Amal Clooney Wore a $9 Essie Nail Polish to the Tony Awards (2025)

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Amal Clooney is one of my favorite celebrities to take beauty and fashion inspo from, whether it be her long, glossy hair, her elevated style, or her naturally enhancing makeup. She always stays true to her style, but elevates herself with timeless, minimalist touches, and it’s something I really admire. In a recent outing at the 2025 Tony Awards with husband George Clooney, she sported a stunning floor-length gown doused with pearls, and completed the look with her signature glossy curls and a neutral mani, dubbed the “princess mani.”

The “princess manicure” is a natural-looking nail achieved with sheer polish, inspired by royals like Kate Middleton and Meghan Markle, who often opt for the polished look. Nonetheless, if you like a barely-there nail, you’ll love “princess nails.” Clooney’s manicurist, Julie Kandalec, revealed on her Instagram that she used the $9 Essie Pre-Show Jitters to create the rich-girl look.

Essie Gel Couture Long-Lasting Nail Polish in Pre-Show Jitters

If you like OPI’s Bubble Bath, then you’ll love Pre-Show Jitters—it has the same milky-pink DNA. It’s a no-brainer neutral that can suit all skin tones for any occasion. I personally love a barely-there milky pink polish because it keeps my nails looking clean, and it’s not a color I’ll get sick of three days later.

Essie’s Gel Couture line is like a gel polish system you can do at home, sans UV light. The gel polishes last for up to 15 days, and mimic the glossy shine of salon gel, but they can be removed like normal nail polish, which is such a game-changer. Kandalec topped Clooney’s manicure with Essie’s Gel Couture Long-Lasting Top Coat to complete the two-part system. This top coat imparts the gel-like shine and a long-lasting finish. Plus, you can use it with any Essie nail polish to give a gel-like look.

Essie’s Gel Couture Long-Lasting Top Coat

To finish off the look, Kandalec used Essie’s Nail Care Apricot Cuticle Oil to moisturize the nails and cuticles with non-greasy shine. This nail serum is so good; I keep it at my desk and apply it to my nails during the work day. My keyboard never gets greasy and my cuticles are always hydrated.

Essie Nail Care, Apricot Cuticle Oil

Shop more nail polishes of the milky, neutral variety, below.

Essie Gel Couture Long-Lasting Nail Polish in Sheer Nude Pink

Essie Gel Couture Long-Lasting Nail Polish in Gossamer Garments

Essie Expressie Quick-Dry Nail Color in Word On The Street