Cynthia Erivo, the face of avant-garde manicures, traded in her eccentric, ever-changing style for a minimalist design at Variety's 2026 Power of Women event, where she was honored with the inaugural Power of Women London Award, given for her distinctive artistry, authenticity, and community activism.
Cynthia Erivo attends the Variety 2026 Power of Women London event hosted by Lifetime and held at The Chancery Rosewood on June 3, 2026 in London, United Kingdom.
Her hair extensions were a regular length—about 5 centimeters—with a thick French tip that alternated between classic white and a soft steel blue. The almond-shaped tips of her ring and index fingers on the opposite hand were adorned with two microscopic hearts in the same shade of blue, complementing the colors of her plaid Vivienne Westwood robe, styled by Jason Bolden and John Mumblew.
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Cynthia Erivo attends the Variety 2026 Power of Women London event hosted by Lifetime and held at The Chancery Rosewood on June 3, 2026 in London, United Kingdom.
Erivo has tried all sorts of nail shapes, colors, and embellishments, often all at once, but a two-tone French manicure was a surprisingly understated choice. Her Wicked Witch-inspired manicure, by contrast, was a physical embodiment of her character—dark and layered, with intricate embellishments paying homage to the film's motifs. In nearly every manicure, her nails were adorned with different colors, patterns, and textures, from metallic foil to milk glass, with beads, rhinestones, and sea glass glued on top. These nails were created by Shay Osei and 20-year-old Maika Dior, known online as @clawzbydior. However, Erivo worked exclusively with Osei to bring her manicure to life on Wednesday night.
Cynthia Erivo attends the Variety 2026 Power of Women London event hosted by Lifetime and held at The Chancery Rosewood on June 3, 2026 in London, United Kingdom.
On Instagram, Osei shared close-ups of the design, revealing a subtle detail. Each nail featured a variation of the French manicure, including a '90s-style French manicure, a deep French manicure, a classic French manicure, and a classic "U" French manicure, all done with OPI polish.
Here you can see the highlights of the Broadway star's manicure while filming the musical "Wicked Witch.".
Cynthia Erivo's incredible manicures feature emerald embellishments, frosted glass, and more.
NEW YORK, NEW YORK - APRIL 29: Cynthia Erivo, a manicurist, arrives at the 49th Annual Chaplin Awards Honoring Jeff Bridges at Lincoln Center on April 29, 2024 in New York City. (Photo by Marlene Moise/WireImage) Close-up of British actress and singer Cynthia Erivo's nails as she arrives at the Paris 2024 Olympic Games Opening Ceremony on July 26, 2024, with the Eiffel Tower in the background. (Photo by Jonathan Nackstrand/AFP) (Photo by Jonathan Nackstrand/AFP via Getty Images) Pictured is British actress and singer Cynthia Erivo's manicure at the CFDA (Council of Fashion Designers of America) Awards held at the American Museum of Natural History in New York City on October 28, 2024. (Photo: KENA BETANCUR / AFP) (Photo: KENA BETANCUR/AFP via Getty Images)
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Gallery: Variety 2026 Power of Women London Red Ribbon: Cynthia Erivo, Emilia Clarke, and More Celebrities in Style, Photos
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