The Judges of the 18th edition
Meet all the Judges of the new 2027 edition
KITTY DEKEERSGIETER
Classes judged:
• Commercial Purebred
• Standard Beginners
• Intermediate
• Model Dog Creative
• Spaniels – Open
• Spaniels – Champions
• Standard Poodles – Open
• Standard Poodles – Champions
Head Judge
Kitty Dekeersgieter is one of the best-known and most influential figures in international professional grooming. Her career began in the world of dog shows, where she started as a handler, developing a deep knowledge of breed standards and coat preparation.
As a competitor she won numerous gold, silver and bronze medals, as well as prestigious awards such as Best in Show and Best All Round, earned in competitions in Europe and the United States.
Highlights of her career include the title of World Champion Poodle Groomer and the prestigious Cardinal Crystal Achievement Award – International Groomer of the Year, received at Intergroom in the United States, honors that established her among the great names of world grooming.
After her competition successes, Kitty put her experience at the service of the profession, becoming an international judge, trainer and speaker, taking part in competitions, seminars and demonstrations in many countries.
For many years she has also held a leading role in the European Grooming Association (EGA). Kitty is an all-round international judge for grooming competitions and regularly gives lectures and demonstrations, continuing her commitment to the development and international promotion of professional grooming.
She is also one of the founders and organizers of Groomania in Belgium, an event that has become an important international meeting for competitions and training in the industry. Alongside this, she co-founded Transgroom, contributing to the development of products and equipment for professional grooming.
An international career built through competition, judging, training, organization and innovation, which has made Kitty Dekeersgieter a point of reference for generations of groomers around the world.
SIMONA CHELLI
Classes judged:
• Commercial Purebred
• Standard Beginners
• Other Coats – Open
• Other Coats – Champions
• Asian Style Beginners
• Asian Style Open
• Standard Poodles – Open
• Standard Poodles – Champions
Her childhood dream of becoming a “dog hairdresser” came true when, on February 20, 1995, she opened her grooming business in Grosseto, Tuscany, Italy. Simona Chelli has won numerous gold, silver and bronze medals as well as many awards in national and international grooming competitions. She has won Best in Show at the Certo Grooming Event in the Netherlands in 2009, at the Artero Championship in Barcelona in 2011 and at the Competition Internationale de Toilettage Ciseaux d’or in Montpellier in 2016. She has trained many students who have in turn distinguished themselves in various grooming competitions, and she has created two important national and international events: the first, with her colleague Piccionetti from Rome, is Romeo Grooming, a charity event that became an EGA championship and has enjoyed great success. The other event, called Beginner Contest, in collaboration with Rebecca Del Gan and Marino Del DeGan, takes place every year in Northern Italy. She wrote the technical manual Grooming Fusion (in five languages) together with her colleague Grison, and the technical manual on Asian style called Easy Asian with her colleague Parisi. Simona, a passionate and ambitious professional, has been a demonstrator at seminars throughout Europe as well as in China and Thailand, is an EGA All Round judge, was a reserve at the 2011 and 2013 World Championships, represented the Italian national team abroad in the poodle class “Team Italy 2015”, and won the 2015 World Championship (25/10/2015). She is captain and reserve of the Italian national team at the 2026 World Championships. She began teaching in 2005 and continues her career with great satisfaction; in 2023 she opened her second academy in Grosseto together with her colleague Adriana Guadagni, to give people who wish to do so the chance to take up this wonderful profession. Because nothing is impossible when there is passion and love for what you do!
SCOTT WASSERMAN
Classes judged:
• Stripping – Open
• Stripping – Champions
• Intermediate
• Duo Dash Four-Hands
• Commercial Beginners
• Toy-Miniature-Medium Poodles – Open
• Toy-Miniature-Medium Poodles – Champions
Scott Wasserman ISCC PDS, MPS, Meritus, Certifier, is known throughout the world of professional grooming as “Mr. Terrier”. Internationally recognized as one of the leading experts in hand stripping, he has built his career by combining his passion for purebred dogs with decades of experience in professional grooming, education and competition.
