Introducing Katseye HYBE America's First Girl Group (2025 Update)

If you’ve been keeping up with the latest in K-pop (or, well, K-pop-adjacent groups), then you’ve probably heard of Katseye, the girl group born from HYBE and Geffen Records’ survival show The Debut: Dream Academy. These six talented young women are HYBE America’s first-ever girl group, and their journey to debut has been nothing short of wild.

The Making of Katseye

Back in 2023, HYBE (home to groups like BTS, TXT, LE SSERAFIM, ILLIT & NewJeans) with Geffen launched The Debut: Dream Academy, a reality show aimed at creating a global girl group. And when I say global, I mean it, contestants came from all over the world, competing for a shot at a spot in what was promised to be a revolutionary new group.

After 100,000 submissions, twenty chosen participants and months of intense training, public voting, and emotional eliminations, six members made it through:

⭐ Lara (India)
⭐ Sophia (Philippines)
⭐ Manon (Switzerland)
⭐ Megan (China-Singapore)
⭐ Daniela (Venezuela-Cuba)
⭐ Yoonchae (South Korea)

Their official debut was set for June 28, 2024, and fans were ready to see what they had to offer.

Member Spotlight: Sophia

Sophia shared her perspective on the global aspect of the group: “We’re from different parts of the world, but music brought us together. We’re learning from each other every day.” (Source: Netflix’s ‘Pop Star Academy: Katseye’)

Nationality: Filipino

Ethnicity: Filipino

Birthplace: Manila, Philippines

Full Name: Sophia Elizabeth G. Laforteza

Birthday: December 31st, 2002

Sophia ranked first on The Debut: Dream Academy and is the leader of the group.

Netflix’s ‘Pop Star Academy: Katseye’ – The Inside Scoop

To give fans an even deeper look into their journey, Netflix dropped a documentary series titled ‘Pop Star Academy: Katseye’ on August 21, 2024. It gave us everything: the behind-the-scenes drama, the blood-sweat-and-tears training, the emotional highs and lows—it was basically a Dream Academy deep dive.

Member Spotlight: Lara

Lara reflected on the intense training, saying, “There were days when I didn’t think I could make it. But I knew this was my dream, and I had to push through.” (Source: Netflix’s ‘Pop Star Academy: Katseye’)

Ethnicity: Indian (Tamilnadu)

Nationality: American

Birthplace: Los Angeles, CA

Full name: Lara Rajagopalan

Birthday: November 3, 2005

Lara placed second place in The Debut: Dream Academy.

Fan Reactions: Love It or Hate It?

But of course, with any documentary that peels back the curtain on the industry is bound to spark discussions, and Pop Star Academy: Katseye was no exception.

Some fans loved the insight into HYBE-Geffen’s process, especially how the K-pop training system operates and how it might be adapted for the U.S. They appreciated the authenticity of the series, which allowed them to connect with the members on a deeper level. Seeing the hard work and dedication of the trainees made their debut even more exciting for many.

While others felt the documentary was overly polished or even a bit too revealing. Criticism arose regarding HYBE’s editing choices, with murmurs about whether the competition was truly fair. Some questioned if certain members were favored or if unnecessary drama was created for entertainment purposes. Others expressed concerns about the group’s direction and whether HYBE could successfully balance their global appeal with the well-established K-pop formula.

Adéla Jergová, a former trainee featured in the documentary, reflected on the portrayal of relationships among the contestants: "Let's not make women look like they can't have issues and resolve them maturely."

Despite the mixed reactions, one thing was clear: the series provided a raw and unfiltered look at the industry. It wasn’t sugar-coated to present a fantasy; instead, it showcased the cutthroat nature of idol training. This level of transparency gave fans a better understanding of the reality many K-pop trainees face.

Member Spotlight: Manon

Manon reflected on this harsh reality, saying, "No one is going to do the work for you. You have to take responsibility for your own success, your own failures." (Source: Netflix’s ‘Pop Star Academy: Katseye’)

Ethnicity: Swiss-Italian-Ghanaian

Nationality: Swiss

Birthplace: Zürich, Switzerland

Full name: Meret Manon Bannerman

Birthday: June 26th, 2002

Manon ranked sixth place in The Debut: Dream Academy.

Debut EP ‘SIS (Soft Is Strong)’ & the Rise of ‘Touch’

On August 16, 2024, Katseye finally made their official debut with their first EP, ‘SIS (Soft Is Strong)’. The standout track? "Touch", a sleek, addictive pop song that quickly went viral on TikTok thanks to its catchy hook and easy-to-follow dance challenge.

The EP itself debuted at #119 on the Billboard 200, which—while not an earth-shattering debut—was still pretty impressive for a new group. The success of "Touch" also led to a remix featuring TXT’s Yeonjun, which only amped up the hype.

Member Spotlight: Daniela

Daniela emphasized the dedication and hard work leading up to their debut: "Months of dedication and tireless efforts have been poured into refining every detail. This experience has given us a great sense of fulfillment as we watch our dreams, and the vision for the concept"

Ethnicity: Venezuelan-Cuban

Nationality: American

Birthplace: Atlanta, Georgia & Los Angeles, California

Full name: Daniela Avanzini

Birthday: July 1st, 2004

Daniela placed third place on The Debut: Dream Academy.

More Than Just an EP: Tours, Collabs & Jingle Ball

Katseye didn’t waste any time making moves. Following their debut, they kicked off their first Asian tour in Seoul on September 12, 2024, performing in several major cities. They made their way to the Philippines for a three-day stop and continued on to Japan.

They also snagged an unexpected but fun opportunity to perform at iHeartRadio KISS108's Jingle Ball 2024 in Boston. And in true pop star fashion, they recreated the iconic "Jingle Bell Rock" choreography from Mean Girls—yes, the same dance Lindsay Lohan and co. performed in the 2004 movie. It was a hit, with fans eating up the nostalgia.

If that wasn’t enough, they also recorded "Flame", the theme song for Netflix’s animated series Jentry Chau vs. The Underworld.

Member Spotlight: Yoonchae

Ethnicity: Korean

Nationality: Korean

Birthplace: South Korea

Full name: Jeong Yoonchae (정윤채)

Birthday: December 6th, 2007

Yoonchae is the maknae (youngest) of the group. She placed 4th in The Debut: Dream Academy.

So… Is Katseye a K-pop Group?

Now, here’s where things get interesting. While Katseye was formed under HYBE (a K-pop giant), their promotions, music style, and branding have had more of a Western pop influence.

This has sparked a huge debate among fans. Some say they shouldn’t be labeled as a K-pop group because they don’t follow the traditional Korean idol system (with rigorous trainee years, Korean-language dominance, and the typical K-pop branding). Others argue that since they’re under HYBE, trained in the K-pop system, and include Korean members, they do fit into the genre—just with a more international spin. And then there’s the middle ground: fans who think Katseye is a hybrid group that blends both K-pop and Western pop elements.

Regardless of where you stand, one thing is clear: Katseye is breaking new ground, and whether you consider them K-pop or not, they’re definitely one of the most talked-about new groups of 2025.

Member Spotlight: Megan

Megan opened up about dealing with the pressure: “There’s a lot of expectations, especially coming from Korea. But I want to show everyone that we can create something beautiful together, no matter where we’re from.” (Source: Netflix’s ‘Pop Star Academy: Katseye’)

Ethnicity: Chinese-Singaporean-American

Nationality: American

Birthplace: Honolulu, Hawaii

Full name: Megan Meiyok Skiendiel

Birthday: February 10th, 2006

Megan placed 5th in The Debut: Dream Academy.