KATSEYE is objectively one of the biggest and loudest musical acts right now. Having debuted with a single aptly titled “Debut,” the global girl group has gone on to release hit after hit despite debuting only over a year ago. While success may appear to have arrived so quickly for them, it didn’t come without extensive training and a heartrending fight for the ultimate prize of becoming a part of a project being formed by HYBE and Geffen Records at the time. These two companies only had one thing in mind: to develop a group consisting of members from different parts of the world, combining both the elements of K-pop and the distinct flair of Western Music.
From the very beginning, all of them were bound for such greatness. Formed through a survival reality show called The Debut: Dream Academy, the six members from six different cultural backgrounds emerged to become the group we now know as KATSEYE. Their journey was later documented through a Netflix docuseries titled Pop Star Academy: KATSEYE. With a group name inspired by the cat’s eye gemstone, the girl group almost immediately earned a reputation as a groundbreaking force in the industry. They also happened to have such great talents and fiery stage presence to back their acclaim. As KATSEYE continues to dominate the pop scene, it’s high time to dive deeper into the members that make up the group behind hits like “Gabriela,” “Gameboy,” “Touch,” and “Gnarly.”
Sophia Laforteza, Manon Bannerman and Daniela Avanzini
Hailing from Manila, Philippines,Sophia Lafortezatruly has all the makings of a superstar. She ranked first during the final ranking of the competition, thanks to her consistent performance, undeniable leadership skills, and vocal abilities. That also earned her the position as the group’s eventual leader. With singing as her first love, it comes as no small surprise that Sophia grew up to utilize her innate skills for a living. And it wasn’t such a shocker to learn she came from a famous family, with her mother being a known Filipina singer and actress, Carla Guevara.
Ghanaian and Swiss-ItalianManon Bannerman, who finished the competition in sixth place, has been writing songs since she was younger. Before debuting as a member of KATSEYE, the Swiss-born talent was an influencer first, whose online presence became a catalyst for a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. The casting director actually discovered her through social media and slid into her DMs due to her natural star power. The rest, as they say, is history.
Daniela Avanzini, who comes from a Venezuelan and Cuban background, was no stranger to competitions. A professional child dancer (who started dancing at a very young age of four), Daniela has already competed in some of the biggest reality competition shows, likeAmerica’s Got TalentandDancing With The Stars. Combining both her talent and experience, Daniela eventually ranked third and became one of the eventual members of KATSEYE.
Lara Raj, Megan Skiendiel and Yoonchae Jeung
Having ranked second, Indian-American Lara Rajis KATSEYE’s resident baddie. Complete with an unmistakable charisma, the group’s dancer and main vocalist — who earlier this year came out as queer — is proud to be representing Indian women in the entertainment industry. While there was a lack of Indian representation when she was growing up, she had always dreamed of becoming a superstar. Little did young Lara know, she would eventually become a part of a girl group destined for global stardom.
From Honolulu, Hawaii,Megan Skiendiel is of Chinese and Singaporean descent. She secured the fifth spot during the competition and has impressed the team behind the reality program by showcasing such star power and an electrifying stage persona. Having worked as a model for a time, Megan began honing her dancing skills at a young age and hasn’t stopped since.
Yoonchae Jeungis the youngest member of the group, or what many K-pop fans refer to as themakne. Originally from South Korea, Yoonchae is the only member of Korean descent. She is also a trained artist who underwent the extensive training process typical in K-pop. She used her training experience to her advantage, ultimately securing fourth place inThe Debut: Dream Academyand becoming a member of KATSEYE.
