The Contessas are an annual beauty award program that shows off the best Canada’s salon professionals have to offer.

2012 – Nail Enhancement Artist of the  Year: Catherine Cote (Candy Nail Bar, Montreal).  Nail Art Technician of the Year award discontinued.

2011 – Nail Enhancement Artist of the  Year: Jessica Marie Ellison (Jolie Beauty Bar, Toronto). No Nail Art Technician of the Year winner.

2010 – Nail Art Technician of the Year: Ashley Ann MacKenzie (The Blobar, Toronto, Ontario), Nail Enhancement Artist of the Year: Jessica Marie Ellison (The Blobar, Toronto, Ontario)

2009 - Nail Art Technician of the Year: Angela Fuhrer (Impressions Hair Group, Sherwood Park, Alberta), Nail Enhancement Artist of the Year: Jennifer Mather (Polished Nail Design Group Inc., Burlington, Ontario).

2008 – Nail Art Technician of the Year: Jessica Marie Ellison (Yorkville School of Makeup and Esthetics and Lux Hand and Foot Spa, Toronto, Ontario), Nail Enhancement Technician of the Year: Kali Howden (At Your Fingertips, Kelowna, British Columbia)

2007 - Nail Art Technician of the Year: Janis Tecson (Vault Salon & Spa, Winnipeg, Manitoba), Nail Enhancement Artist of the Year: Jennifer Bennett (Hair Factory, St. John’s, Newfoundland)

2006 - Nail Tech Artist of the Year: Jessica Marie Ellison (Yorkville School of Makeup and Esthetics, Toronto), Nail Enhancement Artist of the Year: Rheanne Thackeray (Kenneth Blair Salon & Spa, Lloydminster, Alberta)

To see other award-winning nails, visit these galleries:

NAILS Cover Tech Contest 2009

NAILS’ Nail Art Mural Contest (from 2003 to present)