<p>Competitors shake hands before the start of the first competition at the Global Nail Cup.</p>

Competitors shake hands before the start of the first competition at the Global Nail Cup.

<p>Nail competitors packed the main hall at the Kim Koo Museum in Seoul.</p>

Nail competitors packed the main hall at the Kim Koo Museum in Seoul.

<p>The time limit was prominently displayed for each competition.</p>

The time limit was prominently displayed for each competition.

<p>Many competitors represented their respective nail academies. These competitors represent the Areumdaun Saramdul (The Beautiful People) Beauty School.</p>

Many competitors represented their respective nail academies. These competitors represent the Areumdaun Saramdul (The Beautiful People) Beauty School.

<p>Many competitors represented their respective nail academies. These competitors represent the Areumdaun Saramdul (The Beautiful People) Beauty School.</p>

Many competitors represented their respective nail academies. These competitors represent the Areumdaun Saramdul (The Beautiful People) Beauty School.

<p>In most competitions, models were allowed to be used by two competitors.</p>

In most competitions, models were allowed to be used by two competitors.

<p>In most competitions, one model was allowed to be used by two competitors.</p>

In most competitions, one model was allowed to be used by two competitors.

<p>In most competitions, one model was allowed to be used by two competitors.</p>

In most competitions, one model was allowed to be used by two competitors.

<p>Nail competitors packed the main hall at the Kim Koo Museum in Seoul.</p>

Nail competitors packed the main hall at the Kim Koo Museum in Seoul.

<p>Nail competitors packed the main hall at the Kim Koo Museum in Seoul.</p>

Nail competitors packed the main hall at the Kim Koo Museum in Seoul.

<p>In most competitions, one model was allowed to be used by two competitors.</p>

In most competitions, one model was allowed to be used by two competitors.

<p>245 competitors for the Acrylic Sculpture competition packed two rooms.</p>

245 competitors for the Acrylic Sculpture competition packed two rooms.

<p>An additional room was used for the acrylic competition. 245 competitors for the Acrylic Sculpture competition packed the two rooms.</p>

An additional room was used for the acrylic competition. 245 competitors for the Acrylic Sculpture competition packed the two rooms.

<p>An additional room was used for the acrylic competition. 245 competitors for the Acrylic Sculpture competition packed the two rooms.</p>

An additional room was used for the acrylic competition. 245 competitors for the Acrylic Sculpture competition packed the two rooms.

<p>At the end of each competition, models had to carefully make their way to the judging stations without bumping or smudging their nails.</p>

At the end of each competition, models had to carefully make their way to the judging stations without bumping or smudging their nails.

<p>Design Sculpture competition</p>

Design Sculpture competition

<p>Design Sculpture competition</p>

Design Sculpture competition

<p>Design Sculpture competition</p>

Design Sculpture competition

<p>Design Sculpture competition</p>

Design Sculpture competition

<p>Salon Success competition</p>

Salon Success competition

<p>Salon Success competition</p>

Salon Success competition

<p>Salon Success competition</p>

Salon Success competition

<p>Nail competitors packed the main hall at the Kim Koo Museum in Seoul.</p>

Nail competitors packed the main hall at the Kim Koo Museum in Seoul.

<p>Fine details went into the nails created by Maria Aitom&auml;ki from Finland, who placed in UV Gel Division II.</p>

Fine details went into the nails created by Maria Aitomäki from Finland, who placed in UV Gel Division II.

<p>Hello Kitty made her way onto many competition stations.</p>

Hello Kitty made her way onto many competition stations.

<p>Hello Kitty made her way onto many competition stations.</p>

Hello Kitty made her way onto many competition stations.

<p>Competitors in the Team Relay rush through the doors to find the perfect station.</p>

Competitors in the Team Relay rush through the doors to find the perfect station.

<p>Team Mexico represented in the Team Relay competition.</p>

Team Mexico represented in the Team Relay competition.

<p>MBC Academy Beauty School won the spirit award for their energy and spunk during the Team Relay.</p>

MBC Academy Beauty School won the spirit award for their energy and spunk during the Team Relay.

