A 16-year-old heavy metal artist from Thailand has cemented her name in the history books of one of the world’s most-watched talent competitions, taking home the top prize on *America’s Got Talent* as the first Thai champion in the show’s 21-season run. Nene Royal, whose legal name is Rattikarn Amloy, secured her $1 million (approximately £755,000) victory after a standout final performance Tuesday at the competition’s California venue, where she delivered a gritty, crowd-pleasing cover of The White Stripes’ iconic rock track *Seven Nation Army*.
Her electrifying heavy metal set outshone nine other competing final acts, ranging from sleight-of-hand magicians and trained canine performance troupes to cutting-edge robot dance crews. Nene’s journey to the winner’s circle began long before her California debut: growing up in the popular beach tourism hub of Phuket, she picked up her first guitar at age 7, and for years honed her craft busking for crowds at Phuket’s busy Naka Weekend Market while nurturing a lifelong dream of becoming a professional touring musician.
From the earliest rounds of the competition, Nene captured global attention and earned a spot as an undisputed fan favorite. Her audition performance, a powerful cover of The Cranberries’ *Zombie* that left the show’s judging panel stunned, quickly went viral online, racking up more than 20 million views across social media platforms. Ahead of the season’s final results reveal Wednesday night, Nene shared the stage with legendary American rock band Linkin Park to perform the group’s 2024 track *The Emptiness Machine*, a career milestone that solidified her status as a rising rock talent.
When host Terry Crews announced her name as the season 21 champion, an overwhelmed Nene collapsed to the stage in tears, unable to immediately process her historic win. “I’m very happy and emotional right now,” she told the crowd after collecting herself, extending gratitude to the millions of fans who supported her throughout the competition.
Half a world away, Nene’s massive base of Thai fans followed the results show fervently, even though the live NBC broadcast was not available to local viewers. Many turned to a unofficial YouTube livestream to watch the event unfold, only to be thrown into panic when the stream cut out abruptly mid-announcement. Relief and celebration erupted across Thai social media moments later, when word of Nene’s victory spread through online communities.
“History made!” one Thai user posted on Facebook, while another added, “Let the world write it down that this Thai kid is incredibly talented.”
The Thai government has joined in the widespread celebration, releasing an official statement Thursday praising Nene for representing her home country with unshakable confidence on the global stage. “What makes this win special is that Nene carried her Thai identity with confidence onto one of the world’s biggest stages,” the country’s public relations department said. “She showed that talent, hard work, and determination can come from anywhere, including a young girl from Phuket with a guitar and a big dream,” the statement added, calling Nene an inspiration to young people everywhere who dare to pursue big dreams.
In Nene’s Phuket hometown, local community leaders, businesses and her school have also been celebrating her achievement. Local tour guide Piyarat Na Songkhla, who has watched Nene perform since she was a child, told the BBC: “She’s so adorable. I feel so elated and happy for her. It’s unbelievable that she has gone this far. So proud of her.”
The Naka Weekend Market, where Nene spent years busking for locals and tourists, shared a heartfelt tribute to its former performer on its official Facebook page. “Everyone at Naka Market is so proud to see you shine on one of the biggest stages in the world,” the post read. “Your talent, heart, and courage have inspired so many people, and this victory is a beautiful reminder of what can happen when someone truly gives everything to their dream.”
Kajonkiet International School, Nene’s Phuket-based secondary school, also shared a public message of congratulations alongside a video of students and staff packing the school common room to watch the final performance, screaming Nene’s name and cheering as her victory was announced. “We are so proud of you,” the school’s post read.