In a dramatic reversal of the two-year trend of new competitors dominating the list, veteran competitors reclaimed the top spots in NAILS’ Top 25 competitors ranking. Most surprisingly, in her fifth consecutive year on the list, 2001 Nail Tech of the Year and Salon of the Year winner Salina Rush of Wooster, Ohio, took first place in the Top 25. “Competing is something I’ve always loved to do, I always want to place higher on the list and that keeps me motivated,” she says. Having reached the top of the list, Rush has set her sights on judging competitions.

While competition was down, new events such as The Nail Olympics gave both novice competitors and old hands a great opportunity to test their skills and place on the list. Able to accommodate more competitors than the average nail competition, The Nail Olympics were a collaborative effort on the part of a number of manufacturers to encourage participation among nail techs. The success of this event led NAILS to make The Nail Olympics one of three Super-Points events in 2002.

See our full list of Top 25 Competitors for all time HERE. Using this chart, you can sort by year, competitor's name, or ranking.

One of the factors that deter many potential competitors is the perceived high cost of participating. However, as illustrated by the expenses of the Top 9 competitors, participation expenses can be very reasonable. Ranging from zero to a high of $15,000, competition expenses vary greatly and do not necessarily reflect a competitor’s success. As you can see, Rush’s $3,000 was not the highest amount spent.

NAME: SALINA RUSH

Salon: Studio 10, Wooster; Ohio

Age: 33

Years Doing Nails: 13

Years Competing: 10

Favorite Competition: Great Lakes Beauty Show

Favorite Moment: ICE Show — “I didn’t expect to win and I was shocked when I did I almost didn’t stay for the awards ceremony

Number of Competitions this Year: 12—“placed in all 12”

Estimated Competition Expenses this Year: $3,000

Products Used in Competition: Creative

NAME: LORENA MARQUEZ

Salon: At Your Fingertips, Watsonville, Calif.

Age: 32

Years Doing Nails: 12

Years Competing: 5

Favorite Competition: French Twist at Sacramento

Favorite Moment: “When I won the tip overlay competition at the Barristar show in November 2000.”

Number of Competitions this Year: 12

Estimated Competition Expenses this Year: $15,000

Products Used in Competition: EZ Flow

NAME: JOHN HAUK

Salon: Belle A’Rever, Centerville, Ohio

Age: 31

Years Doing Nails: 10

Years Competing: 5

Favorite Competition: tip and wrap competitions

Favorite Moment: “After working hard all year to get multiple 1st places, I won two 1st places in Rochester; N.Y’

Number of Competitions this Year: 9

Estimated Competition Expenses this Year: $12,000

Products Used in Competition: Pinnacle, Creative, Odyssey

NAME: KIMBERLIE MARCH

Salon: Express, Salt Lake City Utah

Age: 35

Years Doing Nails: 10

Years Competing: 8

Favorite Competition: sculptured pink-and-whites

Favorite Moment: “I really enjoyed the marathon competitions.”

Number of Competitions this Year: 12

Estimated Competition Expenses this Year: $6,000

Products Used in Competition: EZ Flow

NAME: LAURA SCOTT

Salon: Don Allens Salon, Santa Clarita, Calif.

Age: 36

Years Doing Nails: 19

Years Competing: 18

Favorite Competition: The Nail Olympics

Favorite Moment: When I took Top of All World at The Nail Olympics

Number of Competitions this Year: 5

Estimated Competition Expenses this Year: $500

Products Used in Competition: Creative

NAME: ALISHA SALE

Salon: Alisha’s Nail Boutique, Latham, N.Y

Age: 29

Years Doing Nails: 8

Years Competing: 3

Favorite Competition Event or Show: Backfill at the Premiere Show in Orlando, Fla.

Favorite Moment: “In Hawaii when I broke a nail and still won second place.”

Number of Competitions this Year: 2

Estimated Competition Expenses this Year: $500

Products Used in Competition: Odyssey

NAME: AMY COOPER-BECKER

Salon: Masterworks, Mequon, Wis.

Age: 33

Years Doing Nails: 13

Years Competing: 10

Favorite Competition Event or Show: “I have fun no matter what event I’m competing in.”

Favorite Moment: “My coworker Angie Maglio and I competed in the same event and she placed ahead of me. Her goal was to beat me in a competition.”

Number of Competitions this Year: 7

Estimated Competition Expenses this Year: $2,000

Products Used in Competition: Concepts, Young Nails

NAME: RITA HORVATH

Age: 30

Years Doing Nails: 12

Years Competing: 5

Favorite Competition Event or Show: Premiere Show in Orlando, Fla.

Favorite Moment: “At one competition when I was just getting started I hadn’t expected to win. When my number was called I couldn’t believe it”

Number of Competitions this Year: 1

Estimated Competition Expenses this Year: $0

Products Used in Competition: Millennium Acrylics, Misa Polish

NAME: KIM MIWON

Age: 39

Years Doing Nails: 7

Years Competing: 1

Favorite Competition Event or Show: ICE, Los Angeles

Number of Competitions this Year: 1

Favorite Moment: “I enjoy competing in the fantasy nail art and 3-D sculptured nail competitions.”

Estimated Competition Expenses this Year: $10,000

Products Used in Competition: Odyssey