At the dazzling runway shows, in addition to what the fashion models are wearing, nail art, as “fashion on the fingertips,” has also attracted the attention of the trend-setters. Whether it’s attending a banquet or going to a party, nail art greatly embellishes the overall appearance.

In Zone 5 “Skills and STEM” of the WorldSkills Museum, four groups of “heavenly” nail designs crafted by leading global beauty artists are on display. These are the Test Projects for the Beauty Therapy skill at the 45th WorldSkills Competition held in Kazan, Russia.

“Competitors were required to craft a set of nail art for evening wear that would go with Russian dresses, which is why their nail art designs were infused with a rich Russian cultural essence,” expressed Cynthia She Yee Ling, the Deputy Chief Expert for the Beauty Therapy skill at the WorldSkills Competition and a Senior Lecturer at the Youth College of the Hong Kong Vocational Training Council. She stated that these nail art pieces are artistic creations that combine advanced skills, creativity, and cultural elements.

90-Minute Masterpiece: Freehand Artistry with Line Precision

In the WorldSkills Competition, the Beauty Therapy skill is all about ‘refinement from the tips of the fingers to the tips of the toes’.

The skill competition refers to the integrated use of expertise and skills in areas such as facial skincare, body care, makeup, nail art, eyelash enhancement, and hair removal to complete the customer’s facial, body care and external image based on the Competition requirements and the customer’s actual situation.

“In the 45th WorldSkills Competition, 24 Competitors from across the world took part in the Beauty Therapy skill tasked with completing six modules in 17 hours over a period of four days, one of which was the creative nail art,” as introduced by Cynthia She Yee Ling.

As opposed to large skill competitions, the creative nail art skill examines the participants’ capacity to perform a “ceremony in a snail’s shell”. It is a metaphorical expression that means accomplishing something significant or complex in a very limited or confined space. To guarantee the impartiality of the Competition, this nail art is carried out on hand mannequins. In this Competition, participants were required to complete the painting of 10 nail decals within 90 minutes, incorporating at least three different types of nail art techniques, such as free hand painting, patterns, decals, rhinestones, nail tape, glitter, foil, or gemstones.

In this module, the greatest challenge lies in the fact that the painting must be done freehand without the use of stencils or drawing tools. Contestants must paint very skillfully in a very small area, as they cannot use pre-designed images or templates. To endure the pressure of the Competition and produce uniformly precise lines within a constrained timeframe, while also delivering a high-quality representation of their internal vision, is a rigorous assessment of the Competitors technical proficiency and mental composure.

The four sets of nail art pieces displayed at the WorldSkills Museum are the evening nail designs created by Competitors at the 45th WorldSkills Competition in Kazan, Russia, inspired by Russian national costumes. “The interplay of creativity, top-tier skills, and indigenous culture gives each piece a distinctive appeal,” said Cynthia She Yee Ling.

 “We Speak the Same Language: Beauty Competition Standards”

The WorldSkills Competition serves as a canvas for the full expression of young professionals’ abilities and also concentrates the acumen and vigor of expert panels from multiple sectors, featuring individuals like Cynthia She Yee Ling.

“My journey with the WorldSkills Competition began in 2013 in Leipzig, Germany,” recalls Cynthia She Yee Ling, as she vividly recounts her ten-year association with the event. Cynthia She Yee Ling, serving as an Expert, partnered with the Skill Competition Manager to create an equitable competition space in 2013, 2015, and 2017, noting, “My initial role in the WorldSkills Competition was to judge and oversee health and safety.” She was promoted to Deputy Chief Expert for the Beauty Therapy skill in 2019 and in WorldSkills Competition 2022 Special Edition, became the Chief Expert, training experts and ensuring fairness with her stringent criteria.

For the Expert team, which consists of members from various parts of the world and includes some who are not proficient in English, Cynthia She Yee Ling finds language to be no barrier, noting, “We share a common language, the standards of the beauty industry.”

Beyond her identity as an Expert, Cynthia She Yee Ling has also offered strategic guidance for the training of the WorldSkills Hong Kong  team, assisting them in enhancing their professional skills and cultivating a robust competition mindset. The Hong Kong team has achieved notable success in these competitions: securing awards including one bronze medal in the Beauty Therapy skill at the WorldSkills Competitions in Leipzig, São Paulo, and Abu Dhabi.

“In addition, I have shared my experiences and feelings through skill training programs in Hong Kong, incorporating the rigorous standards of the WorldSkills Competition into daily instruction and training,” Cynthia She Yee Ling stated, highlighting that the WorldSkills Competition serves as a platform for sharing skills and enhancing industry standards in her area.

Career Paths Pivot: Skills for a Passion-Fueled Life

Throughout her decade-long association with the WorldSkills Competition, Cynthia She Yee Ling has observed innumerable skilled youths move from the competitive stage to a career in beauty as beauticians, a transformation that brings her immense joy and a deep sense of fulfillment.

After majoring in mathematics at university and working as a statistician in a government department after graduation, Cynthia She Yee Ling became deeply fascinated by beauty therapy. Defying her family’s disapproval, she decided to quit her job, attended a vocational school to master beauty techniques, and established her own beauty salon. “It’s unusual to make such a drastic career shift, and my family didn’t comprehend it though they didn’t disapprove but supported my decision,. I am filled with passion for beauty and very determined on the path I’ve chosen,”Cynthia reminisces. “My elder sister gave me a portable beauty case, a present that I still treasure today.”

Cynthia She Yee Ling, through a twist of fate, assumed the teaching position of a beauty program at the Youth College of the Hong Kong Vocational Training Council, where she found her new passion in establishing industry benchmarks and guiding the youth towards professional beauty careers.

Inspired by Cynthia She Yee Ling’s consistently proactive and dedicated professional demeanor, her family’s stance showed more support and acceptance. “My father even visited the vocational school where I was studying beauty and established a scholarship there,” she said.

For Cynthia She Yee Ling, beauty has been a source of confidence, passion, and happiness. These are the emotions she hopes to impart to audiences through the nail art pieces at the WorldSkills Museum: pursue a career that you are genuinely passionate about, work tirelessly, and you will find self-assurance and joy.