COVERSTORY

Rise Like a Phoenix

Master nail artist & educator, Eve Tran, shares the powerful meaning behind her Nailympia 2027 campaign imagery – which features on this month’s cover

ALEX FOX REPORTS

About Eve Tran

Eve is a Vietnamese-born nail artist, educator, international judge, consultant & speaker based in Germany. Her competition achievements, which exceed 20 global accolades, include Nail Art World Champion 2021 and Grand Champion at the Global Nail Cup in Finland, 2013.

Alongside her creative work, Eve trains nail pros and supports students preparing for competitions. She is passionate about raising professional standards and helping Vietnamese nail artists develop their skills and confidence. Eve has served as a judge at competitions across Europe and Asia, including multiple Nailympia events.

@eve_tran /eve.tran.1

The Nailympia campaign imagery has become iconic over the years, with industry figures crafting stunning nail designs and organising photo shoots exclusively for its marketing materials. Following the likes of Elena Popova, Andreea Simona Ignat and Elena Maltseva, the work of champion nail artist, Eve Tran, has been unveiled for the 2027 campaign.

A world-renowned nail artist, Eve was invited by Nailympia to create the campaign visuals and given an open brief of ‘explore your imagination, style and skills’. She had free rein to nurture her artistic vision, expand her technical prowess and let her imagination fly, within the remit of producing shots that would captivate viewers.

Acknowledging that the last four Nailympia campaigns have depicted extreme nail shapes, I would like to take this opportunity to note, as its global director, that this has not been my intention or a necessary directive. However, it’s clear that pushing boundaries helps elevate the visual power of our sector – as when extreme nail styles are delivered in harmony with a complete image, they send a powerful message to the nail industry and beyond. With this in mind, Scratch’s November front cover and this article celebrate the new Nailympia imagery and its maestro.

An insight into Eve

So, who is the artist behind the extraordinary extreme nails? Eve reveals: “My nail industry journey started at the age of 17, three years after I moved to Germany. Arriving at 14, I found adapting to a new country and education system challenging. The language barrier made studying difficult, and the path towards university was not as straightforward as I’d hoped. I decided to learn a profession and began building a path for myself through nails.”

Eve explains that her Vietnamese heritage, and the more recent laying of her European roots, have helped shape her nail career. “Being Vietnamese and living and working in Germany has given me the opportunity to experience both Asian and European approaches to nails,” she tells Scratch. “I’ve explored different materials, tools and ways of using them, which has broadened my understanding of techniques and aesthetics.

“What I particularly love about Asian nail styling is the intricate detail, delicate decorative work and imaginative use of materials. Additionally, through learning and working in Europe, I’ve developed a strong appreciation for clean execution, precision and beautifully refined finishes. These influences complement each other in my work: I pay close attention to artistic details, while placing equal importance on technical foundations and the overall finish. This is also what I aim to pass onto my students, by encouraging them to learn different approaches and develop their own identities.”

Eve continues: “From the ‘‘ beginning of my journey, I dreamed of being recognised as one of the Vietnamese pioneers building names for themselves within the international nail community. Twenty years ago, Vietnamese nail businesses abroad were often associated with low prices, poor quality and a lack of professional expertise. As a Vietnamese nail pro, I wanted to help challenge those perceptions through my skills, commitment and achievements.

"I turned feelings that were difficult to express into something visible: a phoenix rising from the ashes."

“The success I’ve achieved in Germany and Europe means more to me than personal recognition. It’s given me the opportunity to share my experiences and guide the next generation towards a professional approach to nails. I want students to understand that quality begins with strong foundations, technical knowledge and a desire to improve. I also want them to have ‘‘ the ability and confidence to stand alongside their international peers. I hope to continue inspiring Vietnamese nail professionals to take pride in their work, recognise their value and pursue opportunities across the globe.”

As both an educator and judge, Eve firmly believes that learning never stops. Her passion for the nail industry is fuelled by the creativity she witnesses at competitions, where she finds herself inspired by the talent, innovation and fresh perspectives of fellow nail pros. Each experience offers new ideas, challenges her creative flow and reinforces her belief that there’s always something new to explore.

Eve shares: “My students are huge and important sources of motivation for me. Whenever I undertake competition training, they encourage me to explore fresh concepts and ways to express them. Teaching is therefore a process through which I continue to learn and grow. Every time I create a set of nails, I want it to be better than the previous: more technically refined, more considered in its details and more creative in its expression. I want to keep discovering what I am capable of, where I can improve and how far I can take ideas. That desire to progress keeps me excited about my profession.”

‘‘Inspiration can come from our lived experiences, and through skill, patience and continued learning, we can turn it into art.

