Akemi Santiago

Akemi Santiago is a 2018 graduate who has built a successful career as a Session Manicurist (nail artist) based in Los Angeles, California. She specializes in advanced nail art and works with celebrity clientele, as well as on commercial, runway, editorial, and red-carpet projects across the globe in cities such as New York, Paris, London, Miami, Dallas, and Palm Springs. In between larger projects and celebrity house calls, Akemi has also established a private nail studio with three close colleagues and friends in the industry. 

Her work has been featured in major publications such as Vogue, Marie Claire, People, Us Weekly, Hypebae, and Essence. Akemi has built a notable clientele that includes many well-known names, such as North West (daughter of Kim Kardashian and Kanye West), Brooklyn Beckham, Nicola Peltz Beckham, Victoria Monét, Tyla, Audrey Nuna (voice actress in KPop Demon Hunters), Eli-Mac (local reggae artist), Charlotte Lawrence, Andrew Watt, Emma Chamberlain, Thuy, Heather Dubrow (The Real Housewives of Orange County), and Aleali May, among others.