Nails: Elena Popova @popovaelena_nfp Photographer: Elena Gelberg @pena_litrova Make-up artist: Varvara Tabutarova @varvara_tabu Hair stylist: Ksenia Golubeva @ksenja_golubeva Model: Alina Philipskaya @alina__0606

For information about Nailympia Competitions, including how to enter, visit www.nailympia.com

/Nailympia @nailympiacompetitions

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