First Nailympia Puerto Rico 2026 Makes History at The Nails Expo

History was made in San Juan as the first Nailympia Puerto Rico debuted September 27–28, 2026, at The Nails Expo, bringing Nailympia’s international competition stage to Puerto Rico for the first time.In this episode of Nail News, GlossaryLive founder and Nailympia Head Judge Alisha Rimando takes viewers behind the scenes of this inaugural event, hosted by renowned nail artist and businesswoman Michelle Soto alongside educator and The Nails Expo owner Lyssa Avilés.The first Nailympia Puerto Rico welcomed 24 nail professionals from five countries, generating approximately 68 competition entries across 11 categories. Competitors challenged their technical and creative abilities in categories including Gel Polish Manicure, Reality Nails, Runway Nails, Extreme Nail Styling Poster, Flat Art Boxed, To Stiletto & Beyond, Salon Nails, The Joy of Nails, L&P Acrylic Competition Style Nails, UV Gel Competition Style Nails, and Stiletto Nails.For Puerto Rico’s professional nail community, the results made the inaugural competition even more meaningful.Rocio De Los Angeles Ortiz Luna of Puerto Rico earned Division 1 Winner of Winners, while fellow Puerto Rican competitor Marilyn Fontanez earned Division 2 Winner of Winners. Ireland’s Maksymilian Borowy earned Division 3 Winner of Winners, giving Puerto Rico two of the three overall division titles at the island’s first Nailympia.Puerto Rico was also selected for the presentation of the third Nailympia Americas Cup.Four Nailympia competitions were held across the Americas in 2026: Premiere Anaheim, Premiere Orlando, Premiere San Antonio, and The Nails Expo in Puerto Rico. Competitors were required to enter at least two events to qualify for the Americas Cup. For those competing at more than two, their two highest-scoring events determined their final Cup points.After competing in San Antonio and Puerto Rico, Maksymilian Borowy accumulated 1,165 points to become the 2026 Nailympia Americas Cup Champion.Beyond the trophies, this episode explores why bringing an international competition to a new location matters. Michelle Soto’s passion for connecting Puerto Rican nail professionals with the larger global nail community helped make Nailympia Puerto Rico a reality, creating new opportunities for local artists to compete, gain recognition, and become part of Nailympia’s international competition community.For Rimando, who first met Soto in 2021 and later introduced her to Nailympia Director Alex Fox, watching that journey come full circle was especially meaningful.From competition and judging to Puerto Rican food, friendships, beaches, and a few post-competition mojitos, the inaugural Nailympia Puerto Rico was about much more than awards.It marked the beginning of a new chapter for Puerto Rico’s professional nail community—and another piece of Nailympia history.