Kelly Phan, an Orlando-based nail artist, has captured the attention of the world with her intricate nail designs for Olympic gold medalist Sha’Carri Richardson. Phan’s journey from a fashion design student in Vietnam to a prominent figure in the nail art industry highlights her dedication and creativity. Phan’s nail’s were viewed by millions of people and she’s become a local celebrity.

(Kelly Phan immigrated from Vietnam to the USA and began working with her family’s nail salon.)

After graduating from high school in Vietnam, Phan pursued a degree in fashion design at a local college. Two years later, she and her family immigrated to the United States, settling in Orlando, Florida. At the age of 20, Phan began working at her parents’ nail salon to help support her family and save money for school. It was during this time that she discovered her passion for nail art, realizing it was a perfect outlet for her artistic expression.

Five years ago, Phan took over SNS Exclusive Nail Salon in Ocoee, where she has continued to push the boundaries of nail art. “Creating nail art is my passion; this is my career, and it’s not just a job,” Phan said. “I spend endless hours practicing, experimenting with new designs and techniques, always aiming for customer satisfaction.”

(Sha’Carri wearing Kelly’s nails during the Women’s 100-Meter Medal ceremony. Sha’Carri finished with the silver medal.)

Phan’s meticulous approach to her craft involves understanding her clients’ preferences, finding inspiration from art, nature, or fashion, and fitting her designs into the small canvas of fingernails. Her work has gained recognition, particularly with Olympic Track & Field Gold Medalist Sha’Carri Richardson, who has been a loyal client.

When Richardson first visited the salon, Phan treated her like any other client, unaware of the athlete’s impressive track and field achievements. It wasn’t until other clients started taking pictures with Richardson that Phan learned about her accomplishments. “I was surprised by how humble she was despite her success,” Phan recalled.

For the 2024 Summer Olympics, Richardson requested Phan to create six press-on nail sets. However, with a family trip planned and a concurrent project with Nike, Phan could only complete four sets. Each set was thoughtfully designed to match Richardson’s competition moments:

• Set 1: Olympic competitions are all about representing your country. So I used red, white and blue as the main colors. I highlighted the set with and American Flag, embellishing with french tips, and jewels. She wore this set at the 2024 Summer Olympic Opening Ceremony.
• Set 2: Inspired by the colors of the Olympic rings and Richardson’s love for neon, this set used black as a base and incorporated vibrant gemstones and beads in a mosaic pattern. It was worn during her 100m semi-final heat.
• Set 3: Using purple and lavender, the colors of the USA’s track and field uniform, this set was worn by Richardson during her 100m final where she won a silver medal.
• Set 4: With a golden hue, Sha’Carri wore this set at the Men’s basketball olympic games Final between France and Team USA.

(Kelly’s designs were viewed by millions of people across the world.)

Phan’s work with Richardson has become a career highlight. The nail artist has consistently adapted her techniques, creating a strong base and precise measurements for each finger to ensure a perfect fit. Phan has come to understand Richardson’s personality and style, which includes vibrant colors and rhinestones.

“It’s an honor to have Sha’Carri trust me with her nails, especially knowing she has worked with many talented artists,” Phan said. “The fact that she wore three of the four sets I created for her at the 2024 Olympics is a testament to my work. I am so happy for her to achieve her lifelong dream of being an Olympic Gold Medalist. She deserves it so much,” says Phan.

(Each design is well thought out and takes into account Sha’Carri’s personality. The nail’s were a huge hit at the Olympics and is part of Sha’Carri’s identiy.)

Phan cherishes a personal note from Richardson, which expresses gratitude for the beautiful nail sets she has designed. “Thank you for always creating beautiful sets for me,” Richardson wrote. While the Olympics is now done, Richardson now sets her eyes to winning in LA in 2028.

“Through interactions with Sha’Carri over the year’s I have learned of her personality, her vibe, her fashion such as vibrant colors and a lot of rhinestones. I am very lucky that Sha’Carri trusts in my ability to freestyle her nails. Sometimes, she would let me know the color and the special occasion and let me run with it. The fact that she wears my designs seak volumes. Watching her wear them as she won gold is a highlight of my career as a nail artist.” says Phan.

(A close view of one of Kelly’s nail designs as Sha’Carri holds the American Flag.)

This is such a heartwarming story. I absolutely love that Sha’Carri uses a local artist for her nails. Much like Sha’Carri Richardson who is living the American Dream, so is Kelly Phan. Immigrating to the USA, starting a business and having your work shown to millions of people is a dream come true. For Kelly Phan it’s just another day of work. But she and Sha’Carri brought hope and inspiration to so many young athletes especially little girls around the globe who hope to be like Sha’Carri one day.

Congratulations to Kelly Phan on a job well done! We can’t wait to see what she comes up with over the next few years as Sha’Carri continues to compete at national events and begins her quest for the 2028 Summer Olympics.