Katseye (pronounced "cats eye", stylized inall caps) is agirl group based inLos Angeles. The group is composed 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 described as a "global girl group".
The group was formed through the 2023 reality competition seriesDream Academy, a collaboration betweenHybe andGeffen Records. The group's formation process was later chronicled in theNetflixdocuseriesPopstar Academy: Katseye, which recounted 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 firstextended play (EP),SIS (Soft Is Strong), later that year. In April 2025, they released "Gnarly" which served as the lead single for their second EP,Beautiful Chaos (2025). Despite receiving mixed reactions on release, the single garnered significant attention and earned the group their first entry on theBillboard Hot 100.Beautiful Chaos was released on June 27, 2025, and debuted at number four on theBillboard 200, their highest-charting release to date. The EP's second single "Gabriela" peaked within the top 40 of the Hot 100 and earned aGrammy Award nomination forBest Pop Duo/Group Performance, with the group also being nominated forBest New Artist.
Katseye is recognized for their distinctive fashion identity, prominently drawing influence fromY2K fashion. Their growing brand image has led to multiple endorsements and campaigns tying into the style, including a campaign withFendi'sBaguette bag andGap's low-rise denim. Katseye has also worked with British soap companyLush, American fashion houseCoach, and Philippine fast food chainJollibee.Humberto Leon acts as the group's creative director, taking inspiration from broad influences and utilizing the group's diverse backgrounds.
History
Name
Logo used since debut
In an interview withInStyle, group member Sophia explained that the name Katseye is derived from the gemstonechrysoberyl, specifically thecymophane variety, which is commonly known as "cat's eye". She explained that 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.[1] The group was initially planned to be named "Catseye," but during an interview with LA radio stationKIIS-FM, it was revealed that Lara suggested altering the spelling to "Katseye," which the members felt gave the name a more distinctive and stylized appearance.[2] Katseye's logo and branding were designed by Seoul-based graphic design studio Husky Fox, incorporating elements of the gem stone alongside the unity of the six members' unique backgrounds.[3]
Several members of Katseye had experience in professional dance, television, and the entertainment industry before debuting with the group. Sophia, born to Filipino musical theater actressCarla Guevara Laforteza, began singing at age three, and later made a television appearance on thegame showFamily Feud Philippines as a contestant in 2022.[4][5]Atlanta-born Daniela began competitivedancesport at age three, and notably appeared onAmerica's Got Talent season 8 in 2013,[6][7] and became a Top 10 finalist onSo You Think You Can Dance: The Next Generation in 2016.[8] Born and raised inHonolulu, Megan was also trained in professional dance from a young age.[9] Lara, under the stage name Lara Raj, began acting and singing at an early age, featuring in a campaign video forMichelle Obama's Global Girls Alliance, an initiative for theObama Foundation in 2018.[10][11] Swiss-born Manon gained popularity through short-form video content onTikTok andInstagram, where she posted fashion and lifestyle clips beginning in 2021.[12] She also pursued modeling work in Switzerland.[13] Yoonchae, the group's youngest member and a native of South Korea, became a K-pop trainee in 2020 before joining the lineup ofDream Academy.[7][13]
Formal preparations for the group began in November 2021, whenHybe andGeffen 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.[14] With auditions held across 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".[15][16] In an interview with theKorea JoongAng Daily, Hybe founderBang Si-hyuk expressed his intentions to promote the resultant group to the American market.[17] From more than 120,000 applicants, twenty contestants were selected to participate in the reality competition seriesThe Debut: Dream Academy, which determined the final lineup through a series of performance-based missions.[18] Prior to the series premiere, the contestants were trained for a year inLos Angeles, California, through methods prevalent in the Korean idol trainee system.[19] Premiering on August 19, 2023, the competition concluded on November 18, with Sophia Laforteza, Lara Rajagopalan, Yoonchae Jeung, Megan Skiendiel, Daniela Avanzini, and Manon Bannerman selected as the six members of Katseye.[20]
2024–present:SIS (Soft Is Strong) andBeautiful Chaos
Katseye's formation and preparation for their debut EP were serialized in the documentaryPop Star Academy: Katseye, which premiered on August 21, 2024.[21][22] Distributed by Netflix, the documentary was directed byNadia Hallgren.[20][23]
