Zendaya’s Olympics Manicure Elevates the Athlete-Approved Bubble Bath Nail Trend

It’s straight out of the Olympic rule book.

zendaya in a black dress at the pre olympic celebration
(Image credit: Getty Images)

To most people, the 2024 Paris Olympics are about which team is set up best for success. But, as a beauty editor, I am naturally more concerned with the Olympic nail art turning up in Paris. Following the July 25 “Prelude to the Olympics” party, I’m 100 percent confident that Zendaya has solidified the bubble bath nail trend as the single most popular nail color for the games.

The Euphoria actress traveled from London to Paris for the July 25 celebration, which was hosted by Louis Vuitton. Zendaya, styled by her longtime image architect Law Roach, wore a beaded Louis Vuitton gown with a mini box bag. Her nails, previously set in a maroon manicure, were filed into a structured square shape and polished with a pinky-white hue that had the cloudy trademark of a bubble bath manicure, one of the summer's biggest nail trends.

zendaya standing on a street in paris in a black dress

Zendaya wore a wet-looking hairstyle for the celebration.

(Image credit: Getty Images)

“The bubble bath manicure is the answer to the question, How would a ‘clean girl’ do her nails in 2024?” celebrity nail artist Rita Remark previously shared with Marie Claire. The sheer, sophisticated aesthetic is, in part, why the look is endorsed by Meghan Markle, Princess Kate, and the entire USA Gymnastics team.

Per the official USA Olympic Gymnastics Rules & Policies, nails must be neutral in color to not distract the judges. This is partly why Sunisa Lee’s viral Olympic logo manicure had a white base. It also explains the color choice behind her current collaboration with KISS. The pinky-white hue of the press-ons is simple yet sleek—and remarkably similar to the shade on Zendaya’s hands.

suni lee holding a gold medal at the 2020 games in tokyo

Sunisa Lee, reigning gold medalist in the gymnastics all-around, wore Olympic rings on her French manicure for the 2020 Games in Tokyo.

(Image credit: Getty Images)

Similar takes on the subtle trend have made their way onto Simone Biles's nails (she opted for a classic French manicure) and Jordan Chiles’s hands (although she added a bit of blue to her tips). To get in on the bubble bath nail trend, undoubtedly the most popular shade at the Olympics, shop my favorite polishes ahead.

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Samantha Holender
Beauty Editor

Samantha Holender is the Beauty Editor at Marie Claire, where she reports on the best new launches, dives into the science behind skincare, and shares the breakdown on the latest and greatest trends in the beauty space. She's studied up on every ingredient you'll find on INCI list and is constantly in search of the world's glowiest makeup products. She's constantly tracking the biggest nail and hair trends to pop up in the beauty space, going backstage during fashion weeks, tracking celebrity looks, and constantly talking to celebrity hair stylists, nail artists, and makeup artists. Prior to joining the team, she worked as Us Weekly’s Beauty and Style Editor, where she stayed on the pulse of pop culture and broke down celebrity beauty routines, hair transformations, and red carpet looks. Her words have also appeared on Popsugar, Makeup.com, Skincare.com, Delish.com, and Philadelphia Wedding. Samantha also serves as a board member for the American Society of Magazine Editors (ASME). She first joined the organization in 2018, when she worked as an editorial intern at Food Network Magazine and Pioneer Woman Magazine. Samantha has a degree in Journalism and Mass Communications from The George Washington University’s School of Media and Public Affairs. While at GWU, she was a founding member of the school’s HerCampus chapter and served as its President for four years. When she’s not deep in the beauty closet or swatching eyeshadows, you can find her obsessing over Real Housewives and all things Bravo. Keep up with her on Instagram @samholender.