Sky Somalia creates Ellie the Elephant’s custom press-ons

ACRYLICS featured artist Sky Somalia of Skyy Nails International created custom press-ons for Ellie the Elephant. Ellie wore the set at New York Fashion Week in September, crediting @skyynailsintl on Instagram, and NailCon broke down the details on October 1, 2026.

Sky pulled inspiration from the playoffs, the team colors, and the spirit of New York City, designing the set with Ellie’s signature essie polish, “Dopamine Rush” #404. According to NailCon, Ellie’s team was one of the first to reach out when Sky opened her salon suite.

“She exudes confidence and main character energy in the most fun way possible.”

Sky Somalia, in NAILCON

Who is Ellie? Ellie joined the New York Liberty in May 2021 and has since become one of the most recognizable figures in New York sports. In 2024 she became the first professional sports mascot with her own float in the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade, won a Glamour Women of the Year award, and was the only character named to The New York Times’ list of the year’s most stylish people. In 2025, essie made her its first ambassador as the official nail polish partner of the 2024 WNBA champion Liberty. To WNBA fans she needs no introduction, and in New York her look has become a cultural moment of its own.

Sky is a New York City nail artist creating editorial nail art. She exhibited in ACRYLICS: Hidden Sculptural Art and Wonderland: Surreal Nail Tales. Read her artist spotlight.