Iam Tongi Won "American Idol," And Pacific Islanders Everywhere Are So Freaking Proud,Yessah!
Iam Tongi Won “American Idol,” And Pacific Islanders Everywhere Are So Freaking Proud
He did it, y’all! Iam Tongi is the newest American Idol winner!!!
ABC / Via youtube.comHearing his name announced as the Season 21 winner had me jumping up and down and screaming in my living room. The first Pacific Islander Idol winner!!! Our people are so creative and talented, and it makes me so happy that folks are starting to realize it. And Iam seems like such a humble and deserving guy — I can’t wait to see what he does next!
ABC / Via youtube.comNaturally, Pacific Islanders have been celebrating all across social media. Singer Dinah Jane congratulated Iam and said he’d made all of us proud:
IAM TONGI 🇹🇴 CONGRATULATIONS FAM!!! 🥹😭 made all of us polys proud!
— ♕MsJane (@dinahjane) May 22, 2023Dinah Jane / https://twitter.com/dinahjane/status/1660483831521218560
Some said Iam was the one to put American Idol back on the map:
Iam Tongi really put @AmericanIdol back on the map! I ain’t watched American idol since Ruben Studdard 😂. THATS REAL CULTURE FOR YA!
— Darren Tufono 👑 (@ClutchEverytime) May 22, 2023ClutchEverytime / https://twitter.com/ClutchEverytime/status/1660451567982751744
Others hoped that Iam would no longer be priced out of paradise:
Iam Tongi / instagram.comThis person appreciated that Iam was showcasing island music:
I think the thing i like more about Iam Tongi winning American Idol is man was really out here just jamming Island Jams instead of singing the usual Mainstream stuff lol Ouua the man 💯
— Saul (@PaulieMwayz) May 22, 2023PaulieMwayz / https://twitter.com/PaulieMwayz/status/1660495412325945346
Many believed that Iam made his dad proud:
Iam Tongi / instagram.comAnd this person said this is the representation we want during APAHM:
This is the representation we want during AAPI month 🙌🏾 IAM TONGI YESSAAAAHHHH
— leka (@liyahkl) May 22, 2023liyahkl / https://twitter.com/liyahkl/status/1660488484489166849
Congratulations, Iam! So well deserved. Cheehoo!
Check out more API-centered content by exploring how BuzzFeed is celebrating Asian Pacific American Heritage Month! Of course, the content doesn’t end after May. Follow BuzzFeed’s A*Pop on Instagram, TikTok, and YouTube to keep up with our latest API content year-round.
Kathy Hoang / Brooke Greenberg / BuzzFeedRelated News & Content
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