In the first ever NAILS Next Top Nail Artist All Star competition, sponsored by OPI, Floridian Melisa Salazar walked away with the top title. The win was announced at Toca Madera Wednesday night in front of nail professionals, influencers, and beauty press.
Beginning in January 2020, 10 former NTNA competitors were invited back to participate in OPI’s All Star contest. The first ever spin-off called for each competitor to receive OPI products and complete up to five unique challenges. Each week a winner received a $500 prize and each week two contestants were eliminated.
Challenges ranged from location-based nail art, colorful designs, and even an avant-garde Powder Perfection challenge. After completing a Mexico City-inspired mural, Julie Ventura and Melisa Salazar were the final two contestants left standing. OPI judges Darlene Sritapan and Sigourney Nunez helped choose the winner, along with voting from the public. “Melisa is an amazing storyteller and teacher,” says Nunez of Salazar’s work. Sritapan echoes this, saying, “The use of 12 colors only from the Mexico City collection was very intriguing and truly brightened up the entire set.” NTNA Season 2 winner Lavette Cephus served as mentor during the competition, sharing comments on the contestant’s work and offering insight. Cephus said of Salazar, “Your work is sharp, clean, colorful, and bold.”
Salazar originally competed in Season 6 of NAILS Next Top Nail Artist. During her time in OPI NTNA All Stars she won the Color is the Answer challenge. She is known for her 3-D artwork, on-camera presence, and love of extreme nail shapes. As the winner of OPI NTNA All Stars she receives $5,000 cash, a trip to Spain with OPI, and a Swarovski crystal trophy.
See all of Melisa's OPI NTNA All Star work here.
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