By Matthew Walker
From March 8 to March 10, 2026, New York City hosted the Be+Well Beauty and Wellness Show, a large international industry event that brings together professionals from various sectors of the beauty and wellness industries. As part of the show’s program, the Global Talent Beauty Cup held its international championship featuring competitions in manicure, makeup, eyebrow artistry, and other beauty disciplines.
The Global Talent Beauty Cup is an independent international championship that takes place multiple times throughout the year in different locations and formats. One of its stages was held in New York during the Be+Well Beauty and Wellness Show.
The championship’s judging panel included representatives of IBATAJ — the International Beauty Association of Trainers and Judges, an international professional organization that brings together educators and certified judges within the beauty industry.
Among the judges evaluating the manicure competition was Viktoriia Lebedinskaia, professionally known as Vikki Swan, an international nail educator and a member of the IBATAJ judging association. In her role as judge, she participated in evaluating the work of competitors across several competition divisions.
The manicure championship was conducted in a hybrid format, combining live performances at the New York venue with online competition divisions. Participants competed across multiple categories and skill levels, ranging from beginner divisions to professional-level competitors.
In addition to her role on the judging panel, Viktoriia Lebedinskaia also participated in the championship as a team trainer, preparing a group of nail professionals who competed in various divisions of the competition. Her students achieved multiple prize placements across several categories.
Following the results of the championship, the organizers of the Global Talent Beauty Cup recognized Vikki Swan contribution to competitor preparation and awarded her the title “Best Trainer — New York City 2026.”
The Best Trainer award is presented to instructors whose students demonstrate strong competitive results and achieve prize placements in multiple competition divisions.
Vikki Swan participation as a judge of the Global Talent Beauty Cup, along with recognition for the competitive achievements of her students, highlights her role in professional education and the development of training standards within the international nail industry.
