Katseye (stylized in all caps) is a girl group formed in 2024, based in Los Angeles. The group consists of six members: Daniela Avanzini, Lara Raj, Manon Bannerman, Megan Skiendiel, Sophia Laforteza, and Yoonchae Jeung. With members from the Philippines, South Korea, Switzerland, and the United States, Katseye is often called a "global girl group".
The group was formed through the 2023 reality competition series Dream Academy, a collaboration between Hybe and Geffen Records. Its formation is chronicled in the Netflix docuseries Pop Star Academy: Katseye, which recounts the audition process, intensive training, and formation of the group. Katseye debuted in June 2024 with the single "Debut", followed by their breakthrough single, "Touch". They released their first extended play (EP), SIS (Soft Is Strong), later that year. In April 2025, they released "Gnarly", the lead single for their second EP, Beautiful Chaos (2025). Despite receiving mixed reactions on release, the single garnered significant attention and marked the group's first entry on the Billboard Hot 100, while Beautiful Chaos debuted at number four on the Billboard 200. The EP's second single, "Gabriela", peaked within the top 40 of the Hot 100 and was nominated for the Grammy Award for Best Pop Duo/Group Performance, with the group also nominated for Best New Artist at the 68th Annual Grammy Awards. Their third EP, Wild (2026), became their first number one release on the Billboard 200.
Katseye is recognized for their distinctive fashion identity, prominently drawing influence from Y2K fashion. Their growing brand image has led to multiple endorsements and campaigns tying into the style, including a campaign with Fendi's Baguette bag and Gap's low-rise denim. Katseye has also worked with British cosmetics retailer Lush, American fashion house Coach, and Filipino fast food chain Jollibee. Humberto Leon is the group's creative director, taking inspiration from broad influences and the group's diverse backgrounds.
Name
In an interview with InStyle, group member Sophia explained that the name Katseye derives from the gemstone chrysoberyl, specifically the cymophane variety, commonly known as "cat's eye"; the gemstone's distinctive optical effect, where light appears to shift and reflect differently when viewed from various angles, corresponds to the composition of the group's members' diverse personalities, talents, and backgrounds. The group was initially planned to be named "Catseye", but during an interview with LA radio station KIIS-FM, it was revealed that Lara suggested the spelling "Katseye", which the members felt gave the name a more distinctive and stylized appearance. Katseye's logo and branding were designed by Seoul-based graphic design studio Husky Fox, incorporating elements of the gemstone alongside the six members' unique backgrounds.
History 2007–2024: Pre-debut activities and formation through Dream Academy Several members of Katseye had experience in professional dance, television, and the entertainment industry before debuting with the group. Sophia Laforteza, born to Filipino musical theater actress Carla Guevara Laforteza, began singing at age three, and in 2022 appeared on the game show Family Feud Philippines as a contestant. Atlanta-born Daniela Avanzini began competitive dancesport at age three, and appeared on America's Got Talent season 8 in 2013, and was a top 10 finalist on So You Think You Can Dance: The Next Generation in 2016. Megan Skiendiel was also trained in professional dance from a young age. Lara Raj began acting and singing at an early age, featuring in a campaign video for Michelle Obama's Global Girls Alliance, an initiative for the Obama Foundation in 2018. Manon Bannerman gained popularity through short-form video content on TikTok and Instagram, where she posted fashion and lifestyle clips beginning in 2021. She also pursued modeling work in Switzerland. Yoonchae Jeung, the group's youngest member and a native of South Korea, became a K-pop trainee in 2020 before joining the lineup of Dream Academy.
Formal preparations for the group began in November 2021, when Hybe and Geffen Records launched a worldwide audition process for a girl group with "contestants from around the world", as part of the joint venture Hybe x Geffen Records. With auditions in South Korea, the United States, Japan, and the United Kingdom in 2022, the partnership aimed to create a group that would "transcend national, cultural, and artistic boundaries". In an interview with the Korea JoongAng Daily, Hybe founder Bang Si-hyuk expressed his intention to promote the resultant group to the US market. From more than 120,000 applicants, 20 were selected to participate in the reality competition series The Debut: Dream Academy, which determined the final lineup through a series of performance-based missions. Before the series premiere, the contestants were trained for a year in Los Angeles using methods from the Korean idol trainee system. The competition concluded on November 18, 2023, with Sophia Laforteza, Lara Raj, Yoonchae Jeung, Megan Skiendiel, Daniela Avanzini, and Manon Bannerman chosen as the members of Katseye.
Katseye's formation and preparation for their debut EP were serialized in the documentary Pop Star Academy: Katseye, which premiered on August 21, 2024. Distributed by Netflix, the documentary was directed by Nadia Hallgren.