<p>Team spirit was high during the Team Relay competition.</p>

Team spirit was high during the Team Relay competition.

<p>One trio of students and their hand model from The Beautiful People Beauty School livened up the Team Relay competition with anime eyes.</p>

One trio of students and their hand model from The Beautiful People Beauty School livened up the Team Relay competition with anime eyes.

<p>MBC Academy Beauty School won the spirit award for their energy and spunk during the Team Relay.</p>

MBC Academy Beauty School won the spirit award for their energy and spunk during the Team Relay.

<p>MBC Academy Beauty School won the spirit award for their energy and spunk during the Team Relay.</p>

MBC Academy Beauty School won the spirit award for their energy and spunk during the Team Relay.

<p>Team CNA from the Choi Kyung Hee Nail Academy cheered on their fellow competitors.</p>

Team CNA from the Choi Kyung Hee Nail Academy cheered on their fellow competitors.

<p>Roxanne Ralph represented for Team Australia during the Team Relay competition.</p>

Roxanne Ralph represented for Team Australia during the Team Relay competition.

<p>Team Mexico and CNA cheered on their fellow teams with noisemakers and spirited chants.</p>

Team Mexico and CNA cheered on their fellow teams with noisemakers and spirited chants.

<p>The Areumdaun Saramdul (The Beautiful People) Beauty School livened up the Team Relay competition with their coordinated cheers.</p>

The Areumdaun Saramdul (The Beautiful People) Beauty School livened up the Team Relay competition with their coordinated cheers.

<p>Choi Kyung Hee (right) cheered on her students at the&nbsp;Choi Kyung Hee Nail Academy.</p>

Choi Kyung Hee (right) cheered on her students at the Choi Kyung Hee Nail Academy.

<p>Team Kazakhstan cheer on the sidelines during the Team Relay competition.</p>

Team Kazakhstan cheer on the sidelines during the Team Relay competition.

<p>Phoi Pang, Nguyen Pang, and Thanh Pang came in from the Kelly Pang Professional Nail Care Training Center in Saigon, Vietnam. This was their first time at an international competition.</p>

Phoi Pang, Nguyen Pang, and Thanh Pang came in from the Kelly Pang Professional Nail Care Training Center in Saigon, Vietnam. This was their first time at an international competition.

<p>Some of the international judges for the spirit portion of the Team Relay included Anita Lime-Sims, Hanna Sokajarvi, Yoshiko Nanbu, Paivi Sokajarvi, Nobuko Miyako, and Olga Dalonova.</p>

Some of the international judges for the spirit portion of the Team Relay included Anita Lime-Sims, Hanna Sokajarvi, Yoshiko Nanbu, Paivi Sokajarvi, Nobuko Miyako, and Olga Dalonova.

<p>Team spirit was high during the Team Relay competition.</p>

Team spirit was high during the Team Relay competition.

<p>Team spirit was high during the Team Relay competition.</p>

Team spirit was high during the Team Relay competition.

<p>Team CNA from the Choi Kyung Hee Nail Academy cheered on their fellow competitors.</p>

Team CNA from the Choi Kyung Hee Nail Academy cheered on their fellow competitors.

<p>Team CNA from the Choi Kyung Hee Nail Academy cheered on their fellow competitors.</p>

Team CNA from the Choi Kyung Hee Nail Academy cheered on their fellow competitors.

<p>Team spirit was high during the Team Relay competition.</p>

Team spirit was high during the Team Relay competition.

<p>Team spirit was high during the Team Relay competition.</p>

Team spirit was high during the Team Relay competition.

<p>Competitors in the Top Artist event prepare within their sectioned-off areas, spaced for viewers to walk around and observe during competition.</p>

Competitors in the Top Artist event prepare within their sectioned-off areas, spaced for viewers to walk around and observe during competition.

<p>Azumi Kanene Williams, an artist who frequents the pages of NAILS, created French Sculpture nails during the Top Artist competition.</p>

Azumi Kanene Williams, an artist who frequents the pages of NAILS, created French Sculpture nails during the Top Artist competition.

