So I received an invitation through a Nails Mag e-mail blast on July 10^th to compete at the other World Nail Championships...in Monte Carlo, Monaco of all places. That’s probably one of the most expensive places in the world to travel to. Don’t get me wrong, I’d love to vacation there. But to go compete?

Let me tell you what I know about this competition.

I’m sure that the expense of the locale is the exact reason it will be held there. The manufacturers will be able to afford it, but if you’re an independent like me, probably not.

It is open to anyone who has won a national title or international competition, but it is limited to only 15 participants. (Why do you think they would use a blast to probably 20,000 people but only allow 15?) There is no registration fee to enter (but you have to get to Monaco) and the prize is €5000. That’s about $6,500 USD! (Do you remember what I wrote previously about raising the prize money?) The monetary amount is blinding. It is a huge investment by the sponsor. I have to ask why?

Of course there are only a few people in the world that are even qualified to attend, I myself am in that select group. Which is another reason that I question the decision to use a blast? I personally could find e-mail addresses for 15 people that are qualified to compete in this competition. (Honestly, I could probably find 50.) Also note that they won’t announce the participants or the judges until just two weeks before the event. So you register on their website but you won’t know if you’ve made the “cut” until two weeks before the event? *Snort* Good luck getting your travel arrangements made.

So far we know that they’re keeping it small, but the prize money is large, and they have announced it to the nail world but we don’t know who will be competing or judging. Nothing good can come from keeping secrets.

The last time that this event was held was in 2005 and it has been put off every year since then. Nail competitions are held all over the world all the time. I have my suspicions about what happened to it, but it seems that it took a very long time for this competition to recover from whatever ailed it in 2005.

Let’s face it. Nail competitions do not have a governing body or any regulations whatsoever. I have seen conflicts of interest all over the world. And someday I will be able to give my unbiased opinion on the subject.

But for now...I’m not going unless they ask me to judge for them. I will be very interested to learn who the competitors and judges will be.

— Lynn