Judge & competitor spotlights

JUDGE SPOTLIGHT: Tetiana Dudiak – Massachusetts, USA

Multi award-winning nail pro, educator & competition coach @dudiak_tatiana

I moved to the United States almost two years ago, and effectively began my professional life again. My competition experience proved to be the foundation that stayed with me, regardless of country and circumstance.

My professional nail journey began 19 years ago, and for 12 of those, I’ve been teaching manicure and nail sculpting techniques. In the past, I owned a nail school in Odessa, Ukraine, and worked as an educator for brand, F.O.X. Today, I conduct online and in-person advanced nail courses from Massachusetts.

When teaching, I often hear students say: ‘It’s too early for me to compete. Once my work becomes perfect, I’ll start’. My response is always that it’s important to understand how competitions are structured. Nailympia offers three divisions:

• Division 1 (novice) is intended for professionals who’ve not previously participated in recognised competitions.

• Division 2 (apprentice) is for those who’ve competed but not won first place. Educators begin in this division.

• Division 3 (master) is for professionals who have won gold in recognised competitions.

This means that a beginner does not compete against those who already hold titles. Therefore, preparing for competitions can begin much earlier than many assume. This preparation can lead to significant professional growth within just a few months, particularly if a pro consistently practices and receives structured feedback from a coach, mentor or educator. An experienced coach can

identify areas for improvement from photographs, and even more so through video analysis and in-person evaluation.

As for experienced professionals who’ve never competed, fear usually comes from the risk of not meeting your expectations, especially if you’re an educator. However, competitions are, first and foremost, about standards. Regulations define clear criteria regarding apex placement, c-curves, balance, cleanliness, proportions and more. The ability to not only execute these standards, but explain them to students, elevates an educator to another level.

Victory has a huge impact on a nail business. Titles serve as proof of expertise, attracting clients and students, and offer a reason to consider price increases. Championships such as Nailympia provide international visibility, opening further opportunities for development, and participation in competitions helps overcome the ‘imposter syndrome’ that is often experienced by perfectionists.

When I found myself in a new country and had to start over, I saw the positive results of my decisions. Competition experience, understanding official standards and being able to work to clear criteria became my professional support system. This foundation has allowed me to continue teaching.

If I could change one thing in my professional journey, I would have started competing earlier, because it shaped not only my skills, but my confidence and professional identity. The standards you learn, discipline you develop and level you reach remain with you long after a competition ends.

COMPETITOR SPOTLIGHT: Kateryna Tsabilieva – Harrisonburg, USA

1st place in Extreme Nails Poster (Division 2) at Nailympia San Antonio 2025 @prosto.nails

I’ve loved nail art since I was five years old and would place flower petals from my mother’s garden onto my nails. Fast forward to 2014, I started my journey as a nail professional. For me, performing a manicure is never just about self-care; it’s where technique meets artistry. It brings together precision, structure and safety with the ability to create paintings on tiny canvases.

I started participating in competitions as I enjoy the challenge of stepping outside of my comfort zone and proving myself. Competitions offer development, new opportunities and professional connections. Preparing for championships takes enormous work: time, energy, financial investment and discipline, but it’s so worthwhile.

Admittedly, the results don’t always match expectations, and this can lead to discouragement. However, this can also become the motivation to push forward. I’ve experienced both disappointment and inspiration, and have moved from competing in classic manicure competitions to creative categories where I can disconnect from everything and simply create. It feels like therapy. The emotions that competitions afford are unforgettable; participating gives an incredible charge and makes you want to return again.

Prize-winning poster

I created my winning Extreme Nails Poster entry for Nailympia San Antonio 2025 in several stages. I felt like giving up many times, but thanks to my professional team, the outcome exceeded my expectations.

I want to acknowledge my trainer, mentor & North America’s Star Nail Artist Seasons 1 & 2 contestant, Yuliia Kovalchuk. She has guided me in a way that has furthered my vision and supported my confidence. Thanks to her gentle yet motivating encouragement, I brought the project not just to completion, but to a victory.

The initial inspiration was a sunflower: a symbol of my home, Ukraine, which I miss deeply. During the process, the image evolved and became more layered. It’s the result of teamwork, tremendous effort, countless emotions and a desire to create.

Today, I own a nail studio in Harrisonburg, Virginia. I work with clients, train two beginner nail artists and continue to develop as a competitor. In my salon, clients can experience calm, care, privacy and relaxation. One of the most meaningful aspects of my work is offering charitable services for women undergoing cancer treatment and in recovery. For them, a manicure is emotional support – a way to feel safe, dignified and regain a sense of control.

My favourite technique is the dry combined manicure due to its clean results. I also love sculpting modern almond shapes and the ‘aquarium French’ style, as well as hand-painting designs. In my day-to-day work, I mostly create minimalist, wearable looks.

We often tell ourselves that we don’t have enough time to do things and honestly, it’s true. Our everyday routines consume us, and I was no exception. I had a huge passion to create this work, but as a full-time nail tech seeing six clients a day, I didn’t know when I could. Then, I took a trip to Florida with my family and was able to spend a week creating nail prototypes.

Coming home, the real marathon began: late nights and endless weekend sessions, and slowly the idea grew. The photoshoot took place right before the photographer was leaving for her own trip, which meant we only had one chance to get it right. We shot around 1,000 frames and chose just one.