Meet the judges
Check out the esteemed judges of the Scratch Stars Awards 2024 who will be deliberating over finalist entries to reward a winner in each award category.
The judges for the 2024 event comprise expert educators put forward by sponsors, guest judges, those who have achieved Hall of Fame status and specially selected industry personnel covering all facets of the nail sector.
Key Dates
JUDGES: Practical tech categories
The following judges will be assessing finalists in the below categories:
L&P Tech of the Year | Gel Tech of the Year | Polish & Paint Artist of the Year | One Stroke Artist of the Year | Mixed Media Artist of the Year | Gel Polish Stylist of the Year | Natural Nail Specialist of the Year | Nail Stylist of the Year
BECKY WILLETT
Becky Willett is co-founder & CEO of Bexy Glow; the female-led nail brand that offers products that celebrate expressionism and creative freedom. Becky has been working as a nail technician specialising in L&P since 2015, and teamed up with business development manager, Paige Chohan, to launch Bexy Glow in July 2022.
BELINDA PRICE
Belinda began her nail career in the 1990s, and has watched the industry grow over 30 years as a nail pro, salon owner & educator.
Belinda owns The Nail Spa in Huddersfield, which is managed by two of her daughters. She scooped the Scratch Stars Educator of the Year title in 2014, and has worked full-time in education since 2017, in her role as OPI’s education & capability coordinator. She led to OPI education team to success, scooping the Scratch Stars Nail Team of the Year award in 2023.
DEBBIE WILLIS
Debbie is a master educator for Gelish, who fell in love with the nail industry in 1992 while learning how to cut hair and working alongside a beauty therapist in a salon.
Debbie immersed in nail training after finishing school. She was approached to join the Gelish brand and helped launch it into Wales. She became an educator for the brand in 2010 and completed a PGCE to enhance her teaching credentials.
GIORGIA CAPPELLA
Representing The GelBottle Inc
Giorgia is training & education manager at The GelBottle Inc, with over six years experience as a nail technician & educator. Her years within the nail industry as a self-employed, full-time Nail Technician, alongside her time at TGB, have allowed Giorgia to continue to build upon her technical skills and expertise, while developing a full understanding of the industry, how products work, the science behind the formulations and the importance of clear guidance and best-in-class education.
Giorgia finds real value in supporting nail techs through improving their relationship between technicians, nail brands & the level of education that should flow through the industry.
HAZEL DIXON
Hall of Fame Guest Judge
Hazel has been a nail artist for over 18 years and has extensive experience in all aspects of nail treatments, with a particular passion for nail art designs. She has won over 100 competition awards, including the Scratch Stars Services to the Nail Industry title 2022. She is in the Scratch Stars Hall of Fame for her three consecutive wins in the Mixed Media Artist of the Year and Nail Stylist of the Year categories, and in the Nail Team of the Year category with the HD Pro Nails education team. Hazel is an international independent educator, consultant, salon and training academy owner & official UK Akzentz distributor. She writes all her own course material and launched her own brand of products, HD Pro Nail Systems, in 2018.
JOJO WICKENS
Representing Light Elegance UK
Jojo is a nail professional & educator with an illustrious career spanning over two decades in the nail industry. Her journey with Light Elegance began eight years ago, which was a transformative discovery after developing allergies to many gel and acrylic products. Recognising the brand's solutions that eliminate known allergens, she embraced Light Elegance and, within a year, ascended to the role of educator, sharing her expertise with nail professionals and educators in the UK and internationally.
In 2023, Jojo joined forces with friend and fellow Light Elegance Educator, Leila Monroy, to spearhead the distribution of Light Elegance products in the UK. Her talent and dedication have garnered her widespread acclaim, evidenced by her competition achievements, including those at the Scratch Stars Awards. She gained the titles of Gel Polish Stylist of the Year in 2015 and Gel Tech of The Year in 2017 and 2019.
KATIE CLARK
Guest judge
Katie is a multi award-winning nail professional, educator & brand founder. Accolades include three Scratch Stars Awards, Nailympia London Top Tech - Division 3 and BABTAC Nail Technician of the Year.
She coaches and mentors nail professionals and contributes to industry publications. She founded the Katie Barnes Tool Range and has developed education programme, KB Educate.
KATY POTTLE
Guest judge & World’s Star Nail Artist 2023
Katy Pottle, or ‘Katy P’, has over two decades of experience in the nail industry. From working on a mobile basis to owning a salon, her journey is a testament to her dedication and passion for the world of nails. She loves glitter and is on a mission to help nail techs worldwide shine, one intricate design at a time, with her online workshops and one-to-one masterclasses. In July 2023, following an intense competition process, Katy beat nail artists across the globe to be crowned the first World’s Star Nail Artist. She seeks to inspire and mentor fellow pros, and sprinkle her signature ‘love and sparkles’ across the industry.
KELLY-MARIE DALY
Representing The Manicure Company
Kelly-Marie is head of education for The Manicure Company. She is an internationally certified educator and judge, and has achieved multiple industry awards over the past 20 years. Kelly-Marie owned and managed salons for a number of years, before opening KM Nail Academy. She guides and mentors nail and beauty professionals and is passionate about education. Kelly-Marie loves to help people gain confidence and grow in the industry. Kelly-Marie has also been involved in many industry publications worldwide and has trained in countries all over the world.
