<p>Kym Lee mentored many top competitors, who also competed for "Team Galaxy." Show here on the far left is Trang Nguyen, who went on to the #1 spot on the top competitors list as well as to found his own company Odyssey Nail Systems.&nbsp;</p>

Kym Lee mentored many top competitors, who also competed for "Team Galaxy." Show here on the far left is Trang Nguyen, who went on to the #1 spot on the top competitors list as well as to found his own company Odyssey Nail Systems. 

<p>Kym (right) with<a href="http://www.nailsmag.com/article/94260/barbara-van-brandenburg-passes-away-shed-only-just-begun"> Barbara Van Brandenburg</a>.</p>

Kym (right) with Barbara Van Brandenburg.

<p>Galaxy ads in the 1990s featured competition-perfect nails.&nbsp;</p>

Galaxy ads in the 1990s featured competition-perfect nails. 

<p>Kym (far left) and her husband (in the Galaxy t-shirt).</p>

Kym (far left) and her husband (in the Galaxy t-shirt).

<p>Kym Lee examing a studen'ts work.&nbsp;</p>

Kym Lee examing a studen'ts work. 

<p>Kym Lee teaching her techniques to an eager student.</p>

Kym Lee teaching her techniques to an eager student.

<p>Kym Lee teaching her techniques to an eager student.</p>

Kym Lee teaching her techniques to an eager student.

<p>Tom Holcomb worked with Galaxy early on with their "Learn from the Best" team.</p>

Tom Holcomb worked with Galaxy early on with their "Learn from the Best" team.

<p>A Galaxy ad from the early 1990s.</p>

A Galaxy ad from the early 1990s.

<p>Galaxy's first ad, which ran in NAILS in 1989.</p>

Galaxy's first ad, which ran in NAILS in 1989.

<p>An early ad for Galaxy Nail Productscaused a stir because it ran upside down -- on purpose to get even more attention.&nbsp;</p>

An early ad for Galaxy Nail Productscaused a stir because it ran upside down -- on purpose to get even more attention. 

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<p>Kym Lee mentored many top competitors, who also competed for "Team Galaxy." Show here on the far left is Trang Nguyen, who went on to the #1 spot on the top competitors list as well as to found his own company Odyssey Nail Systems.&nbsp;</p>
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Kym Lee mentored many top competitors, who also competed for "Team Galaxy." Show here on the far left is Trang Nguyen, who went on to the #1 spot on the top competitors list as well as to found his own company Odyssey Nail Systems. 

<p>Kym (right) with<a href="http://www.nailsmag.com/article/94260/barbara-van-brandenburg-passes-away-shed-only-just-begun"> Barbara Van Brandenburg</a>.</p>
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Kym (right) with Barbara Van Brandenburg.

<p>Galaxy ads in the 1990s featured competition-perfect nails.&nbsp;</p>
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Galaxy ads in the 1990s featured competition-perfect nails. 

<p>Kym (far left) and her husband (in the Galaxy t-shirt).</p>
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Kym (far left) and her husband (in the Galaxy t-shirt).

<p>Kym Lee examing a studen'ts work.&nbsp;</p>
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Kym Lee examing a studen'ts work. 

<p>Kym Lee teaching her techniques to an eager student.</p>
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Kym Lee teaching her techniques to an eager student.

<p>Kym Lee teaching her techniques to an eager student.</p>
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Kym Lee teaching her techniques to an eager student.

<p>Tom Holcomb worked with Galaxy early on with their "Learn from the Best" team.</p>
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Tom Holcomb worked with Galaxy early on with their "Learn from the Best" team.

<p>A Galaxy ad from the early 1990s.</p>
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A Galaxy ad from the early 1990s.

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<p>Galaxy's first ad, which ran in NAILS in 1989.</p>
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Galaxy's first ad, which ran in NAILS in 1989.

<p>An early ad for Galaxy Nail Productscaused a stir because it ran upside down -- on purpose to get even more attention.&nbsp;</p>
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An early ad for Galaxy Nail Productscaused a stir because it ran upside down -- on purpose to get even more attention. 

Kym Lee, who passed away this week, was a mega-star on the competition circuit in the 1980s and 1990s. She mentored many big names before they were big names, including Tom Holcomb, Trang Nguyen, and Tom Bachik. She was passionate about nails, about perfecting a sculpting technique, and about creating a product line that was "designed by a nail technician." What you'll probably enjoy about these photos is just how many looks Kym had over the years. We once commented that her hair color changes seemed to align with specific periods in her business. With a personality and image so out of this world, the only name for her company could have been Galaxy Nail Products. 

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