SCRATCHCOLUMNIST
Immerse in competition highlights, interviews & points to note from the Nailympia realm, with its global director,
In the global nail competition arena, success is built on discipline, longevity and the ability to perform consistently across different formats, judging panels and international stages. Few competitors demonstrate this level of sustained excellence as prominently as Italian nail artist, Deborah Cocco. At just 28 years old, she has accumulated an impressive 117 trophies, including more than 60 first-place titles and multiple international honours. These have firmly established her presence on the global competition circuit. actively engaged ever since, and today, her influence reaches far beyond the podium. As the founder of DECO Academy in Italy and online education platform, Nailearn, Deborah trains hundreds of students across the globe each year. While her competitive achievements speak for themselves, education remains central to her work. For Deborah, true success is measured not only by trophies, but by the progress, confidence and achievements of the professionals she supports and mentors globally.
Deborah discovered her passion for nails at the age of 12, and entered her first competition in 2017. She has remained
I quizzed Deborah on her journey to success, passion for competing and industry advice...
‘‘Winning the Nailympia European Cup and Global Cup 2025 wasn’t the result of a single defining moment – it was the outcome of years of intense and consistent work. ‘‘
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What factors do you believe have contributed most to your competition success?
“My deep passion for the nail world has brought me this far, and has been part of me since childhood. I’ve also been fuelled by something my father said to me 11 years ago when I told him I wanted to enter my first competition: ‘I don’t think you’ll win’. Those words were painful to hear, but became the catalyst that pushed me beyond my limits and fuelled my determination to aim high.”
Was there a moment when you realised you could become a world champion?
“I’ve always had unshakable determination and never allow myself to believe that something I truly want could be out of reach. I work hard and do my best. Winning the Nailympia European Cup and Global Cup 2025 wasn’t the result of a single defining moment – it was the outcome of years of intense and consistent work.”
What sacrifices have you made to reach this level?
“Competing requires investments in both time and money, and sacrificing aspects of your personal life and family engagements. I’ve always invested more than I could afford, simply because I’ve always been willing to do whatever it takes to achieve my goals. I’ve never been afraid of hard work or seeing my bank account drop to zero. The happiness and sense of personal fulfilment that come from winning are priceless. Every sacrifice I made as a teenager is now rewarding me with indescribable satisfaction.
“I’m a very precise, demanding and self-critical person, which also makes me quite anxious. Often, before and during competitions, I feel physically unwell from the build-up of tension. Yet nothing makes me feel more alive than competing. It offers pure adrenaline and deep happiness.”
What does your training routine look like before a major competition?
“I’ve always approached competitions with seriousness and dedication. I train constantly – even outside of competition periods, but about two months before an event, I intensify my practice and train several times per week with full focus and commitment.”
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Give your absolute best and you’ll go wherever you want: ‘‘ perhaps further than you ever thought possible.
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How do you stay mentally focused under pressure?
“My focus comes from preparation. When I enter the arena, I tell myself: ‘You know how to do this. You can do this’. Before every competition, I take a deep breath, close my eyes and think only about giving my best. I can’t always control my emotions, but discipline and confidence in my training help me stay calm under pressure.”
What role does teamwork play in your success?
My team, TEAM DECO, is one of the most beautiful parts of my career. Its members have helped me understand my true purpose and happiness in life: guiding others towards success. Each is like a daughter to me, as I’ve nurtured, supported and given my whole heart to them. I live every emotion they experience as if it were my own and am like a protective mother: I give everything I have to them, sometimes even at the expense of my own wellbeing. I love them deeply and I’ll never stop giving them the very best of me.”
How do you cope with the weight of expectation?
This is one of the greatest pressures I feel when competing. I know what people expect of me, and the thought of not meeting those expectations can make me afraid to disappoint them. However, this pressure pushes me to outdo myself – not for others, but for myself.”
What advice would you give to a beginner competitor?
“Never settle. If you choose to do something, do it well. Study and train hard, be prepared to make sacrifices and focus on beating your own limits – not someone else’s. Give your absolute best and you’ll go wherever you want: perhaps further than you ever thought possible.
“Compete for yourself, not to prove something to others. Do it with the right motivation and you’ll achieve what you desire. Be objective and always respect and appreciate other competitors. Mutual respect is what keeps this industry growing.”
Why do you believe in nail competitions?
“I love competing and supporting my students who compete, because I believe it is the best way to grow as a professional and add value to our industry.”
Why did you choose to join the
Nailympia
circuit?
I chose to compete at Nailympia because I’ve always considered it a very serious and prestigious competition organisation, capable of offering great opportunities.”
How has winning at
Nailympia
impacted your career and confidence?
“Thanks to the results I’ve achieved at Nailympia, I’ve been able to visit many countries around the world. My accomplishments have opened the door to professional opportunities globally, including teaching abroad in recent years. Beyond that, through the experience I’ve gained from competing and preparing for competitions, I’ve improved exponentially as a professional, nail artist and educator. My experiences have helped me grow in every possible way.”
What does the future hold for you?
“My next chapter is focused on international education. I have upcoming events in Europe, Asia, the USA and Mexico, which I admit feels surreal. I’ll be dedicating myself to education both in my academy in Italy and around the world, continuing to share my vision and passion with students. Nothing could make me happier than that.”
‘‘Nothing makes me feel more alive than competing. It offers pure adrenaline and deep happiness.‘‘
Follow Debora
/decodeborahcocc
@deborah_cocco
@deborah.cocco
To register your interest in
Nailympia’s
upcoming events, visit bit.ly/nailympia-ryi-2026 or scan here
Dates for the diary 2026
20-22 May
Nailympia China Shanghai, China
30 May -1 June
Nailympia Orlando
Premiere Orlando, Florida, USA
August -TBA
Nailympia Mexico Venue TBA
30-31 August
Nailympia San Antonio
Premiere San Antonio, Texas, USA
September – TBA
Nailympia Puerto Rico Venue TBA
4-5 October
Nailympia London London, UK
The Nailympia Competitions 2026 global campaign imagery is courtesy of: Nails: Elena Maltseva @elena_maltseva_nail
Coordinator: Elena Popova @popovaelena_nfp
Photographer: Elena Gelberg @pena_litrova
Make-up artist: Varvara Tabutarova @varvara_tabu
Hair stylist: Ksenia Golubeva @kcenja_golubeva
Model: Elizaveta Plotnikova @plotnikova_elizabet
For information about
Nailympia Competitions,
including how to enter, visit www.nailympia.com
/Nailympia
@nailympiacompetitions
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