<p>Nail competition veteran Anita Lime-Sims from Albany, Ga. competed in the Top Artist competition with Catherine Wong and Viv Simmonds. This was her first competition in 12 years.</p>

Nail competition veteran Anita Lime-Sims from Albany, Ga. competed in the Top Artist competition with Catherine Wong and Viv Simmonds. This was her first competition in 12 years.

<p>Nail competition veteran Anita Lime-Sims from Albany, Ga. competed in the Top Artist competition with Catherine Wong and Viv Simmonds. This was her first competition in 12 years.</p>

Nail competition veteran Anita Lime-Sims from Albany, Ga. competed in the Top Artist competition with Catherine Wong and Viv Simmonds. This was her first competition in 12 years.

<p>Tatsuya Adachi competed in the Top Artist competition.</p>

Tatsuya Adachi competed in the Top Artist competition.

<p>Tatsuya Adachi competed in the Top Artist competition.</p>

Tatsuya Adachi competed in the Top Artist competition.

<p>Tatsuya Adachi competed in the Top Artist competition.</p>

Tatsuya Adachi competed in the Top Artist competition.

<p>Tatsuya Adachi competed in the Top Artist competition.</p>

Tatsuya Adachi competed in the Top Artist competition.

<p>Megumi Arai created Salon Success-style nails during the Top Artist competition. These veteran competitors were able to choose the nail style in this category.</p>

Megumi Arai created Salon Success-style nails during the Top Artist competition. These veteran competitors were able to choose the nail style in this category.

<p>Megumi Arai created Salon Success-style nails during the Top Artist competition. These veteran competitors were able to choose their competition medium in this category.</p>

Megumi Arai created Salon Success-style nails during the Top Artist competition. These veteran competitors were able to choose their competition medium in this category.

<p>Tomomi Sukigara and Tomoko Suzuki created French Sculpture nails in the Top Artist competition and placed second and third, respectively.</p>

Tomomi Sukigara and Tomoko Suzuki created French Sculpture nails in the Top Artist competition and placed second and third, respectively.

<p>Catherine Wong collaborated with Viv Simmonds and Anita Lime-Simms in the Top Artist competition. These veteran competitors were able to choose the nail style in this category.</p>

Catherine Wong collaborated with Viv Simmonds and Anita Lime-Simms in the Top Artist competition. These veteran competitors were able to choose the nail style in this category.

<p>Catherine Wong collaborated with Viv Simmonds and Anita Lime-Simms in the Top Artist competition.</p>

Catherine Wong collaborated with Viv Simmonds and Anita Lime-Simms in the Top Artist competition.

<p>Catherine Wong collaborated with Viv Simmonds and Anita Lime-Simms in the Top Artist competition.</p>

Catherine Wong collaborated with Viv Simmonds and Anita Lime-Simms in the Top Artist competition.

1/77
 
View all
<p>Competitors shake hands before the start of the first competition at the Global Nail Cup.</p>
1/77
 
Slider

Competitors shake hands before the start of the first competition at the Global Nail Cup.

<p>Nail competitors packed the main hall at the Kim Koo Museum in Seoul.</p>
2/77
 
Slider

Nail competitors packed the main hall at the Kim Koo Museum in Seoul.

<p>The time limit was prominently displayed for each competition.</p>
3/77
 
Slider

The time limit was prominently displayed for each competition.

<p>Many competitors represented their respective nail academies. These competitors represent the Areumdaun Saramdul (The Beautiful People) Beauty School.</p>
4/77
 
Slider

Many competitors represented their respective nail academies. These competitors represent the Areumdaun Saramdul (The Beautiful People) Beauty School.

<p>Many competitors represented their respective nail academies. These competitors represent the Areumdaun Saramdul (The Beautiful People) Beauty School.</p>
5/77
 
Slider

Many competitors represented their respective nail academies. These competitors represent the Areumdaun Saramdul (The Beautiful People) Beauty School.

