Thai youth artist Nene Royal says she is from Phuket, ‘100% Thai’ after AGT attention
Thai singer Nene Royal said she is from Phuket and “100% Thai” as Thailand’s prime minister and tourism ministry backed her upcoming return to America’s Got Talent.
Thai youth artist Rattikarn Amloy, known as Nene Royal, said she is from Phuket, Thailand and is “100% Thai” after gaining sudden attention from her appearance on America’s Got Talent.
Speaking on July 14 after performing music for the prime minister and cabinet ministers, Nene said she wanted people to know she is from southern Thailand and from Phuket. She addressed claims that she was Cambodian, saying she is from “Phuket, Thailand” and has no other ancestry.
Tourism and Sports Minister Surasak Phancharoenworakul said the event followed Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul’s decision to support Nene after seeing a video clip of her America’s Got Talent audition on July 8 while on duty in Malaysia. On the morning of the meeting, Surasak introduced Nene to Anutin at Government House, where the two met at the Command Building.
During the gathering, the prime minister congratulated Nene and presented her with an Amazing Thailand pin and a souvenir set ahead of her next international competition. Anutin also joined in singing “Som Sarn” by Loso, while Nene performed “Zombie” by The Cranberries with guitar accompaniment.
According to Surasak, the government wants to explore how it can help promote and support her after she brought recognition to Thailand. He said the Ministry of Tourism and Sports and the Tourism Authority of Thailand would coordinate support, including covering travel expenses for her upcoming competition and helping publicize her campaign so that people in the United States can vote for her in the contest.
Nene asked Thai people to follow her social media channels and continue encouraging her. She said she still had not fully realized how quickly her fame had grown and that her life had changed significantly, with people now recognizing her wherever she goes. She is set to return to America soon for the next round of America’s Got Talent.
She said her biggest dream is to become a global artist, release her own music and go on concert tours. Nene added that she already has two or three songs and asked supporters to wait for their upcoming release.