In June 2024, Hybe confirmed that the release of the group's first EP was set for August that year.[24][25] For the EP, Katseye collaborated with several songwriters and producers, includingRyan Tedder andOmer Fedi.[26][27] Two singles preceded its release. The first single, "Debut", was released on June 28, with a music video filmed inMedellín, Colombia, directed by Gregory Ohrel.[28][29] The single is an upbeatpop track that explores themes of confidence and sisterhood in reference to the members' bond as a group.[26] The second single, "Touch", was released on July 26.[30] Themelodic drum and bassR&B track discusses the "complexity of love" and deviates from the sound of "Debut", emphasizing the members' vocals.[31][32][33] The single ranked at number 22 on theBillboardBubbling Under Hot 100 chart and entered theBillboard Philippines Hot 100 chart.[34][35] "Touch" attained further success after its choreography went viral as a dance challenge on the video-sharing platformTikTok in September 2024.[36][34][37]
Katseye in September 2024
The full EP, titledSIS (Soft Is Strong), was released on August 16.[38][39] With five tracks, the EP debuted at number 119 on theBillboard 200 as Katseye landed atop theEmerging Artists chart.[40] In support of the EP, the group embarked on an Asian tour, which began in South Korea on September 12.[41][42] Megan would refrain from touring from September 21, owing to her back injury.[43] On November 14, Katseye released "Flame", the theme song for theNetflix animated seriesJentry Chau vs. The Underworld.[44]
On March 7, 2025, ahead of the announcement of any new music, Katseye was added to the lineup ofWango Tango 2025, scheduled for May 10.[45] They were then added to the lineup ofLollapalooza in Chicago, scheduled for August 3.[46] Katseye released a new single, "Gnarly", on April 30,[47] which became their first entry on theBillboardHot 100.[48] The song was released as the first single from their second EP,Beautiful Chaos.[49] On June 6, Katseye released a remix of "Gnarly" featuring rapperIce Spice.[48] On June 20, they released "Gabriela", the EP's second single.[50] The track was accompanied by a music video styled as atelenovela and featured a cameo from actressJessica Alba.[51][52] Co-written byCharli XCX, "Gabriela" was described as a contemporary twist on Dolly Parton's "Jolene".[53] On June 27,Beautiful Chaos was released, alongside a music video for the EP's third single, "Gameboy".[54] The EP debuted in the fourth spot of theBillboard 200, their first entry in the top ten of the chart.[55] On November 7, Katseye earned nominations forBest New Artist andBest Pop/Duo Group Performance (for "Gabriela") at the68th Annual Grammy Awards.[56] That same month, they embarked onthe Beautiful Chaos Tour, their first concert series where they debuted a new song titled "Internet Girl".[57]
Endorsements
In September 2024, Katseye made their firstNew York Fashion Week attendance at the Spring Summer 2025 show for the American fashion companyCoach, which in turn placed them in several promotional endorsements and content for the brand's released collection.[58][59] Subsequently, Katseye were featured in Coach's collaboration campaign with the South Korean streetwear brand Matin Kim, which launched a line ofready-to-wear clothing exclusively for Japan, South Korea, and Hong Kong.[60]Interview Magazine's editor-in-chiefMel Ottenberg describes Coach, known for its blend of both "punkish and preppy" styles through denim looks, as a perfect match for Katseye's own brand.[58]
Gap's "Better in Denim" campaign featuring Katseye displayed inTimes Square, New York City
In April 2025, Katseye was featured inFendi's Fendi For Yourself campaign, launched in celebration of the brand's 100th anniversary.[61] The campaign highlighted two of Fendi's most popular handbags, theBaguette and the Peekaboo, both regarded as cultural symbols within the fashion industry.[62][63] In May, Katseye partnered withGlossier to launch the brand's first lip oil product line titled 'Lip Glaze'.[64] The collaboration featured six tinted oils, each shade corresponding to one of the group's members.[65] In the same month, the group launched a collaboration withUrban Outfitters, where they performed live at the "UO Haul" event in New York on May 20 to showcase their single "Gnarly".[66] Additionally, the group released an exclusive neon bluevinyl edition of their EPBeautiful Chaos, limited to 3,000 copies, for pre-order through Urban Outfitters.[66][67] In June 2025, Katseye partnered with jewelry brandPandora to release various charms selected by each member to represent individual motifs.[68] In the same month, Katseye partnered withLush to release abath bomb and six collectable soaps.[69] In August, they also launched a merchandise collaboration with Philippine fast food chainJollibee.[70] The next month, the brand released Katseye-themed menu items in its stores in the United States and Canada.[71]
