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Top 12 Celebrate With Nail Art

Posted July 11, 2013

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When we told each of the finalists that they’d made it to the Top 12 of NAILS Next Top Nail Artist, we asked them what it meant to them to make it this far. Here is what they said. (Along with some pretty amazing nail art representations of making it the Top 12!)

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1. Britney Tokyo: “I am so happy to be in the Top 12! I am especially happy since my family in Japan can see my work and appreciate how I’m working hard on nails even though I’m very far away. I get excited every time I get a new theme assigned to us.  I can’t wait for the next challenge. With this contest I hope more people all around the world will see my nail art. I’ve had numerous challenges, but becoming one of the Top 12 for NAILS Next Top Nail Artist makes me feel like I am finally at the starting line! My design today is my greeting to the world. Hello world! Welcome to Britney Tokyo World!”

 

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2. Buddy Sims: “I was absolutely exploding with joy when I found out I was selected as one of the Top 12 Next Top Nail Artists!  My inspiration for my Top 12 nails says it all. It’s time to celebrate and gel fireworks were the way to go! I had high hopes when I started school last year, but I never could have imagined being where I am now.  It truly is an honor. I believe that I have proven hard work, dedication, education, and fearlessness DO pay off!  I can’t wait to continue to learn and impress as we count down to our winner.”

 

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3. Christian Mans: “Time to party! We made it! I am honored and excited to be part of the final Top 12 competing for the Next Top Nail Artist. I can’t wait to push my artistic limits and help inspire other nail techs following this competition to step out of the box and adventure into the exciting world of nail art.”

 

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4. Jane Weiner: “I am SO excited to be in the contest! Being in the Top 12 is especially exciting for me because I’m relatively new to the game. Not only is it so gratifying to be part of a small group of some of the best nail artists out there, but also to be able to reach out and make friends with new nail artists I may not have had a chance to hang with yet! Nail art is a really awesome community that I’m lucky to be a part of and this makes me feel even more a part of it. So my nail set is an homage to all Top 12 competitors. It’s not a copy of their work, but my interpretation of who they are as nail artists.”

 

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5. Julie Ventura: “Knowing my work is even comparable to these amazing artists is astounding to me. I couldn’t feel more honored and excited to be a part of this. Nail art is my life and to get recognized for it is unfathomable. Let’s conquer the world one nail at a time! Here’s my interpretation of Top 12. The world and structure around it is made of all nail tips, and the stars, paintbrushes, and polish bottles are made of gel.”

 

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6. Lauren Wireman: “It feels surreal to be named as one of the Next Top Nail Artist Top 12. Maybe I should raise my prices. Just kidding.  I don’t think it has completely sunk in yet, but I am looking forward to how this may change my career.  I love change!”

 

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7. Lexi Martone: “Next Top Nail Artist Top 12?! What?! This is crazy. I almost don’t believe it. I may have jumped around my house and threw my phone across the room in excitement when I received the e-mail. Just over a year ago I was beginning my journey to become a nail tech and now I’m being grouped with some of the greatest talent in the industry. Being granted this amazing opportunity has really pushed me as an artist. There’s no cutting corners with this. You need to give it your all and explore boundaries you ordinarily wouldn’t dream of. Although it is only the beginning, this challenge has brought about so many great things. I’ve had the chance to connect with a bunch of tremendously talented people and continue to learn from them each challenge. This whole experience is truly surreal and I cannot be more thankful and excited to be a part of it.”

 

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8. Max Nguyen: “I never thought I would make it this far in the Next Top Nail Artist contest. I am so excited to have made it to the Top 12. I’ve learned so much from everybody’s different ideas about nail art. Good luck to everyone in this competition!”

 

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9. Ryoko Garcia: “I’m so honored to be the one of Top 12 contestants. The rest of the competitors are all very talented, unique, passionate, and hard workers. This competition is different from others. We never know what the next challenge will be. I’ve already learned so many things from the last couple of challenges. I have a feeling this experience will take my career to another level. And using social media to spread it to the world is the greatest way to let everyone know that nail art is not all about just painting nails. It’s telling a story in an amazing art form. We can make a movement! I’m so excited to start this competition. I will really push myself to become NAILS Next Top Nail Artist!”

 

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10. Temeka Jackson: “I am very honored to be a part of this amazing competition and among many great artists. When I began doing nails it started off as a hobby and later became my profession. I am excited to have chosen such a strong dynamic industry to work in; it helps me to stay creative — always using my thoughts and most of all making others happy. When I learned of this competition one of my fellow nail friends sent me the link with all the information and I immediately said, ‘I would love to do something like this.’ From then on I told myself I would do all I can to create the best nails and to execute each challenge in its entirety. I am happy and blessed to be a part of this awesome competition and grateful to NAILS Magazine for giving me this opportunity.”

 

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11. Victoria Zegarelli: “Well after I have finally composed myself, I’d like to say it’s an honor and privilege to be competing in NAILS Magazine’s inaugural Next Top Nail Artist contest.  I am so excited to participate in this creative adventure with elite nail artists that design such diverse works of art from a single theme. Nail art is the reason I became a nail artist, and being able to share my love of the industry with the world this way is a gift.  I am so blessed and thankful for this opportunity. I hope that I deliver everything and more that you will be proud of.  With that said, I’m off to Instagram, Pinterest, Facebook, Tumblr, and Twitter so the world (well my world) can see me On Top Of The World.”

 

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12. Winnie Huang: “You know the thing people do when they get a ticket to Hollywood on American Idol? Yup. That was pretty much what I did when I found out that I’d made it. I squealed, jumped, and flailed all over the house (and possibly ran into a wall). I was THAT excited. It is an absolute honor to be one of the Top 12 competing for the title of Next Top Nail Artist. The feeling is truly exhilarating. Being a ‘fresh out of school’ nail technician, I am humbled and more than ecstatic that I am on that list amongst some of the people I look up to and hope to be one day! I have already learned so much in the past few weeks, I can hardly wait to see what the future has in store for us Top 12. I’m ready, Freddy!”

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