The last time the Nailympics were in the United States was back in 2006 at the last International Hair and Nail show in Las Vegas. When the show was sold to IBS, we stopped having the event here in the U.S.

The Nailympics have been going on successfully in London ever since and the competitions have grown every year. So much so that it is now considered the leading international competition in the world.

The goal to bring the Nailympics back to the U.S. was to offer U.S. competitors the chance to compete on an international level against international competitors.

This year the Nailympics had people who came to compete from Japan, Korea, Singapore, Malaysia, Russia, Australia, Columbia, Puerto Rico, and all over the U.S.

The Korean Team Bongsoonga Sontop Nailxpert Group took home the Team Champion award, thanks to winning all three Winner of Winners categories. Division 1 Winner of Winners was awarded to Jang Hye Sook, who took home three first-place awards and one second-place award. Division 2 Winner of Winners was awarded to Jang In Hee, who took home six first-place awards. And the Division 3 Winner of Winners was awarded to Sang Mi Seo, who took home three first-place awards and four second-place awards. Congratulations to the team from Korea. (You can see a list of the rest of the winners here.)

— Lysa Comfort, head judge, Nailympics

Related Photo Gallery:

International Beauty Expo 2011