<p>KaSundra Anderson, Atlanta</p>

KaSundra Anderson, Atlanta

<p>Cristal “Blizzy” B, Philadelphia</p>

Cristal “Blizzy” B, Philadelphia

<p>Tina Zavala, Louisville, Ky.</p>

Tina Zavala, Louisville, Ky.

<p>Konstadina Tsihlas, Athens</p>

Konstadina Tsihlas, Athens

<p>Sarah Petersen, Rolla, Mo.</p>

Sarah Petersen, Rolla, Mo.

<p>Kristen Hartley, Owen Sound, Ontario, Canada</p>

Kristen Hartley, Owen Sound, Ontario, Canada

<p>Kelly Nguyen, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada</p>

Kelly Nguyen, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada

<p>Scarlett Senter, King’s Lynn, UK</p>

Scarlett Senter, King’s Lynn, UK

<p>Katie Masters, Santa Monica, Calif.</p>

Katie Masters, Santa Monica, Calif.

<p>Trisha Johnson, Shelby Township, Mich.</p>

Trisha Johnson, Shelby Township, Mich.

<p>Alannah Harper, Cleveland, Ohio</p>

Alannah Harper, Cleveland, Ohio

<p>RussAnna Dudley, Dalonega, Ga.</p>

RussAnna Dudley, Dalonega, Ga.

<p>RussAnna Dudley, Dalonega, Ga.</p>

RussAnna Dudley, Dalonega, Ga.

<p>Kathleen Shahan, Wilmington, Del.</p>

Kathleen Shahan, Wilmington, Del.

<p>Jessica Warzyniak, Crown Point, Ind.</p>

Jessica Warzyniak, Crown Point, Ind.

<p>Alecia Mounixay, Wilmington, N.C.</p>

Alecia Mounixay, Wilmington, N.C.

<p>2nd Runner Up: Ashton Harlan, Henderson, Nev.</p>

2nd Runner Up: Ashton Harlan, Henderson, Nev.

<p>Finalist: Ayano Okazawa, Kamagaya, Japan</p>

Finalist: Ayano Okazawa, Kamagaya, Japan

<p>Finalist: Catherine Dawe, Montreal</p>

Finalist: Catherine Dawe, Montreal

<p>Finalist: Ayano Okazawa, Kamagaya, Japan</p>

Finalist: Ayano Okazawa, Kamagaya, Japan

<p>Finalist: Phoebe Dingman, San Jose, Calif.</p>

Finalist: Phoebe Dingman, San Jose, Calif.

<p>1st Runner Up: Stella Sampson, Athens</p>

1st Runner Up: Stella Sampson, Athens

<p>Finalist: Rochelle Dingman, San Jose, Calif.</p>

Finalist: Rochelle Dingman, San Jose, Calif.

<p>3rd Runner Up: Eileen Fox, Vernon, British Columbia, Canada</p>

3rd Runner Up: Eileen Fox, Vernon, British Columbia, Canada

<p>Finalist: Anastasiia Morozova, Hercules, Calif.</p>

Finalist: Anastasiia Morozova, Hercules, Calif.

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<p>KaSundra Anderson, Atlanta</p>
1/25
 
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KaSundra Anderson, Atlanta

<p>Cristal “Blizzy” B, Philadelphia</p>
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Cristal “Blizzy” B, Philadelphia

<p>Tina Zavala, Louisville, Ky.</p>
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Tina Zavala, Louisville, Ky.

<p>Konstadina Tsihlas, Athens</p>
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Konstadina Tsihlas, Athens

<p>Sarah Petersen, Rolla, Mo.</p>
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Sarah Petersen, Rolla, Mo.

<p>Kristen Hartley, Owen Sound, Ontario, Canada</p>
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Kristen Hartley, Owen Sound, Ontario, Canada

<p>Kelly Nguyen, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada</p>
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Kelly Nguyen, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada

<p>Scarlett Senter, King’s Lynn, UK</p>
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Scarlett Senter, King’s Lynn, UK

<p>Katie Masters, Santa Monica, Calif.</p>
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Katie Masters, Santa Monica, Calif.

<p>Trisha Johnson, Shelby Township, Mich.</p>
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Trisha Johnson, Shelby Township, Mich.

<p>Alannah Harper, Cleveland, Ohio</p>
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Alannah Harper, Cleveland, Ohio

<p>RussAnna Dudley, Dalonega, Ga.</p>
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RussAnna Dudley, Dalonega, Ga.

<p>RussAnna Dudley, Dalonega, Ga.</p>
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RussAnna Dudley, Dalonega, Ga.

<p>Kathleen Shahan, Wilmington, Del.</p>
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Kathleen Shahan, Wilmington, Del.

<p>Jessica Warzyniak, Crown Point, Ind.</p>
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Jessica Warzyniak, Crown Point, Ind.

<p>Alecia Mounixay, Wilmington, N.C.</p>
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Alecia Mounixay, Wilmington, N.C.

<p>2nd Runner Up: Ashton Harlan, Henderson, Nev.</p>
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2nd Runner Up: Ashton Harlan, Henderson, Nev.

<p>Finalist: Ayano Okazawa, Kamagaya, Japan</p>
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Finalist: Ayano Okazawa, Kamagaya, Japan

<p>Finalist: Catherine Dawe, Montreal</p>
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Finalist: Catherine Dawe, Montreal

<p>Finalist: Ayano Okazawa, Kamagaya, Japan</p>
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Finalist: Ayano Okazawa, Kamagaya, Japan

<p>Finalist: Phoebe Dingman, San Jose, Calif.</p>
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Finalist: Phoebe Dingman, San Jose, Calif.

<p>1st Runner Up: Stella Sampson, Athens</p>
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1st Runner Up: Stella Sampson, Athens

<p>Finalist: Rochelle Dingman, San Jose, Calif.</p>
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Finalist: Rochelle Dingman, San Jose, Calif.

<p>3rd Runner Up: Eileen Fox, Vernon, British Columbia, Canada</p>
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3rd Runner Up: Eileen Fox, Vernon, British Columbia, Canada

<p>Finalist: Anastasiia Morozova, Hercules, Calif.</p>
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Finalist: Anastasiia Morozova, Hercules, Calif.

Nail tech Kryssy Hawkins won the top spot this year with her edgy, colorful, DJ-inspired image. Stella Sampson’s delicate teatime design earned her the first-runner-up spot, while Ashton Harlan’s sharp chrome nails were the second-runner-up, and Eileen Fox’s Indian-flavored design was the third-runner-up. Congratulations to all the finalists, and huge thanks to everyone who entered this year’s competition.

Meet the Winner

Nail art is second nature to Kryssy Hawkins, who has been an artist since childhood. A nail tech since November 2011, Hawkins became an NSI educator in July 2017 and is based at Chameleon Salon in Clarksville, Tenn., where she specializes in nail art.
When she was deciding on her cover concept, “I wanted to choose something that represents both my style of art and is also edgy and eye-catching,” says Hawkins. That’s how she came up with the idea for a DJ-themed set featuring bold colors. “I love the contrast that you get from dark versus neon, so I chose to do this theme so it has a little bit of punk and a little bit of techno,” she says.

To create the nail design, Hawkins sculpted the nails using NSI acrylic and added neon-colored dots using gel. She created the design on the ring fingers using white NSI Design Gel and neon NSI gel-polish to give them a bright, rainbow look. When creating the image, Hawkins made sure the posing reflected the DJ theme. “My photographer and I wanted the picture to have that ‘in action’ feel, so we chose to have our model reach for the headphones,” she explains.

You can see more of Hawkins’ artwork on Instagram @krysnails.

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