KIRSTY MEAKIN
Hall of Fame Guest Judge
Kirsty Meakin is recognised globally for her nail artistry, and has over 100 nail accolades - including Scratch Stars Nail Artist of the Year 2012, Scratch Stars Social Media Star of the Year 2021 & 2022 and UK Nail Professional of the Year 2010. She has also been nominated for awards including Nail Artist of the Year at the American Influencer Awards. Kirsty has been honing her skills for over 20 years, and her creations have been exhibited at the Victoria & Albert Museum art gallery in London. She is passionate about education and has her own product range, which includes gel polish, acrygel, nail tools and merchandise.
KYM MOODY
Representing HD Professional Nail Systems
Kym has worked in the nail industry for over 30 years and is an educator for Hazel Dixon Nail Artist & Academy. She is in the Scratch Stars Hall of Fame, as part of the HD Pro Nails Nail Team of the Year, and enjoys delivering courses for beginners in manicure, pedicure, L&P, gel and nail art.
Kym has worked as a salon owner and gained an NVQ Level 3 in both beauty and nails, as well as a PTTLS teaching qualification.
LEILA MONROY
Representing Light Elegance UK
Leila is co-owner of Light Elegance UK. She re-started her nail career in the UK in 2015, working on a self-employed basis to accommodate her family life. After developing allergies to a number of nail products, she discovered Light Elegance and has been an avid user of the brand since 2016.
Leila has been a Scratch Stars finalist in the Polish & Paint Nail Artist category twice, and Gel Tech of the Year finalist in 2022. She has placed in many international and national competitions and has recently started a degree in podiatry, alongside distributing Light Elegance products in the UK and Ireland.
LIZA SMITH
Founder of multi award-winning salon, Bodylines, educator of 20 years for global brands including CND and Nimue & a business mentor & coach, Liza Smith has a deep passion for elevating the salon pro. Her achievements include 15 national trophies, UK Nail Salon of the Year three times, the Scratch Stars Services to the Nail Industry award 2021 and an enviable session career.
Liza is founder of The Business Of Salons, which helps professionals to future-proof their salons by understanding their business as well as they understand their clients. She is also deputy chair of the Federation of Nail Professionals.
PAULINA ZDRADA
Hall of Fame guest judge
Paulina started her nail career in 2006, working on a part-time basis while she studied banking and finance and university. In 2007, she began working full-time as a nail technician in her mum’s hair and beauty salon in Leeds.
Paulina has scooped numerous accolades, including six Scratch Star Awards. She owns The Nail Lab Salon & Academy, working as an elite educator specialising in all technical aspects of a nail pro’s work. She has also launched her own range of tools to support the needs of fellow techs.
ROXANNE CAMPBELL
Guest judge
Roxanne is a multi-award-winning manicurist and owner of Revarnish London, a luxury mobile nail company, and her own nailcare range: Roxanne Campbell Luxury Nail Lacquers. With extensive experience and expertise in the nail industry, she has created a brand that embodies her passion for luxury and exceptional nailcare services.
Roxanne has worked with high-profile clients such as Alicia Keys, Idris Elba,and Dua Lipa, and alongside fashion designers such as Emilia Wickstead and David Koma. Roxanne was also a nail artist for the athletes during the London 2012 Olympic Games.
SAMANTHA SWEET
Samantha has championed the nail industry since her teens. Having proudly represented (and loved) CND™ for almost 30 years, Sweet Squared was founded with all the values taught to her through the Nordstrom CND™ family. She has gone on to become an industry authority within the professional beauty sector across nails, waxing, tanning and hair.
SARA PINTO
Representing Andreia Professional
Sara has been working as a nail specialist since 2008, and is a master & international educator. She was a brand manager between 2011 and 2017, before moving on to work with Andreia Professional. For the last seven years, she has worked as product development manager the brand, and as its academy manager; responsible for its team of educators. Sara is an experienced judge of nail competitions and been lending her expertise to competitions worldwide since 2016.
SCARLETT SENTER
Guest judge
Norfolk-based salon owner, Scarlett, started her nail industry journey 14 years ago. She has since scooped over 70 awards, including three Scratch Stars Awards, and has won the most photographic competition titles of any nail competitor in the UK. Scarlett is passionate about the growth of the nail industry and helping other pros to gain confidence and improve their skills. Her work has been featured on the cover of numerous trade titles, including Scratch, Nail Couture and NailPro. Scarlett is a regular judge of industry competitions.
TINA BELL
Tina found her love for nails at the age of 16 and her career journey has since taken her all over the world, working with some of the best in the nail industry.
Tina is head of education and product development & technical support advisor for Pure Nails. She is passionate about Halo products and education, and balances her role alongside running Totally Polished Nails, Beauty & Training Academy in Newcastle Upon Tyne.
VIVIEN CARRICK
Vivien has worked in the hair and beauty industry since 1998. A former celebrity hair extension stylist, she has worked on key figures for events such as the Oscars and travelled widely in her role. Through her travels, she became interested in the beauty industry and re-trained, gaining beauty and nail qualifications. Viv teaches the Level 3 nail course at LCBT and has taught all levels of beauty since 2011. She is also qualified to offer Level 4 aesthetics, including micro-needling, chemical peeling and blemish removal.