The journey from passionate newbie to VIP status in the highly competitive Los Angeles market is a story that requires a unique blend of talent, strategic vision and absolute dedication. Today we speak with Nataliia Zapara, a nail artist extraordinaire whose career is the living embodiment of this journey; a true guru in her field and a “unicorn among experts” who has not only reached the top of the industry, but has received global recognition as a leader shaping its future. With the highest international accreditation, a Grand Prix of the most prestigious championship and recognition as a judge and business strategist, Nataliia is the driving force behind her followers, staying at the forefront of the industry and proving that there are no boundaries for true talent.
Nataliia, good afternoon. Today your name is a brand, a synonym for exclusivity and the highest quality in the nail world. But how did this journey begin? Was it destined that a modest newcomer from Ukraine would reach such heights?
Good afternoon. Predestination is too mystical a category for such a pragmatic sphere. My path began in 2008 not with a predestination, but with a conscious choice and, I will not hide, with a huge inner fire. It was a time when the industry looked completely different. There was no access to information, technology and materials that we have now. The beginning of a path is always work to overcome. Overcoming your own doubts, imperfections of the first works, limited resources. I did not think about global recognition, I was focused on micro-tasks: ideal nail architecture, the purest manicure, a flawless “smile” line. It was this obsession with details and perfectionism in basic things that laid the foundation. The peaks are conquered not in one leap, but in myriads of verified steps.
Nail Stylist
You talk about the foundation. What was the catalyst that turned a talented artist into an international star? When did you realize that you had gone beyond the national level?
Awareness does not come in one moment. It is a gradual process that crystallizes through a series of events. The most powerful impulse for me was participation, and then victories in professional championships. Competitions are not just a way to amuse one’s ego. This is the most objective form of assessing your skills, leaving your comfort zone, where you compete with the best. When you prove your superiority time after time in national arenas, you inevitably begin to look further. My victories, receiving the status of instructor, and then ambassador of international brands – all these were markers of growth. The moment of truth came when my name began to appear on the lists of judges of international competitions. When you are invited not to compete, but to evaluate the work of other top masters, you understand that you have moved to a new level. Your expertise is recognized as indisputable.
Your works are distinguished not only by technical execution, but also by a special artistry. What is Nataliia Zapara’s philosophy? What distinguishes your style from thousands of other masters?
My philosophy is based on the synthesis of engineering precision and artistic vision. For me, a nail is not just a surface for applying color. It is a miniature canvas, an object of architecture and sculpture. I have always strived to get away from standard, stream solutions. My signature style is, first of all, complex modeling. I have developed and popularized techniques that allow you to create the perfect nail architecture with minimal or even complete absence of filing. This requires a deep understanding of the material, the physics of polymerization, and impeccable brush control. For me, aesthetics is inseparable from quality. The ideal glare, perfect proportions, clean lines are not just technical elements, it is the language in which the work “speaks” about its class. I do not cover nails, I create an art object in miniature. And this object must be perfect.
In 2024, you received the highest, 3rd level of accreditation according to the international standards of the KSSK, which is a sign of belonging to the elite of the profession. How difficult was this exam for a specialist of your caliber, and what did it give you in a practical sense?
Accreditation by KSSK is a truly serious and comprehensive check of your competence. It is not just a formality. The process requires demonstrating impeccable mastery of all aspects of the profession – from classic manicure to the most complex modeling. My 14 years of experience and dozens of international certificates have certainly become a solid foundation, but it was a challenge that required full mobilization. What did it give? For clients, especially those with the status of a VIP master, this is an additional and very significant marker of trust. They understand that their master meets the strictest global requirements, and this justifies a higher price for services.
Your competitive career is no less impressive. In 2025, at Nailympia in California, you won not only gold and silver, but also the Grand Prix, becoming the “winner of winners”. What do these victories mean to you, especially the most important one?
Any competition is a huge thrill and adrenaline rush. But the Nailympia Grand Prix is definitely the most significant award for me. It was the highest recognition in my category. Winning the competition, where masters from 11 countries participated, was proof for me, first of all, to myself. Proof that the months of hard preparation that I devoted to training after my main job and on weekends were not in vain. Competition works are very different from everyday salon requests, they require an ideal technique, honed to the micron, for example, in a French manicure, and this victory confirmed that I am moving in the right direction and setting a high standard.
Your career has recently reached a new level: you won the Global Luminary Awards 2025 in the category “Mastery of Art and Strategic Business Vision”. What is unique is that the jury assessed not a single work, but your entire career concept “Art Strategy Z”. Tell us about this project.
“Art Strategy Z” is not a product, it is my integral model of development in the profession, honed over years of practice. The essence of the project is in the synergy of several roles that I consciously develop in myself. This is the role of an innovative artist, confirmed by victories at Nailympia and the creation of original 3D designs. This is the role of a technically impeccable professional, whose level is certified by the highest accreditation of the KSSK. And this is the role of an insightful business strategist who was able to build a successful practice of a VIP master in one of the most competitive markets in the world in Los Angeles, having formed a strong personal brand. The GLA award appreciated this multifaceted system, where art is harmoniously combined with a business approach, and the desire for innovation becomes a driver of growth and transformational influence on the industry.
Another confirmation of your extraordinary status was your participation as a judge in the international MYRONYX Global Awards. How does it feel to move from the participant’s chair to the judge’s chair and be responsible for assessing the achievements of others?
Judging is a completely different level of responsibility and perspective. When you are a participant, your world is focused on your own work. When you are a jury member at an awards event of such a high level as MYRONYX, you analyze a cross-section of the entire industry. Your task is to identify truly outstanding projects impartially and based on clear criteria such as innovation and impact on the industry. It is a great honor and trust. The high appreciation of my work by the organizers, their recognition of my insight and attention to detail are certainly very important to me. It confirms that my own experience and vision allow me not only to create, but also to objectively evaluate, contributing to the recognition of true innovations in the beauty industry on a global level.
You have reached the top in competitions, received world recognition as a strategist and as a judge. What new horizons do you see before you? What does a master who is already at the top strive for?
The summit is just a point from which a new view opens up. Stopping for me is tantamount to regression. My immediate plans include further participation in championships; I really like this atmosphere of growth. And, of course, I want to develop as a judge; it is an incredibly interesting experience. My global goal is to continue being an innovator. Not just to follow trends, which, by the way, are absolutely unpredictable in our field, but to create them. I want to continue to show by my example that a nail artist is a profession in which you can achieve worldwide recognition if you combine creativity, impeccable technique and strategic thinking. The path to perfection is endless, and this is the most exciting thing about it.