<p>In most competitions, models were allowed to be used by two competitors.</p>
6/77
 
Slider

In most competitions, models were allowed to be used by two competitors.

<p>In most competitions, one model was allowed to be used by two competitors.</p>
7/77
 
Slider

In most competitions, one model was allowed to be used by two competitors.

8/77
 
Slider
<p>In most competitions, one model was allowed to be used by two competitors.</p>
9/77
 
Slider

In most competitions, one model was allowed to be used by two competitors.

10/77
 
Slider
11/77
 
Slider
<p>Nail competitors packed the main hall at the Kim Koo Museum in Seoul.</p>
12/77
 
Slider

Nail competitors packed the main hall at the Kim Koo Museum in Seoul.

<p>Nail competitors packed the main hall at the Kim Koo Museum in Seoul.</p>
13/77
 
Slider

Nail competitors packed the main hall at the Kim Koo Museum in Seoul.

<p>In most competitions, one model was allowed to be used by two competitors.</p>
14/77
 
Slider

In most competitions, one model was allowed to be used by two competitors.

15/77
 
Slider
16/77
 
Slider
<p>245 competitors for the Acrylic Sculpture competition packed two rooms.</p>
17/77
 
Slider

245 competitors for the Acrylic Sculpture competition packed two rooms.

<p>An additional room was used for the acrylic competition. 245 competitors for the Acrylic Sculpture competition packed the two rooms.</p>
18/77
 
Slider

An additional room was used for the acrylic competition. 245 competitors for the Acrylic Sculpture competition packed the two rooms.

<p>An additional room was used for the acrylic competition. 245 competitors for the Acrylic Sculpture competition packed the two rooms.</p>
19/77
 
Slider

An additional room was used for the acrylic competition. 245 competitors for the Acrylic Sculpture competition packed the two rooms.

<p>At the end of each competition, models had to carefully make their way to the judging stations without bumping or smudging their nails.</p>
20/77
 
Slider

At the end of each competition, models had to carefully make their way to the judging stations without bumping or smudging their nails.

<p>Design Sculpture competition</p>
21/77
 
Slider

Design Sculpture competition

<p>Design Sculpture competition</p>
22/77
 
Slider

Design Sculpture competition

<p>Design Sculpture competition</p>
23/77
 
Slider

Design Sculpture competition

<p>Design Sculpture competition</p>
24/77
 
Slider

Design Sculpture competition

<p>Salon Success competition</p>
25/77
 
Slider

Salon Success competition

<p>Salon Success competition</p>
26/77
 
Slider

Salon Success competition

<p>Salon Success competition</p>
27/77
 
Slider

Salon Success competition

<p>Nail competitors packed the main hall at the Kim Koo Museum in Seoul.</p>
28/77
 
Slider

Nail competitors packed the main hall at the Kim Koo Museum in Seoul.

<p>Fine details went into the nails created by Maria Aitom&auml;ki from Finland, who placed in UV Gel Division II.</p>
29/77
 
Slider

Fine details went into the nails created by Maria Aitomäki from Finland, who placed in UV Gel Division II.

<p>Hello Kitty made her way onto many competition stations.</p>
30/77
 
Slider

Hello Kitty made her way onto many competition stations.

<p>Hello Kitty made her way onto many competition stations.</p>
31/77
 
Slider

Hello Kitty made her way onto many competition stations.

32/77
 
Slider
33/77
 
Slider
34/77
 
Slider
35/77
 
Slider
36/77
 
Slider
37/77
 
Slider
38/77
 
Slider
39/77
 
Slider
40/77
 
Slider
41/77
 
Slider
<p>Competitors in the Team Relay rush through the doors to find the perfect station.</p>
42/77
 
Slider

Competitors in the Team Relay rush through the doors to find the perfect station.

<p>Team Mexico represented in the Team Relay competition.</p>
43/77
 
Slider

Team Mexico represented in the Team Relay competition.

<p>MBC Academy Beauty School won the spirit award for their energy and spunk during the Team Relay.</p>
44/77
 
Slider

MBC Academy Beauty School won the spirit award for their energy and spunk during the Team Relay.

