Finalists announced in 2026 UK&I nail industry awards

Hundreds of entries and nominations were received into the 14th annual Scratch Stars Awards, which recognises nail professionals and businesses in the UK and Ireland, and the finalists in 19 categories have been revealed.

Spotlighting those who are passionate about their craft and showcase great skill, business expertise and a commitment to growth and customer care, the awards is renowned as ‘the Oscars of the nail industry’. After an intensive initial judging round, standout industry pros and teams will progress to a second and final assessment stage. Some will be required to showcase their skills at a live competition day, while salons and mobile nailists will be mystery shopped, and other finalists will submit portfolios and testimonials.

Following this stage, the winners will be announced at the lavish Scratch Stars Party in London on 5 July.

THE FINALISTS

Natural Nail Specialist of the Year sponsored by Hara Professional

• Jessica Price – West Yorkshire
• Marta Nagorska – London
• Soraya Mancha – Greater Manchester
• Tanya Jeskins – Cornwall
• Victoria Howse – Cheshire

L&P Tech of the Year sponsored by Katie Barnes Tool Range

• Justyna Pryke – West Yorkshire
• Kirsty McDonough – Lancashire
• Kylea Wherry – Shropshire
• Ruth Green – Northamptonshire
• Sarah Thompson – Lancashire

Mixed Media Artist of the Year sponsored by HD Pro Nail Systems

• Alice Nali – London
• Sabre van Dijk – East Sussex
• Sara Cady – Lincolnshire
• Sue Rangeley – West Yorkshire
• Tina Li – Northamptonshire

Gel Tech of the Year sponsored by LE UK

• Clare Hanson – West Yorkshire
• Erika Beck – Bedfordshire
• Faranak Shadie – Greater Manchester
• Justyna Pryke – West Yorkshire
• Marie Juranova – West Sussex

Gel Polish Stylist of the Year sponsored by OPI

• Dannika Majewski – Fife
• Jessica Hales – Suffolk
• Katarzyna Korzeniak – Cheshire
• Marzena Maria Zygmunt – Lancashire
• Sophie Donaldson – Kent

Builder Gel Tech of the Year sponsored by The GelBottle Inc

• Georgina Watt – Lincolnshire
• Jake Wilde – Cheshire
• Lucy Price – West Yorkshire
• Michaela Phillips – Kent
• Nichola Green – Nottinghamshire

Polish & Paint Artist of the Year sponsored by Andreia Professional

• Carrie Morgan – Cambridgeshire
• Freya-Poppy Bowden, West Yorkshire
• Kelsey Akinyemi – London
• Monika Ferreira – Northamptonshire
• Sabre van Dijk – East Sussex

Pedicurist of the Year sponsored by The Nail Lab

• Amy Menzies – Greater Manchester
• Erika Beck – Bedfordshire
• Kristine Toce – London
• Leila Monroy – Edinburgh
• Michaela Phillips – Kent

Nail Stylist of the Year sponsored by Glitterbels

• Alice Nali – London
• Dee McIntosh – Derbyshire
• Diana Marineanu Hategan – Greater Manchester
• Kellie Sanfiz – Bristol
• Kirsty McDonough – Lancashire

Nail Salon of the Year sponsored by Vodex Beauty Extraction

Are you enjoying this content?

Join our community to receive more like this

Phone

This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged.

Email(Required)

• KHAOS Nail Bar – Herefordshire
• Offbeat Beauty Collective – South Yorkshire
• The Nail Group – London
• Townhouse (Covent Garden) – London
• Tree Nail Spa – Buckinghamshire

Nail & Beauty Salon of the Year sponsored by ABT part of Howden

• Diamond Dolls Beauty – Derbyshire
• Kate Lifestyle – Essex
• Queen B Luxury Nail & Beauty Lounge – London
• Sirens City Retreat – County Durham
• Skin Couture Beauty – Lincolnshire

Mobile Nailist of the Year sponsored by Timely

• Amy Hide – Surrey
• Gemma Riley – Devon
• Gergana Simeonova – Cambridgeshire
• Jade Thornhill – Kent
• Sonia Massei – London

Home Nail Salon of the Year sponsored by Gelish

• Aurora Beauty Cheshire – Cheshire
• Chell’s Beauty by the Sea – Essex
• Kika’s Nail Art – London
• Quiet Rebel Nails – London
• VONNIE’S Nails And Beauty – Lancashire

Educator of the Year sponsored by ABT part of Howden

• Elisha Micallef – Essex
• Kylea Wherry – Shropshire
• Lucy Price – West Yorkshire
• Melanie Lewendon – Derbyshire
• Michelle Brookes – South Yorkshire

Online Educator of the Year sponsored by Trafford & Stockport College Group

• Alice Wilson – Merseyside
• Hazel Dixon – Norfolk
• Melanie Lewendon – Derbyshire

Social Media Star of the Year sponsored by Halo Gel Polish Plus

• Gemma Jones – Hampshire
• Jessica White – West Yorkshire
• Katie Barnes Tool Range & Education – Warwickshire
• Lorna Andrews – Lancashire
• Nicole Dodd – Merseyside

Nail Team of the Year sponsored by CuticleCo.

• Katie Barnes Tool Range
• OPI Education Team
• Tree Nail Spa

The Shooting Star Award presented by Scratch

• Chelsey Downie (Nailed It! By Chelsey)
• Lyndsey Joyce
• Maisie Jackson
• Niche Nail Network (Ashleigh Thackray & Gaynor McCann)
• Zoya Mac

The Services to the Nail Industry Award sponsored by Sweet Squared

• Alex Fox
• Helen Ward
• Juanita Huber-Millet
• Mario Zatkovsky

To all our finalists: congratulations. Your passion, professionalism and creativity continue to inspire and elevate the UK&I nail industry.

Discover who scoops the top titles at The Scratch Stars Party on Sunday 5 July. Click here for tickets.

Due to the volume of submissions into this year’s awards, we are not able to offer feedback on individual entries. Scoresheets and feedback will be emailed to finalists following the winners announcement on 5 July.