Who Is Nene Royal? A Nene Royal Biography, From Busking in Phuket to AGT 2026 Champion

Quick answer: Nene Royal (เนเน่ รอยัล), real name Rattikan "Praew" Amloy, is a 16-year-old singer, guitarist and songwriter from Phuket, Thailand. She won the 2026 season of America's Got Talent Reward Prize, becoming the show's first Thai winner. Before that, she was a self-taught guitarist who busked in Phuket. 

Nene Royal at a Glance

If you've been asking who is Nene Royal, this is the short version: a Phuket teenager who taught herself guitar, built a following one market performance at a time, and became a household name across Thailand within weeks.

Growing Up in Phuket: A Self-Taught Guitarist

Any proper Nene Royal biography has to start here. She was born in Phuket, and her musical story starts at home. She began teaching herself guitar from YouTube videos when she was around 6 or 7 years old, learning much of her music by ear.

Her father, Narong Amloy, a stone carver, introduced her to music and stayed with her at every step, from taking her busking to preparing a rehearsal room at home. Family support is a thread that runs through this whole story, and one we return to later, when we look at the Nene Royal condo gift.

From Naka Weekend Market to the World Stage

Before American television audiences knew her name, Phuket locals did. She was known for busking at Naka Weekend Market with her bands Ozone and Miniheart, mostly playing rock and metal covers — the kind of stage where there's no spotlight, no script, and you win a crowd over one song at a time.

That habit of connecting with strangers in a few minutes explains a lot about what the AGT judges saw when she walked on stage.

Nene Royal's AGT 2026 Journey

The Audition: "Zombie" Goes Viral

She stepped onto the AGT stage on the eve of her 16th birthday, in a black dress with an electric guitar, and launched into a punk-rock cover of The Cranberries' "Zombie." All four judges — Simon Cowell, Mel B, Sofía Vergara and Howie Mandel — voted yes. WATCH: 16-Year-Old Nene Royal's Viral "Zombie" Audition on AGT +2

The clip spread fast: over 1.5 million views in a single day, and more than 219 million views across YouTube, Instagram and TikTok within nine days — the most of any act that season.

Judges' Callbacks: Muse's "Hysteria"

In the new Judges' Callbacks round, she performed Muse's "Hysteria," mixing vocals, guitar solos and rhythmic tapping on the guitar body — enough to earn one of 44 places in the live shows.

Quarterfinals: The Golden Buzzer

Her performance of Soundgarden's "Black Hole Sun" earned the Live Golden Buzzer from Mel B, sending her straight to the final. Mel B admitted heavy rock wasn't normally her genre, but said Nene's vocals, guitar, look and energy left her no choice. 'AGT' 2026 Quarterfinals Night 2 Recap: Nene Royal Gets Mel B.'s Golden Buzzer +3

The Final: "Seven Nation Army" and Linkin Park

For her last competitive performance, she chose The White Stripes' "Seven Nation Army," reaching the top five before the result came down to her and runner-up Geno Ploeger. Earlier that night, she joined American rock band Linkin Park on stage for "The Emptiness Machine," a guest collaboration separate from the competition.

Nene was named the winner on September 23 (US time) / September 24 (Thailand time) — the first Thai champion in AGT history, and the title carries an advertised US$1 million prize. 16-year-old Nene Royal rocks from Phuket to AGT 2026 crown +2

Nene Royal's condo a home for her family at Mulberry Grove The Forestias

No Nene Royal biography is complete without the story that followed her win. The Chearavanont family, led by CP Group chairman Dhanin Chearavanont, gifted a two-bedroom condominium unit at Mulberry Grove The Forestias in Bangkok to Nene's family. The Chearavanont family said the gift was made from one family to another, with no obligations attached.

A few details worth getting right about the Nene Royal condo:

• When: Presented on September 5, before Nene and her family traveled to the US for the final — the gift came before the win, not because of it.

• Who received it: Nene's parents.

• What it is: A two-bedroom, two-bathroom unit of about 98.69 square metres.

• Why: The family said it was inspired by a family that never stopped believing in their child's potential.

Mulberry Grove The Forestias, where the Nene Royal condo is located, is a residential project within the mixed-use Forestias development on Bang Na-Trat Road — six buildings, 269 units, designed as a "Happy Living Community for Intergeneration." For a family whose story is tied to parents who stood behind their daughter, that setting fits.

Want to know more about the project connected to the Nene Royal condo gift? Explore Mulberry Grove The Forestias.

Why Nene Royal's Story Resonates

Her win works on several levels: a first for Thailand on one of the world's biggest talent stages, a Phuket market busker who became a global name, and a family story about parents who backed her through the years. Her own words after the win were simple — she thanked everyone who supported and voted for her.

Frequently Asked Questions

Who is Nene Royal?
Nene Royal (เนเน่ รอยัล) is the stage name of Rattikan "Praew" Amloy, a 16-year-old singer-guitarist from Phuket, Thailand, and the first Thai winner of America's Got Talent.

Where can I read a full Nene Royal biography?
This page covers her full story — from busking in Phuket to her AGT 2026 win and the Nene Royal condo gift that followed.

What is the Nene Royal condo?
It's a two-bedroom, two-bathroom unit (about 98.69 sqm) at Mulberry Grove The Forestias in Bangkok, gifted to Nene's parents by the Chearavanont family on September 5, 2026 — before the AGT final, not as a competition prize.

How old is Nene Royal?
16.

What songs did Nene Royal perform on AGT?
"Zombie," "Hysteria," "Black Hole Sun," "Seven Nation Army," and a guest performance of "The Emptiness Machine" with Linkin Park.

Sources: Bangkok Post, The Thaiger, Nation Thailand, Khaosod English, NBC Insider, Thairath, TV Insider, Loudwire, Time Out Bangkok.