<p>Team spirit was high during the Team Relay competition.</p>
45/77
 
Slider

Team spirit was high during the Team Relay competition.

<p>One trio of students and their hand model from The Beautiful People Beauty School livened up the Team Relay competition with anime eyes.</p>
46/77
 
Slider

One trio of students and their hand model from The Beautiful People Beauty School livened up the Team Relay competition with anime eyes.

<p>MBC Academy Beauty School won the spirit award for their energy and spunk during the Team Relay.</p>
47/77
 
Slider

MBC Academy Beauty School won the spirit award for their energy and spunk during the Team Relay.

<p>MBC Academy Beauty School won the spirit award for their energy and spunk during the Team Relay.</p>
48/77
 
Slider

MBC Academy Beauty School won the spirit award for their energy and spunk during the Team Relay.

<p>Team CNA from the Choi Kyung Hee Nail Academy cheered on their fellow competitors.</p>
49/77
 
Slider

Team CNA from the Choi Kyung Hee Nail Academy cheered on their fellow competitors.

<p>Roxanne Ralph represented for Team Australia during the Team Relay competition.</p>
50/77
 
Slider

Roxanne Ralph represented for Team Australia during the Team Relay competition.

<p>Team Mexico and CNA cheered on their fellow teams with noisemakers and spirited chants.</p>
51/77
 
Slider

Team Mexico and CNA cheered on their fellow teams with noisemakers and spirited chants.

<p>The Areumdaun Saramdul (The Beautiful People) Beauty School livened up the Team Relay competition with their coordinated cheers.</p>
52/77
 
Slider

The Areumdaun Saramdul (The Beautiful People) Beauty School livened up the Team Relay competition with their coordinated cheers.

<p>Choi Kyung Hee (right) cheered on her students at the&nbsp;Choi Kyung Hee Nail Academy.</p>
53/77
 
Slider

Choi Kyung Hee (right) cheered on her students at the Choi Kyung Hee Nail Academy.

<p>Team Kazakhstan cheer on the sidelines during the Team Relay competition.</p>
54/77
 
Slider

Team Kazakhstan cheer on the sidelines during the Team Relay competition.

<p>Phoi Pang, Nguyen Pang, and Thanh Pang came in from the Kelly Pang Professional Nail Care Training Center in Saigon, Vietnam. This was their first time at an international competition.</p>
55/77
 
Slider

Phoi Pang, Nguyen Pang, and Thanh Pang came in from the Kelly Pang Professional Nail Care Training Center in Saigon, Vietnam. This was their first time at an international competition.

<p>Some of the international judges for the spirit portion of the Team Relay included Anita Lime-Sims, Hanna Sokajarvi, Yoshiko Nanbu, Paivi Sokajarvi, Nobuko Miyako, and Olga Dalonova.</p>
56/77
 
Slider

Some of the international judges for the spirit portion of the Team Relay included Anita Lime-Sims, Hanna Sokajarvi, Yoshiko Nanbu, Paivi Sokajarvi, Nobuko Miyako, and Olga Dalonova.

<p>Team spirit was high during the Team Relay competition.</p>
57/77
 
Slider

Team spirit was high during the Team Relay competition.

<p>Team spirit was high during the Team Relay competition.</p>
58/77
 
Slider

Team spirit was high during the Team Relay competition.

<p>Team CNA from the Choi Kyung Hee Nail Academy cheered on their fellow competitors.</p>
59/77
 
Slider

Team CNA from the Choi Kyung Hee Nail Academy cheered on their fellow competitors.

<p>Team CNA from the Choi Kyung Hee Nail Academy cheered on their fellow competitors.</p>
60/77
 
Slider

Team CNA from the Choi Kyung Hee Nail Academy cheered on their fellow competitors.

<p>Team spirit was high during the Team Relay competition.</p>
61/77
 
Slider

Team spirit was high during the Team Relay competition.

<p>Team spirit was high during the Team Relay competition.</p>
62/77
 
Slider

Team spirit was high during the Team Relay competition.

