Update: The Scratch Stars Awards 20/21 judging process & party

Scratch Stars Awards organiser, HELENA BIGGS, shares an update on this year’s event…

After the pandemic stopped play in 2020 – and prevented 88 finalists from being recognised at the infamous Scratch Stars Party, I am delighted to announce that we are at last able to reboot the competition process, and look to crown the winners of the UK nail industry’s biggest awards event.

Back in May 2020 when finalists across 17 categories were due to battle it out at the London College of Beauty Therapy (LCBT) and be assessed by judges, Covid-19 had taken hold, forcing the judging to be moved to September. We all assumed that the virus would be under control by then – but as we all know, more lockdowns ensued and we had to press pause on the Scratch Stars Awards 2020.

Now, with Boris’s roadmap offering up some direction, we are delighted that our finalists can finally battle it out for a prestigious Scratch Star award.

While the Scratch Stars Party in London will go ahead on Sunday 25 July 2021 if the PM’s reopening roadmap sticks to plan and restrictions are fully lifted 21 June, we have decided to move the judging stage online to prevent further delay.

The competition stage is a highly detailed process, with all categories requiring different submissions, instructions and judging expertise. As event organiser, I had to look at how realistic and safe it was for judges and finalists to travel from all over the UK to the London College of Beauty Therapy to compete. Logistically, and with concerns over Covid-19 transmission through travel, the team and I thought it best to allow finalists to compete and be judged virtually.

We have worked tirelessly to keep the competition as true to previous years as possible; the differences being that practical categories are being recorded over Zoom, mystery calls taking place instead of mystery shops, and judges assessing all entries and assets from home.

It’s been quite a journey so far but a fabulous end is in sight with judges due to send over their scoresheets 1 June.

After a long wait, the anticipation for the Scratch Stars Party is at an all-time high, with the industry super keen to not just see who scoops the stunning trophies – but to party, catch up with peers and let its hair down after a tumultuous year.

We are overwhelmed at the enthusiasm and adaptability of our finalists and the support of such esteemed industry experts who have been assigned categories to judge.

Check out the judges for the 2021 event, here.

Want to recap on this year’s finalists? Click here.

Tickets to the Scratch Stars Party are on sale 1  May 2021!