Emily and Robyn score big with digital game nail art

Two Walsall College students have nailed their love of classic video games, Crash Bandicoot and Fallout, winning gold and silver medals for their creative skills.

Emily Sims and Robyn Dwyer competed in the Professional Beauty Nail Competition 2025 sponsored by Andreia Professional, which was held in London.

They achieved first and second place in the mixed media boxed (student) category where the theme was digital games.

Mixed media boxed art encourages nail technicians (student and qualified professionals) to create nail designs using a combination of acrylic, clay, gel and flocking powder along with traditional nail painting techniques.  Emily and Robyn took their competition brief further by making their nail art interactive with the use of magnets, moving parts like spinners and door hinges.

Both students were thrilled by their success and are planning to compete in Professional Beauty’s next competition event in Manchester in September.

For Emily, this achievement continues the competition winning streak she first began in 2024 at other Professional Beauty events.  Having also come second in the UV Gel Polish and third in the Salon Nails categories at this recent competition, she now has a grand total of nine gold, silver and bronze medals to her name.

“Crash Bandicoot is the first video game I ever played as a child, so this was the ideal choice for me for my nail art,” said Emily, who is currently training through the college as a nail technology industry assessor.

“It gives me butterflies to know people in industry who are at the top of their game are recognising my work – all the hours I’ve put in, including the practice time.

“I still have ambitions to compete.  What I also enjoy about the events is the camaraderie with the other competitors and the relationships you build.  The wider networking is inspirational too.”

Emily continued: “While I still feel a bit scared about moving forward in my career, I do still have confidence to go further than I already have done.  That feels good.”

Robyn also feels her confidence has been boosted by her competition success.

“Professional Beauty bills itself as an event where people come across the ‘most talented nail techs to watch in the industry’ and now I’m one of them,” said Robyn.

“I was speechless when they announced the winners, called my name and I was invited to go on stage as a silver medallist.  I just couldn’t take it in.”

Robyn added: “I do still have a bit more confidence building to do but I’ve found my people now and what I want to do as a career.