Since entering the competition world in 1992, Scott has won some of the most prestigious awards in the industry. He is a two-time winner of Best Pet Stylist in Show at the U.S. Pet Pro Classic, received the prestigious Intergroom International Groomer of the Year award – becoming the first man to win this honor – and was a member of GroomTeam USA, representing the United States in international competitions.
An internationally renowned judge and educator, he has judged the most important competitions and held professional seminars in many countries, including England, Scotland, Italy, Ireland, France, Greece, Brazil, Argentina, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, China, Thailand and Singapore. His technical expertise, impartial judging and communication skills have made him one of the most sought-after judges and speakers in the world.
Over the course of his career he has received numerous awards and honors, including several nominations for the Cardinal Crystal Achievement Awards, the Congeniality Award in 2001 and the title of Judge of the Year in 2014. He also received the Barkleigh Honors as Speaker of the Year and Book of the Year for his book The Art of Hand Stripping, considered an important reference work for professional training.
Scott also serves as Contest Coordinator of the U.S. Pet Pro Classic, contributing his long experience in organizing and managing competitions.
He is certified by the International Society of Canine Cosmetologists (ISCC) as a Petcare DermaTech Specialist, Master Pet Stylist and Meritus, and also serves as a Certifier and professional consultant.
Alongside his work as a groomer and educator, Scott is an established breeder and exhibitor of Kerry Blue Terriers under the Kiluntin kennel name and co-owns two Japanese Chin Champions. His dedication to protecting and promoting dog breeds is expressed through breeding, showing, education and mentoring of professionals and enthusiasts around the world.
Thanks to his extraordinary experience, his constant pursuit of excellence and his deep commitment to the growth of the profession, Scott Wasserman is today considered one of the most authoritative and influential figures in international grooming, as a competitor, judge, educator and reference point for hand stripping.
LAETITIA RENOUD GRAPPIN
Classes judged:
• Stripping – Open
• Stripping – Champions
• Intermediate
• Duo Dash Four-Hands
• Spaniels – Open
• Spaniels – Champions
• Toy-Miniature-Medium Poodles – Open
• Toy-Miniature-Medium Poodles – Champions
Laetitia Renoud Grappin’s passion for grooming began very early. At just 15, while studying dog breeding, she started working with long-haired dogs and discovered how essential coat care and preparation are in their daily management. It was from this experience that an interest grew which would quickly turn into a true vocation and, later, into an international career.
Over the years, Laetitia has built a career full of important awards, winning numerous medals and trophies both in France and abroad and standing out in a variety of grooming techniques. The most prestigious titles of her career include French Champion 2007 and European Champion 2008, along with many other successes in international competitions.
One of the most significant moments of her career came in 2011 at Groomania, when she represented France at the World Team Grooming Championship, competing with a Lakeland Terrier. Together with her teammates she won the gold medal and the title of World Team Champion, bringing France to the top step of the podium.
Her most important performances also include Milangroom, where she took first place in the Handstripping category against 32 participants and then went on to win the prestigious Best in Show. In the same competition she also took first place in the Poodle category, confirming her extraordinary versatility and her ability to excel in very different techniques and coat types.
Her journey has not been built solely through competitions. Meeting great professionals, exchanging ideas with other dog enthusiasts and the constant support of family and friends have contributed significantly to her personal and professional growth.
Over time, Laetitia has also chosen to put her experience at the service of others, devoting herself to professional training, particularly in stripping techniques for wire coats and in scissor work, passing on her knowledge and skills to new generations of groomers.
Today Laetitia continues her international career as an EGA All-Round judge, bringing to the judging panels the experience, expertise and passion that have always characterized her career and contributing to the development and promotion of professional grooming.
SANDRA MULARSKA
Classes judged:
• Commercial Doodles, Crossbreeds & Miscellaneous
• Clipper Challenge
• Model Dog Creative
• Asian Style Beginners
• Asian Style Open
• Model Dog Standard Trims – Breed Standard
Sandra Mularska is a renowned groomer with over 20 years of experience. She owns the Grooming Studio Sandra Mularska salon in Poland.
She was the first Polish groomer to study in China at Mavis Hao’s prestigious Yin Lin Academy, where she went twice, earning the Master Asian Style diploma after successfully completing the Master Asian Class.
From 2020 to 2023 she was an ambassador for the American brand iGroom. She is currently the first European ambassador for the prestigious Korean professional cosmetics brand K9 Korea.
