A 16-year-old guitarist who honed her skills performing at a weekend market in Phuket has become the first Thai contestant to win America’s Got Talent.
Nene Royal, whose real name is Rattikarn Amloy, was crowned the winner of Season 21 during Wednesday’s live results show in the United States, taking the competition’s $1 million grand prize.
The teenager beat nine other finalists after a competition run that transformed her from a young Thai rock performer into an international television star.
One final rock performance
Nene entered the final with the same combination that had carried her throughout the competition: her guitar and a rock classic.
For her last competitive performance, she delivered her version of The White Stripes’ “Seven Nation Army.”
The performance helped her secure the public vote ahead of the other finalists. Magician Geno Ploeger eventually finished second, while magic group Hundred Fingers placed third.
After her victory was announced, Nene described herself as both happy and emotional.
For Thailand, however, her win represented something bigger: no contestant from the country had previously won the long-running American competition.
It started with ‘Zombie’
Long before the finale, Nene had already given viewers an indication of what was coming.
Her audition featured a rock rendition of The Cranberries’ “Zombie.”
The performance went viral. The official America’s Got Talent upload had accumulated more than 19.5 million YouTube views by September 24.
Nene progressed to the Judges’ Callbacks, where she performed Muse’s “Hysteria.”
Then came another major moment.
During the live quarterfinals, she performed Soundgarden’s “Black Hole Sun” and received a Golden Buzzer from Mel B, sending her directly into the finals.
She later shared the AGT stage with Linkin Park during the finale before ultimately being announced as the season’s winner.
Before AGT, there was a Phuket market
Nene’s story did not begin on an American television stage.
She grew up in Phuket and started learning guitar as a child. Thailand’s government says she began teaching herself at seven years old, while earlier profiles have reported that she first picked up the instrument at six.
Before her AGT breakthrough, she regularly performed at Naka Weekend Market in Phuket, developing her skills in front of shoppers and tourists.
Following her victory, the market celebrated the teenager who once performed there, praising her talent and determination.
Thailand celebrates historic victory
Nene’s win quickly became a national talking point back home.
Thai Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul congratulated the teenager, saying she had brought pride to the Thai people.
Thailand’s government also celebrated her as the country’s first AGT champion, describing her journey from Phuket to one of America’s biggest television stages as an example of what determination and talent can achieve.
Her former school also joined the celebrations, while fans across Thailand posted congratulatory messages online.
For Nene, however, winning AGT could represent the beginning rather than the destination.
The teenager has previously spoken about wanting to become a touring musician and build an international career.
After going from Phuket market performances to winning a $1 million American talent competition at 16, that ambition now has a much bigger stage.
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