PHUKET, Thailand – A teenage street performer who once sang for spare change at Phuket’s night markets came home Sunday to a hero’s welcome, days after capturing the world’s attention with a historic win on America’s Got Talent.
Nene Royal, 16, born Rattikan Amloy, became the first Thai contestant ever to claim the Season 21 title, along with the US$1 million grand prize. Her victory set off celebrations across Thailand and turned the Phuket native into an international sensation.

Thai Teen Singer Nene Royal Crowned Winner of America’s Got Talent Season 21

The homecoming began around 10:50am when Nene touched down at Phuket airport, where a throng of admirers — among them her grandmother — waited to greet her. By late afternoon, the celebration shifted to the island’s historic quarter, as Nene, her family and her band OZONE climbed aboard an open-top electric vehicle supplied by Phuket City Municipality for a parade through the Old Town.

The procession rolled to a stop at Charter Intersection, where an even larger crowd had gathered to catch a glimpse of the young champion and hear her perform. Nene and OZONE delivered three songs, opening with Sek Loso’s rock anthem “Som San” before moving into “Black Hole Sun” and “Zombie” — both of which featured in her winning run on the American stage. The set drew roaring applause from onlookers packed into the intersection.

Thailand’s Got Talent is back with a bang

Her rise is far from over. Nene is now preparing to share a stage with Avenged Sevenfold, one of America’s most recognizable metal acts, when the band plays Singapore on October 13. The booking was revealed Thursday in Instagram posts from both Nene and the group’s promoter, who promised fans that “the stage is about to get LOUDER” while introducing her as a “very special guest.”

-Thailand News (TN)