The Nailympia 2027 campaign

For the newest Nailympia campaign imagery, Eve set out to capture the artistry, individuality and boundless creativity of the nail industry. Believing that nails can express personality, evoke emotion and become the centrepiece of an entire look, she wanted to create images that would not only make an immediate visual impact, but invite viewers to appreciate the finer details. Above all, her goal was to inspire fellow nail professionals to push their creative boundaries, embrace new challenges and celebrate the craftsmanship that defines the nail industry, while building excitement for Nailympia’s 2027 season.

Eve reveals how her initial ideas took shape and evolved into the striking final look, commenting: “From the moment I received the invitation to create the imagery, I knew that I wanted red to be the main colour. It’s a colour I associate with Nailympia because of the organisation’s red, white and black branding, and it also has a personal meaning. Within the Asian Five Elements tradition, my birth year is associated with Fire – and I’ve always felt that red has a powerful appeal and can capture attention immediately.

“As an Asian artist, I wanted to bring my cultural identity into the work, while respecting Nailympia’s international character. I carefully considered the clothing, accessories and styling so they would support the nails. I love elaborate headpieces, and left entirely to my own devices, I might have incorporated a whole dragon into the hairstyle! However, for this shoot, I held back because I wanted the nails to remain the focal point.”

Nail styling story

The extreme nail design centres around a fire phoenix and snake, inspired by a deeply personal tale of Eve’s. “The past few years have brought challenges into my family life, work, friendships, finances and health, often all at once,” she shares. “I had just one week to complete this piece for Nailympia, and there were moments when those pressures left me creatively stuck and unsure how to continue. Throughout that time, my boyfriend, Pin Nguyen, was beside me, offering reassurance and practical support that helped me regain focus.

“To me, the fire phoenix represents rebirth from the ashes and the strength to rise after adversity. The snake wrapped around it reflects my boyfriend’s birth year, the Year of the Snake, and also reason, clarity, steadiness and the ability to see a situation clearly. The piece became a way of telling a story about renewal and someone helping me find the strength to keep creating.”

The building of the nail structures saw Eve working with gel-based materials: acrygel for the extensions and sculpting gel for the decorative elements. For the phoenix, she used aluminium foil as an internal base, then covered it with gel to refine the structure. “Each flower petal and phoenix feather was sculpted in gel before being carefully assembled,” Eve adds. After using airbrush colours to create the base colour blends, she applied gold chrome powder to the phoenix’s wings and tail. This captured the light beautifully in the photos, offering further depth and dimension to the architecture.

“One of the most demanding aspects was arranging and connecting all the elements,” Eve shares. “I wanted the phoenix to have dimension, while retaining softness and a sense of flow. Each detail had to work harmoniously with the nail shape and surrounding elements, and I had to consider how the nails would appear within the images. The clothing, accessories and poses needed to showcase the piece in all its glory. For me, the finish of a nail image depends both on the execution of individual details and how they come together as a cohesive whole.

“What makes me most proud is that I completed the piece during such a challenging time,” Eve smiles. “I turned feelings that were difficult to express into something visible: a phoenix rising from the ashes. It’s a personal reminder that, after difficult periods, I can find my feet and continue creating. I’m also proud to have modelled my work, expressing the story and emotions behind it myself, and to have created these images with my boyfriend – from the first ideas through to the final photos. Every detail reminds me of the nights we worked together, the moments when I felt stuck and the encouragement that helped me continue.

“I hope fellow nail professionals see the imagery and feel more confident in their abilities and the stories they have to tell. Inspiration can come from our lived experiences, and through skill, patience and continued learning, we can turn it into art. If my work encourages even one person to create again, try something new or keep going through a difficult time, I will be very happy.”

Team talk

The team behind the Nailympia 2027 campaign imagery was very small: just Eve and her boyfriend, Pin Nguyen. “He worked alongside me throughout, discussing ideas and staying up at night to help sculpt elements,” Eve says. “He also styled my hair and photographed the finished look, while I created the nails, did my make-up, developed the overall concept – including the styling, composition and lighting arrangements, and edited the images.

“The most memorable part was our overnight shoot. By the time I had finished the nails, it was midnight and I planned to rest and take the photos early in the morning. However, Pin encouraged me to push on, saying: ‘You can do this. Let’s shoot tonight, so if anything isn’t right, we have time to redo it.’ We kept working until 8am, adjusting the details, angles and lighting until we were truly happy.

“The final images hold the memories of those hours spent working patiently together, encouraging each other and caring about every detail. Pin’s support was an essential part of bringing this project to life.”