Sandra is deeply passionate about the art of Asian Fusion Style and is considered a true professional in this discipline. Another of her great passions is her Medium Poodles.
She regularly holds training courses and seminars around the world dedicated to Asian Style and commercial grooming.
In recent years she has held numerous seminars and training courses in Ireland, Italy, Poland, the United Kingdom, Romania, Slovenia, Latvia, Lithuania and many other countries. She has also been a guest judge at several international grooming competitions.
She loves sharing her experience with other professionals, helping them improve the quality of their work through training, lessons and specialized courses.
JAUME FAURIA PUYOL
Classes judged:
• Stripping – Open
• Stripping – Champions
• Other Coats – Open
• Other Coats – Champions
• Asian Style Open
• Commercial Beginners
• Model Dog Standard Trims – Breed Standard
Jaume Fauria Puyol has over 35 years of experience as a professional groomer, having started his career in 1989. Over the years he has established himself as one of the most authoritative and influential figures in professional grooming at an international level.
His great passion for competition has led him to take part in the most prestigious international championships, winning numerous awards in various categories thanks to his consistency, impeccable technique and constant pursuit of excellence.
He is a scissoring specialist and is particularly admired for the extraordinary technique with which he transforms a Poodle into a Bedlington Terrier, a style that has earned him great renown and esteem in the industry. His precision, attention to shape and deep knowledge of canine morphology make him a point of reference for professionals from all over the world.
During his career he has represented Spain in major international competitions and serves as an official judge at European Grooming Association (EGA) and Fédération Cynologique Internationale (FCI) championships, sharing his experience and technical expertise.
At the same time, he has devoted much of his work to professional training, running an international grooming academy and holding seminars and courses in many countries. Many of the professionals he has trained have won important awards in international competitions.
He is an ambassador for the prestigious Artero brand, with which he actively collaborates on events, training programs and initiatives dedicated to professional grooming.
Thanks to his experience, dedication and constant contribution to the development of the profession, Jaume Fauria Puyol is today considered one of the leading reference figures in international grooming, as a competitor, educator and official judge.
RAFFAELLA GAMMELLA
Classes judged:
• Commercial Doodles, Crossbreeds & Miscellaneous
• Clipper Challenge
• Other Coats – Open
• Other Coats – Champions
• Commercial Beginners
• Toy-Miniature-Medium Poodles – Open
• Toy-Miniature-Medium Poodles – Champions
Raffaella Gammella’s career in professional grooming began in 1995. Since then she has built a path marked by continuous technical research and close attention to the correct interpretation of breed standards.
Over the years she has taken part in numerous grooming competitions in Italy and abroad, earning important podium finishes and awards, including a prestigious Best in Show. Her competition experience led her in 2013 to serve as Captain of the Italian Team at the World Team Grooming Championships in Barcelona, representing Italy at one of the most important international grooming events.
A key chapter of her career began with the Bedlington Terrier, a breed that became a true specialization and a central part of her professional and dog-show journey. With her own dog she won the Challenger Trophy of the Italian Terrier Society and the first Best in Show ever awarded in Italy to a Bedlington Terrier.
From this passion came the Colacoda kennel, through which Raffaella has carried out important breeding work on the Bedlington Terrier over the years, with particular attention to type, breed standard, health and temperament. Colacoda dogs have earned numerous awards at Italian and international shows over time, including important titles at European level.
Alongside competing and breeding, Raffaella has devoted an important part of her career to professional training, sharing her experience with new generations of groomers through courses, lessons and technical demonstrations. Since 2011 she has worked with Irene Ferrato, combining daily grooming work with training and developing new professionals.
She is also one of the founders of I 4 Carati Groomers Studio, a project born from the shared experience and professionalism of several leading figures in Italian grooming.
Today Raffaella also brings her experience to competitions as an EGA judge, combining in her judging the skills she has developed as a groomer, competitor, trainer and breeder.
Respect for the breed standard remains the fundamental principle behind all her work: from preparing dogs to competing, from breeding to training, and in her role as an international judge.
