Introducing Our Season 5 Top 3

It’s official: We have a Top 3 for Season 5! These three nail techs will be traveling to Premiere Orlando for the final leg of the competition.

After 10 weekly challenges and five months of competing, tech after tech was eliminated. Wildflowers’ penultimate challenge left just two contestants in the running: Florida’s Halley Fortenberry and Quebec’s Valerie Ducharme. Ashton Harlan and Hemi Park then went head-to-head for the final showdown: a cross-hatched nail design in the CND Last Chance Design Lab challenge.

It came down to a sunshine state-inspired design by Ashton and NTNA money made by Hemi. In the end, CND’s Jan Arnold chose Hemi to go on to the final phase of competition. Now all that’s left is for Halley, Hemi, and Valerie to meet up in Orlando to find out who will be named NAILS Next Top Nail Artist!

Join NAILS in congratulating our Top 3! In alphabetical order:

Halley Fortenberry: This is Halley’s second attempt at NTNA glory after competing in Season 3. The Fort Walton Beach, Fla. nail tech is known as Miss Exclusive Nails for her unique nail artwork. Halley has won two challenges this season, and with her signature line work and on-camera presence, she could win a whole lot more.

Hemi Park: What a ride Season 5 has been for the Cupertino, Calif.-based artist also known as Sugar Plum Fairy Fingers. Hemi started off in the bottom for the first challenge, then gradually rose to the top, eventually winning Week 7. The Nailympia alum grew in her video skills week after week, showing us sophisticated design work, clear messaging, and her playful personality.

Valerie Ducharme: This French Canadian nail tech made it to the semi-finals last year. This year she not only cracked the Top 12, but she won five of the 10 weekly challenges (the most this season). Known for her fiery hair, French accent, and dynamic teaching abilities, we’ve come to expect the unexpected from this fun finalist.

The contest isn’t over yet. The Top 3 will be moving on to one final challenge, sponsored by CND, and concluding at Premiere Orlando. Stay tuned to vote for the final sets of nails from each competitor and watch them check in with you live. Want to see them in person? Join us for the NTNA Social (you can buy tickets here) on Saturday, June 2, in Orlando, Fla., where we will crown this year’s winner. NAILS, CND, and all of our sponsors would like to congratulate these three. Best of luck in the finals!