Bernadette Thompson

Bernadette Thompson (born 1969) is an American celebrity manicurist and nail artist known for her innovative designs and collaborations with prominent figures across the music, fashion, and entertainment industries. Since the mid-1990s, she has worked with a diverse array of celebrities, including Madonna, Mary J. Blige, Kim Kardashian, Jay-Z, Missy Elliott, Sarah Jessica Parker, Lupita Nyong'o, Jennifer Lopez and Lady Gaga. Thompson's work has been featured in major fashion magazines such as Vogue, Harper's BAZAAR, Allure, and Essence. before receiving an opportunity to work with Hip Hop and R&B artist Mary J. Blige. Seeking to produce a distinctive and bold look, she embedded real $100 bills into acrylic nails for Lil' Kim to wear on the set.

Treasury department inquiry The use of real currency in the "money nails" design led to a phone call from the U.S. Department of the Treasury, informing Thompson that defacing currency is a federal offense.

Influence on fashion and nail art The popularity of the "money nails" contributed to the integration of hip hop aesthetics into the broader fashion industry. Her work was also included in Pirouette: Turning Points in Design, a 2025 exhibition that features "widely recognized design icons [...] highlighting pivotal moments in design history."

Legacy and public reception Bernadette Thompson is considered a pioneer in nail artistry and a leader in the industry. Face2Face Africa described her as "undoubtedly the go-to consultant for many A-list artists and Hollywood stars," noting that "her name has eventually become a household brand in almost every fashion magazine." Her innovative designs and collaborations have influenced trends in both the beauty and fashion industries with Harper's BAZAAR highlighting of her work with Lil' Kim that "the result, now known as money nails, became a defining moment in the history of hip-hop and beauty. The look went viral before the internet did." According to Elle Decor, "Money nails became a trending topic on Google... From then on, women of color would take the lead in a cultural rebirth for nail art, considered an affirmation of themselves and their aesthetic in a Eurocentric world."

Thompson's work has played a role in bringing elaborate nail art into mainstream acceptance as The Washington Post remarked, "In the beginning, the nails were part of a hip-hop style, which was a separate category from what was then considered mainstream fashion... Thompson helped to change that" and declared that her "nail art scrambled our assumptions about femininity, beauty and class." Edition Magazine by Modern Luxury referred to Thompson as "the living legend behind the world's most culture-shifting nail art," noting that "the explosive popularity of modern nail art has its origins in the work Thompson started with fellow Yonkers, N.Y. native singer Mary J. Blige."

Fashion Magazine credited Thompson as being "largely responsible for nails eventually becoming a major element of fashion shoots," adding that "trailblazers in the ’90s, like Lil’ Kim, Foxy Brown and Mary J. Blige... introduced [blinged-out tips] to the mainstream. And the woman behind them all was manicurist Bernadette Thompson." Her influence has also led to manicurists receiving official credit in fashion photography, as cited by The Washington Post.