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The 25-year-old Bergen County native finished in second place on "America's Got Talent" after dazzling viewers and judges with her array of impressive card tricks and devil-may-care attitude.
Judges praised her cardistry while also relating to how nervous she got when it was time for her big reveals. Tricks included her flashy shuffling and card balancing and being able to somehow make it so audience member and judge had the same card in an envelope. When her tricks worked, she jumped up and down and seemed as surprised as the audience.
Growing up with a single mother, DeGuzman shuttled from home to home but she found comfort in magic tricks and cardistry, rewatching the tricks of magicians like David Blaine and teaching herself how to do magic.
Before going on "America's Got Talent," DeGuzman had achieved an impressive following, appearing on "Penn and Teller: Fool Us" and wowing people on TikTok.
DeGuzman said she had planned to buy her mother a home if she won the $1 million grand prize.
"She's never had her own place," DeGuzman said. "She's so proud of me and I want to make sure she's taken care of. She's my #1 fan. When she saw her daughter with Simon and Terry Crews, it's starting to become real. Her daughter is now becoming a star."
DeGuzman did not reveal what was next for her, but said this is only the beginning.
"This has already changed my life, so thank you for making me feel like a winner already," DeGuzman said before the results were announced. "I will never forget today for the rest of my life."
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