2024–2025: SIS (Soft Is Strong) and Beautiful Chaos
In June 2024, Hybe confirmed that the release of the group's first EP was set for August that year. For the EP, Katseye collaborated with several songwriters and producers, including Ryan Tedder and Omer Fedi. Two singles preceded its release. The first, "Debut", was released on June 28, with a video filmed in Medellín, Colombia, directed by Gregory Ohrel. The single is an upbeat pop track that explores themes of confidence and sisterhood in reference to the members' bond as a group. The second single, "Touch", was released on July 26. The melodic drum and bass R&B track discusses the "complexity of love" and deviates from the sound of "Debut", emphasizing the members' vocals. The single ranked 22nd on the Billboard Bubbling Under Hot 100 chart and entered the Billboard Philippines Hot 100 chart. "Touch" attained further success after its choreography went viral as a dance challenge on TikTok in September 2024.
The full EP, SIS (Soft Is Strong), was released on August 16. With five tracks, the EP debuted at number 119 on the Billboard 200 as Katseye landed atop the Emerging Artists chart. In support of the EP, the group embarked on an Asian tour, which began in South Korea on September 12. Megan stopped touring on September 21, owing to a back injury. On November 14, Katseye released "Flame", the theme song for the Netflix animated series Jentry Chau vs. the Underworld.
On March 7, 2025, before any new music was announced, Katseye was added to the lineup of Wango Tango, scheduled for May 10. They were then added to the lineup of Lollapalooza in Chicago, scheduled for August 3. Katseye released a new single, "Gnarly", on April 30, which became their first entry on the Billboard Hot 100. The song was released as the first single from their second EP, Beautiful Chaos. On June 6, Katseye released a remix of "Gnarly" featuring rapper Ice Spice. On June 20, they released "Gabriela", the EP's second single. The track was accompanied by a music video styled as a telenovela and featured a cameo from actress Jessica Alba. Co-written by Charli XCX, "Gabriela" was described as a contemporary twist on Dolly Parton's "Jolene".
On June 27, Beautiful Chaos was released, alongside a music video for the EP's third single, "Gameboy". The EP debuted at number four on the Billboard 200, their first entry in the top ten of the chart. On November 7, Katseye earned nominations for Best New Artist and Best Pop/Duo Group Performance (for "Gabriela") at the 68th Annual Grammy Awards. That same month, they embarked on the Beautiful Chaos Tour, their first concert tour. On the tour, they debuted a new song titled "Internet Girl", which was officially released on January 2, 2026. The single received polarized reactions, with some critics praising its "campy" and satirical approach to internet culture, while others criticized its heavy use of stylized production and lyrics. Commentary surrounding the track highlighted concerns that the group's songs prioritize shock value and viral marketing over artistic showcase or cohesion, with some questioning whether their music reflects artistic intent or label-driven decisions.
2026–present: Manon's and Sophia's hiatuses and Wild On February 20, 2026, it was announced that Manon would take a hiatus from the group to focus on "personal health and wellbeing". The statement resulted in significant media coverage and public response, with outlets framing the hiatus within broader discussions about work–life balance and health in high-intensity performance careers. Some online commentators noted that Bannerman, the group's only Black member, engaged with content highlighting mistreatment of Black women in the industry. In interviews, Katseye's members expressed their support for Bannerman during her hiatus.
On March 13, Katseye began a string of South American festival appearances with a performance at Lollapalooza Argentina, with approximately 100,000 in audience. The group performed at Lollapalooza Chile the next day, and Festival Estéreo Picnic in Colombia and Lollapalooza Brazil later in the month. To coincide with a performance at Coachella, Katseye released the single "Pinky Up" on April 9. Before their performance, the festival showcased a video of the active members announcing their new EP, Wild, which released on August 14. On May 13, the group announced their second tour, The Wildworld Tour, in support of the EP, which began on September 1 at the 3Arena in Dublin, Ireland, and will span 31 shows across 27 cities.
On May 25, Katseye won all three awards they were nominated for at the American Music Awards of 2026, and performed "Pinky Up" at the ceremony. On June 12, Katseye released "Iconic by Mistake" in collaboration with Hybe label mates Le Sserafim and Illit, the groups' first collaboration. On June 22, Katseye was announced as part of the lineup for Olivia Rodrigo's Daisy Chain Fields music festival on August 29. They canceled their set two days before the festival after Megan sprained her ankle. They later made a surprise appearance before Devon Again's set.
On July 8, it was announced that Hybe and Geffen, with the collaboration of Interscope Records and Boardwalk Pictures, would release a documentary film, Katseye: Wild Hearts, on August 12.
On August 7, it was announced that Sophia was also going on a hiatus for "personal health and wellness". She wrote, "making this decision wasn't easy, but I'm learning that health has to come first." On August 30, it was announced that she would not participate in the Wildworld Tour's European shows.
On September 26, Katseye made their Saturday Night Live debut as musical guests, with Jalen Brunson hosting the season premiere. That month, they were announced as headliners for the Victoria's Secret Fashion Show 2026, scheduled for October 18, 2026.
Endorsements In September 2024, Katseye made their first New York Fashion Week attendance at the Spring Summer 2025 show for the American fashion company Coach, which in turn placed them in several promotional endorsements and content for the brand's released collection. Subsequently, Katseye were featured in Coach's collaboration campaign with the South Korean streetwear brand Matin Kim, which launched a line of ready-to-wear clothing for Japan, South Korea, and Hong Kong.