Britain's leading ladies (Hannah Waddingham, Cat Deeley, Amanda Holden, Alison Hammond et al.) have, collectively, been leading summer's neutral nail charge. Milky rosé hues here, ballet blush tones there, it's all about 50 shades of grey beige. And sure, they're sophisticated, chic and work for all occasions, but summer's sun, sea and spritz-fuelled spontaneity gives us full permission to be delightfully impractical. The one on-screen icon paving that way? Davina McCall with her joy-boosting neon rainbow manicure.
Over the weekend [11 July, 2026], Davina attended day thirteen of the 2026 Wimbledon Tennis Championships. And while all eyes were on the centre court, mine drifted to the shiny beacon of summer manicure hope that was Davina's multi-coloured tips. Call me a magpie, call me an eagle-eyed beauty writer. Either bird'll do.
As shown, the 58-year-old presenter has curbed nude nails for varying shades of neon on each finger; she's got purple, orange, pink, red and green – so, practically every colour of the rainbow. Euphoria, bottled (and then painted onto ten of TV's most iconic fingertips).
Now, don't get me wrong – there's no doubt that a classic nude has its place in the world (get your mind out of the gutter!). Weddings, job interviews, everyday wear. But so do rainbow nails. And IMO, that place is right here, right now, during the height of British summer.
Just chuck in another five vibrant shades, and you've got your matching pedi sorted, too!
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Lia Mappoura (she/her) is the Beauty Writer at Cosmopolitan UK, with over four years of experience reporting across the brand's print, social, video and digital platforms. Lia covers everything from emerging trend analysis to viral celebrity hair and makeup moments, making her an expert at spotting the season’s next big beauty look (before it takes over social media feeds).
In 2025, she was named The Rising Media Star at the Love Perfume Awards with The Perfume Shop, recognised for her outstanding digital fragrance content and for building genuine authority within the space. She is passionate about challenging outdated beauty stereotypes, championing inclusive representation in beauty, and educating readers on the trends, products and conversations shaping the industry today. Follow her on Instagram or find her on LinkedIn.
