Nene has now won America’s Got Talent, completing an extraordinary journey that began with an audition in which she played a rare vintage guitar given to her by Danish fan Strit Bram.
ScandAsia has followed that unusual Danish-Thai connection before. But in the enormous attention surrounding Nene and her victory, another part of the story has received less attention: what does the young musician herself actually want to do with the opportunity she has been given?
Some of the answers came shortly before the result. In a live red-carpet interview following the grand finale, Nene appeared remarkably composed after what had already been an emotionally charged night. There was no sign of panic or an attempt to play up the drama of the competition. Instead, she stood comfortably in front of the American media, answering questions with an ease that made it seem as though she had simply stepped off the stage of her own concert.
What emerged from the interview was more than the voice of a young contestant hoping to win a television competition. Nene spoke about the kind of artist she wants to become and the much bigger stage she hopes eventually to reach.
A performance built around an idea
Surrounded by reporters, cameras and flashing lights on the red carpet, Nene was approached by a presenter from The Buzz, who asked about the striking outfit she had worn during her performance. Nene explained that the costume had been inspired by a military uniform, connecting visually with her performance of “Seven Nation Army.” Red was chosen as the dominant colour, while elements representing her Thai identity were incorporated into the design.
Her explanation was brief, but revealed that Nene was not simply wearing a costume chosen for her. She understood the visual concept behind the performance and how it contributed to what she wanted to communicate on stage. The result combined the raw energy of rock with visual references to her homeland. For a 16-year-old performer, it showed an unusual awareness of how music, fashion, identity and stage presentation can work together to create a memorable artistic image.
Staying calm when an entire stadium stands up
The presenter also asked how Nene had felt when the audience rose to its feet and applauded her performance. Her answer offered another glimpse into the discipline behind the performer. Nene explained that whenever she feels nervous or excited before going on stage, she sits down, closes her eyes and meditates to calm herself.
During the show, she noticed Thai flags waving in the audience and heard people calling her name. She described how happy this made her, particularly after hearing the judges say that she had a chance of winning the competition. There was confidence in her response, but also restraint. She accepted the praise without appearing overwhelmed by it.
And, as it turned out, the judges were right. Nene went on to win America’s Got Talent.
Why rock?
Then came a question that went deeper into her musical identity. With a voice capable of performing across different musical styles, why had she chosen rock?
Nene’s answer went directly to what appears to drive her as a performer. She wants to give energy to people. She talked about wanting to perform before crowds of tens of thousands — even millions — and about the exchange of energy between artist and audience.
That answer perhaps says more about Nene than a description of her vocal range could. For her, rock music does not appear to be simply about demonstrating vocal technique. It is about creating a connection and sending the energy generated on stage out into a crowd. Now that she has won America’s Got Talent, that ambition suddenly seems considerably less distant.
What would she do if she won?
Then came one of the classic questions of any major reality competition: If you win and receive a life-changing amount of prize money, what will you do with it?
At the time Nene answered the question, the “if” was still important.
Nene spoke about using the money to create her own music, buying new guitars and going on concert tours around the world. Rather than describing the prize as an end point, she appeared to see it as a means of continuing her artistic journey. Her ambitions were not centred on luxury or celebrity, but on making more music and taking that music to a wider audience.
For ScandAsia readers who have followed her story, the reference to buying guitars has a particular resonance. One of the guitars that helped bring Nene to the America’s Got Talent stage was not bought by Nene at all. It was a gift from Danish fan Strit Bram: a rare vintage guitar that became part of the story of her audition and created an unexpected connection between a young Thai musician and one of her supporters in Denmark.
Strit Bram went further and invited Nene to Copenhagen where she performed in the free-town Christiania on 2nd July 2025.
Now, having won the competition, Nene is talking about adding more guitars herself.
A global dream — and a trip to an amusement park
Yet one of the most charming moments of the interview came when the presenter moved away from Nene’s long-term ambitions and asked a much simpler question: What would she do first the following day?
Nene said she wanted to take her band to an amusement park. When asked to choose between Disney and Universal, she did not hesitate. She wanted to go to both.
It was a small moment, but one that showed another side of the performer. On stage, Nene can appear every inch the rock performer — powerful, intense and capable of commanding a huge audience. Off stage, she remains a 16-year-old who wants to celebrate with her band and spend a day having fun at an amusement park. The contrast between those two sides of Nene may be part of the fascination surrounding her sudden international breakthrough.
The technique behind the powerful voice
Another revealing moment was when the presenter asked how Nene could perform such demanding rock vocals without hurting her throat. Her answer was simple: she uses support from her abdomen rather than forcing the sound from her throat.
Behind that short explanation lies an important part of serious vocal performance. Powerful singing is not simply about pushing the voice harder. Sustainable performance depends on breath support, technique and learning how to produce intensity without placing unnecessary strain on the voice.
For an artist who dreams of touring internationally, that discipline matters. A professional singer must be capable not only of delivering one spectacular performance, but of doing it repeatedly throughout rehearsals, concerts and potentially long tours. Nene’s response suggested that behind the apparent effortlessness on stage lies considerable preparation and training.
From Phuket to a much bigger stage
Perhaps the strongest impression from the red-carpet interview was not any single answer, but the contrast between the different sides of Nene. There is the fierce young rock performer who can take command of a major stage; the thoughtful musician who understands the concept behind her costume and performance; and the ambitious artist who dreams of creating original music, buying guitars and touring the world.
And then there is the 16-year-old girl who wants to take her band to Disney and Universal.
Talent is clearly part of the story, but so are discipline, artistic awareness and an ability to remain natural when the cameras are turned on her. When the interview was recorded, Nene was still talking about what she would do if she won America’s Got Talent.
Now she has. That makes her answers from that night particularly interesting, because winning does not appear to have been the destination Nene had in mind. She wants to make her own music, she wants more guitars, and she wants to tour the world.
For the young rock musician from Phuket, winning America’s Got Talent may therefore turn out to be less of an ending than a beginning.
