Sophia Elizabeth Guevara Laforteza (born December 31, 2002) is a Filipino and American singer. In 2024, she made her debut as the leader of the girl groupKatseye, formed through the 2023 reality showDream Academy created byHybe andGeffen Records.
Laforteza has been singing since she was three years old. At age five, she took several classes in ballet, jazz, musical theater, hip hop, and tap dancing.[9] She graduated with the highest academic honors fromMultiple Intelligence International School inQuezon City in June 2021.[10]
At the age of five, Laforteza appeared on the Philippine talk showShe Said, She Said with her mother. The two sang together on the program.[10] In May 2022, she competed on the Philippine game showFamily Feud.[11] Before debuting with Katseye, she collaborated with Filipino singer Angia Laurel on a cover ofAudrey Mika's "Y U Gotta Be Like That", which was uploaded on YouTube.[12][13]
From August 19 to November 17, 2023, Laforteza represented the Philippines on the American survival reality television showDream Academy,[14] created in collaboration withHybe andGeffen Records to determine the members of a described "global"girl group.[15] Laforteza was selected from over 120,000 applicants worldwide to be one of the twenty finalists on the show.[16] Throughout the competition, Laforteza consistently earned high ranks in the fan voting missions.[17] At the live finale on November 17, 2023, she was announced as the first member of the group (later namedKatseye) and was also designated as the group's leader.[18][19]
As a member of Katseye, Laforteza became the first Filipino artist to sign with aHybe label. She received public support in the Philippines and expressed gratitude, thanking them for helping make her "dream come true."[20][21]
Laforteza has been lauded for representing Filipinos internationally and embracing her identity. She has been described as a "beacon" and someone who shares pride in her heritage.[22][17] She is also noted to share many close friendships and online collaborations with fellow Filipino artists.[23] Her makeup and beauty routines, particularly the styling of her lips, have received positive attention within thecosmetics sphere, sparking curiosity and coverage on how to replicate them.[24]
Laforteza's bond with her family has also gained media attention. On May 14, 2025, the Filipino magazineMega published an article interviewing the mothers of the Philippines' "most influential" women, including Laforteza,Kathryn Bernardo, andMichelle Dee.[25] In September,Nylon Manila's Rafael Bautista called Laforteza's relationship with her parents "goals".[26] In October, Laforteza's mother, theater actressCarla Guevara Laforteza, toldThe Philippine Star's Dolly Anne Cavajal, "I don't mind being called 'the mom of Sophia Laforteza.'" She added that she introduces herself simply as Sophia Laforteza's mother in some interviews.[27]
Laforteza has expressed support for the2025 Philippine anti-corruption protests. The solidarity was described as Laforteza using her global spotlight to help amplify the movement.[28]
As a contestant ofDream Academy, Laforteza participated in the promotional release of the contestants' shared songs for competition. They were performed on November 17, 2023, and released to streaming platforms on August 21, 2024.[29]
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Media related toSophia Laforteza at Wikimedia Commons