EMILIA DÍAZ
Classes judged:
• Commercial Purebred
• Standard Beginners
• Duo Dash Four-Hands
• Model Dog Creative
• Spaniels – Open
• Spaniels – Champions
• Standard Poodles – Open
• Standard Poodles – Champions
Emilia Díaz is one of the most authoritative figures in international professional grooming.
After a background in sports, which taught her values such as perseverance, discipline, sacrifice and team spirit, in 1986 she moved to Girona with her husband Julio Salamanca. There her passion for dogs was born, first with Siberian Huskies and then with dog shows. In 1988 she registered her kennel name Moon Withe with the Fédération Cynologique Internationale (FCI).
Her passion for competition led her to breed and prepare many breeds, including the American Cocker Spaniel, Kerry Blue Terrier, Irish Soft Coated Wheaten Terrier, Bichon Frisé and Standard Poodle. She started out self-taught, refining her technique over time through study, experience and learning from the best professionals.
In 1996 she took part in her first International Oster Tournament in Brussels, an experience that marked the start of her career in professional grooming. Since 1997 she has competed in the main national and international championships, winning numerous prizes, medals, Best in Show titles and important awards.
That same year she founded the Emilia Díaz Canine Grooming Academy, through which she has trained thousands of professional groomers. She is also one of the founders of the Spanish Association of Canine Stylists, created to promote training and recognition of the profession.
In 2003 she was one of the founding members of the European Grooming Association (EGA) and has been actively involved in developing international competitions, also helping to organize the World Team Championship in Europe.
Her commitment to the growth of the profession led her to work with the Spanish Ministry of Education as a member of the Expert Committee of the National Institute of Qualifications for the official recognition of the grooming profession.
Her work as a trainer has taken her to hold seminars and courses in over 25 countries, training more than 12,000 professionals worldwide.
Throughout her career she has been a spokesperson and ambassador for prestigious international companies such as Oster and Pet Society. Since 2017 she has been the reference International Groomer for Hydra Professional and, since 2019, the brand’s Technical Director for Spain.
Thanks to her extraordinary experience, her constant commitment to training and her contribution to the development of professional grooming, Emilia Díaz is today recognized worldwide as a trainer, judge and reference point in international grooming.
PAOLA ACCO
Reserve Judge
Paola Acco is one of the most influential figures in dog grooming in Italy and around the world. Since 1991 she has worked in Portogruaro, where she ran a shop and, from 1999, a grooming school. Her competitive career began in 1995, taking part in national and international competitions that earned her numerous titles, including 3 Best in Show awards in Italy, the Ciseaux d’Or in France and in Prague, as well as medals throughout Europe and the United States.
She won the title of Italian Champion in Empoli in 1999 and was runner-up in Best of the Best in Milan. In 2003 she was part of the Italian team that won the World Championship in Barcelona, and in 2007 she was runner-up in Milan. She was a finalist four times at the Oster Competition and has collected 11 gold medals, 9 silver medals and 3 bronze medals in international competitions.
Paola is an EGA All Round judge, a founding member of ATI (Italian Groomers Association) and an APT instructor, also giving demonstrations for ACAD. She is the creator and organizer of Master Show and its Trade Show, as well as the current International Championship. She introduced titles such as the “Star Groomer Award”, the “Oscars of grooming for Italy”, personally winning awards such as best instructor, best event for Master Show and lifetime achievement groomer.
Since 2017 she has run Groominit.com, a leading portal for online grooming training. She is the author of the book Simply The Best together with Sarah Odette Genova and writes for Zampotta PetBusiness magazine, where she edits the monthly column “La Voce di…”. She is part of the “4 Carati Groomers Studio” group, together with Ferrato, Bon and Gammella, dedicated to technical improvement and organizer of the “4 For Four 4” competition. She has worked with the most important Italian companies in the industry to promote grooming in Italy and around the world.
She has trained over 400 students, many of whom have won international awards and competed in the 2011 and 2013 World Championships. In 2019 she created the AKKO SCISSORS line of professional scissors, designed to ensure comfort and precision when cutting.
Today she continues to hold seminars in Italy and abroad, sharing her experience and promoting professional grooming with passion, technique and continuous training. Paola Acco is an essential point of reference for groomers, breeders and enthusiasts. She combines competitive excellence, teaching skills and innovative initiatives for the development and promotion of dog grooming.