<p>Competitors in the Top Artist event prepare within their sectioned-off areas, spaced for viewers to walk around and observe during competition.</p>
63/77
 
Slider

Competitors in the Top Artist event prepare within their sectioned-off areas, spaced for viewers to walk around and observe during competition.

<p>Azumi Kanene Williams, an artist who frequents the pages of NAILS, created French Sculpture nails during the Top Artist competition.</p>
64/77
 
Slider

Azumi Kanene Williams, an artist who frequents the pages of NAILS, created French Sculpture nails during the Top Artist competition.

<p>Nail competition veteran Anita Lime-Sims from Albany, Ga. competed in the Top Artist competition with Catherine Wong and Viv Simmonds. This was her first competition in 12 years.</p>
65/77
 
Slider

Nail competition veteran Anita Lime-Sims from Albany, Ga. competed in the Top Artist competition with Catherine Wong and Viv Simmonds. This was her first competition in 12 years.

<p>Nail competition veteran Anita Lime-Sims from Albany, Ga. competed in the Top Artist competition with Catherine Wong and Viv Simmonds. This was her first competition in 12 years.</p>
66/77
 
Slider

Nail competition veteran Anita Lime-Sims from Albany, Ga. competed in the Top Artist competition with Catherine Wong and Viv Simmonds. This was her first competition in 12 years.

<p>Tatsuya Adachi competed in the Top Artist competition.</p>
67/77
 
Slider

Tatsuya Adachi competed in the Top Artist competition.

<p>Tatsuya Adachi competed in the Top Artist competition.</p>
68/77
 
Slider

Tatsuya Adachi competed in the Top Artist competition.

<p>Tatsuya Adachi competed in the Top Artist competition.</p>
69/77
 
Slider

Tatsuya Adachi competed in the Top Artist competition.

<p>Tatsuya Adachi competed in the Top Artist competition.</p>
70/77
 
Slider

Tatsuya Adachi competed in the Top Artist competition.

<p>Megumi Arai created Salon Success-style nails during the Top Artist competition. These veteran competitors were able to choose the nail style in this category.</p>
71/77
 
Slider

Megumi Arai created Salon Success-style nails during the Top Artist competition. These veteran competitors were able to choose the nail style in this category.

<p>Megumi Arai created Salon Success-style nails during the Top Artist competition. These veteran competitors were able to choose their competition medium in this category.</p>
72/77
 
Slider

Megumi Arai created Salon Success-style nails during the Top Artist competition. These veteran competitors were able to choose their competition medium in this category.

<p>Tomomi Sukigara and Tomoko Suzuki created French Sculpture nails in the Top Artist competition and placed second and third, respectively.</p>
73/77
 
Slider

Tomomi Sukigara and Tomoko Suzuki created French Sculpture nails in the Top Artist competition and placed second and third, respectively.

74/77
 
Slider
<p>Catherine Wong collaborated with Viv Simmonds and Anita Lime-Simms in the Top Artist competition. These veteran competitors were able to choose the nail style in this category.</p>
75/77
 
Slider

Catherine Wong collaborated with Viv Simmonds and Anita Lime-Simms in the Top Artist competition. These veteran competitors were able to choose the nail style in this category.

<p>Catherine Wong collaborated with Viv Simmonds and Anita Lime-Simms in the Top Artist competition.</p>
76/77
 
Slider

Catherine Wong collaborated with Viv Simmonds and Anita Lime-Simms in the Top Artist competition.

<p>Catherine Wong collaborated with Viv Simmonds and Anita Lime-Simms in the Top Artist competition.</p>
77/77
 
Slider

Catherine Wong collaborated with Viv Simmonds and Anita Lime-Simms in the Top Artist competition.

Competition at the 6th Global Nail Cup was fierce. Nail techs, nail artists, and students from all over the world made their way to Korea on February 18 and 19, 2012 for the event. Competition categories included Design Sculpture, Tip Overlay, UV Gel, Nail Care, Acrylic Sculpture, Team Relay, and the Top Artist competition.

For reprint and licensing requests for this article, Click here.