In August 2025, Katseye starred inGap's Fall 2025 denim campaign, dancing to a re-recorded version ofKelis' "Milkshake" with original choreography by Robbie Blue.[72] Achieving over 400 million views and 8 billion impressions across platforms in under 2 weeks, Gap CEO Richard Dickson described the campaign as a "cultural takeover", highlighting its unprecedented reach and impact on the brand's own image, with the ad garnering more views in its first three days than the brand's previous four releases combined.[73] The campaign received wide praise for its emphasis on unity and cultural celebration, in contrast to anAmerican Eagle jeanscampaign featuring actressSydney Sweeney released earlier in the year. While Sweeney's ad faced criticism for allegedly promotingeugenics, Katseye's ad was lauded for its inclusive and empowering message.[74][75] In November 2025, Katseye recorded public service announcements forMTANew York City Transit'ssubway system.[76]
Katseye is widely labeled as a "global girl group",[77][78] blending stylistic traits of Western pop with the presentation attributed to K-pop. As Daniela described them in an interview withi-D, they are "the first American girl group to make American pop music but trained to do the crazy choreography of K‑pop." The group includes the first Indian, Filipina, Latina, and Black artists to be signed under Hybe: Lara, Sophia, Daniela, and Manon, respectively.[79] Before the group's debut,Teen Vogue named Katseye as one of twelve "Girl Groups to Watch in 2024".[80] Musically, Katseye has citedThe Pussycat Dolls,Spice Girls, andLe Sserafim as influences.[77]
Katseye is noted for their distinctive fashion styling, often cited as a defining feature of the group alongside their music.[81][82] Withlow-rise jeans, crop tops, and archival pieces, the group draws sartorial influence of late 1990s andearly 2000s pop culture, often referred to as Y2K fashion.[83] Katseye's long-term creative director,Humberto Leon, states drawing inspiration from art, film, and history rather than solely musical influences for the group. In particular, the style of celebrities prominent in the early 2000s, such asDevon Aoki for Megan, andShakira for Daniela, served as key references for the image and appearance of the group's members.[84] "Withouttokenizing them", Leon cites the appreciation for the group's diverse backgrounds as a forerunner for their image, often incorporating items such as thebindi for Lara andwaist beads for Manon.[50] Members have highlighted the group's identity and openness to these influences, with Manon stating, "I havelocs sometimes. Humberto is always like, 'Yeah, let's do it.' He's always asking if I have new ideas".[84]
^"Touch" did not enter the Official Malaysia Chart, but peaked at number 9 on the RIM International Singles Chart.[108]
^"Touch" did not enter the NZ Top 40 Singles Chart, but peaked at number 16 on the NZ Hot Singles Chart.[101]
^"Gnarly" did not enter the Official Malaysia Chart, but peaked at number 9 on the RIM International Singles Chart.[111]
^"Gnarly" did not enter the NZ Top 40 Singles Chart, but peaked at number 2 on the NZ Hot Singles Chart.[101]
^"Gabriela" did not enter the Circle Digital Chart, but peaked at number 126 on theCircle Download Chart.[112]
^"Gameboy" did not enter theBillboard Hot 100, but peaked at number 9 on the Bubbling Under Hot 100 chart.[113]
^"Gameboy" did not enter the Circle Digital Chart, but peaked at number 180 on theCircle Download Chart.[114]
^"Gameboy" did not enter the NZ Top 40 Singles Chart, but peaked at number 12 on the NZ Hot Singles Chart.[101]
^the Brand of the Year Awards is an awards ceremony based on nationwide surveys hosted by the Korea Consumer Brand Committee and organized by the Korea Consumer Forum.[163]
^Ki, Tae-eun (May 30, 2025)."데이식스 영케이→투어스, 캣츠아이...박보검X김소현 '굿보이', OST 라인업도 '화려'" [Day6, Young K to TWS, Katseye... Park Bo-gum x Kim So-hyun'sGood Boy, OST lineup is also 'gorgeous'].MHN (in Korean).Archived from the original on May 31, 2025. RetrievedJune 19, 2025.
^Han, Hae-seon (September 13, 2024)."백현, '뮤뱅' 1위..'하이브' 캣츠아이 데뷔+영탁·보넥도·NCT위시 컴백" [Baekhyun, 'Music Bank' No. 1.. Hybe's Katseye Debut + Young Tak, BoyNextDoor, NCT Wish Comeback].Star News (in Korean).Archived from the original on September 15, 2024. RetrievedMarch 23, 2025.
^"Katseye Summer Sonic Extra".CreativeMan Productions (in Japanese). June 24, 2025.Archived from the original on July 15, 2025. RetrievedJune 24, 2025.
^Lee, Jong-do (July 4, 2022).한국소비자포럼, '2022 올해의 브랜드 대상' 소비자 투표 실시 [Korea Consumer Forum held consumer voting for '2022 Brand of the Year Grand Prize'].E2 News (in Korean).Archived from the original on July 5, 2022. RetrievedJuly 4, 2022.
^Park, Jin-young (August 28, 2025).유재석·박보검·아이유·임영웅·안유진, 2025 올해의 브랜드 대상 [Yoo Jae-suk, Park Bo-gum, IU, Lim Young-woong, and Ahn Yu-jin win the 2025 Brand of the Year Award].Joy News 24 (in Korean).Archived from the original on August 28, 2025. RetrievedAugust 28, 2025.
^Lee, Sung-mi (December 20, 2024).'HMA 2024', 부문별 본상 투표 시작→팝업까지...다채로운 이벤트 진행 ['HMA 2024' Starts Voting for Main Prize by Sector → Up to Pop-Up...Various events are held].Biz Enter (in Korean).Archived from the original on January 2, 2025.
^Benjamin, Jeff; Denis, Kyle; Diaz, Angel; Flores, Griselda; Havens, Lyndsey; Lamarre, Carl; Lipshutz, Jason; Mamo, Heran; Newman, Melinda; Nicholson, Jessica; Roiz, Jessica (May 16, 2025)."Billboard's 21 Under 21: See Who Made the 2025 List".Billboard.Archived from the original on May 19, 2025.
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