Nene Royal, whose real name is Rattikarn Amloy, defeated nine other finalists including magicians, canine acts and a robot dance crew to take the top prize on America's Got Talent.
Her journey to victory began with a viral audition performance of The Cranberries' 'Zombie' that has since accumulated 20 million views, quickly making her a fan favourite. On Wednesday night, before the results were announced, Nene shared the stage with Linkin Park to perform 'The Emptiness Machine'.
When her win was announced, Nene broke down in tears. "I'm very happy and emotional right now," she said, thanking her supporters.
In Thailand, where fans were unable to watch the NBC broadcast live and relied on a YouTube livestream, the broadcast cut abruptly during the results announcement. Social media erupted in relief and celebration when word spread of her victory. "History made!" one Facebook user wrote. Another said, "Let the world write it down that this Thai kid is incredibly talented."
Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul congratulated Nene, saying in a statement that she had "brought honour to Thailand" and was an "inspiration to anyone who dares to dream big."