Phuket welcomed Nene Royal home with airport greetings and an Old Town parade
On September 27, Phuket welcomed 16-year-old Nene Royal home as an America’s Got Talent winner. She was greeted at the airport by family, fans, and officials, then taken through Old Phuket Town in an open electric vehicle.
Back on the island
Nene, whose real name is Rattikarn “Praew” Amloy, arrived at Phuket International Airport on Cathay Pacific flight CX771 via Hong Kong after traveling from the United States. Governor Chotinarin Kerdsom was among those waiting for her, together with relatives and supporters.
A local story that grew big
Nene taught herself to sing and play guitar and had performed at venues around Phuket before reaching the international stage. Her AGT run included “Zombie,” “Hysteria,” and “Black Hole Sun,” which brought her a Golden Buzzer. She later won the season finale on September 24 with “Seven Nation Army.”
How Phuket marked the moment
After the airport welcome, the public celebration began at Kho Sim Bee Building. Nene and her family then joined an open-top electric vehicle provided by Phuket City Municipality and drove through Old Phuket Town toward the Chartered Bank intersection. Residents and fans were invited to gather at Limelight Phuket from 5 pm, with the procession planned for about 6 pm.
Why people showed up
For Phuket, this was more than a celebrity greeting. It was a hometown return for a teenager who left the island to compete on one of the world’s best-known talent shows and came back as the champion. That made the welcome feel personal, proud, and very local.
