Katseye

KATSEYE is a global girl group created through The Debut: Dream Academy, a competition project developed by HYBE and Geffen Records. The six members are Daniela Avanzini, Lara Rajagopalan, Manon Bannerman, Megan Skiendiel, Sophia Laforteza, and Jeong Yoon-chae, known professionally as Yoonchae. Their final lineup was announced on November 17, 2023, after contestants from several countries competed through performance missions and fan voting. The group’s name combines “katseye,” another spelling of cat’s eye, with the idea of six members looking in different directions while remaining connected. KATSEYE’s membership reflects the international structure of Dream Academy: Daniela is from the United States, Lara is American, Manon is Swiss-Ghanaian, Megan is American, Sophia is Filipino, and Yoonchae is South Korean. Sophia finished first in the Dream Academy finale, while Lara, Daniela, Megan, Manon, and Yoonchae completed the selected group. KATSEYE officially debuted on June 28, 2024, with the single “Debut.” The song introduced the members with a polished pop sound and a performance-centered video. Their second single, “Touch,” followed on July 26, 2024. “Touch” became an important early release for the group, appearing on Billboard’s Bubbling Under Hot 100 chart and gaining attention for its choreography, which emphasizes synchronized hand and body movements. On August 16, 2024, KATSEYE released its first extended play, SIS (Soft Is Strong). The title presents softness and strength as complementary qualities rather than opposites. The EP includes “Debut,” “Touch,” “My Way,” “I’m Pretty,” and “Tonight I Might.” “My Way” has particular significance because it addresses the uncertainty and determination involved in pursuing a path that others may not understand. The group’s formation was documented in Pop Star Academy: KATSEYE, a Netflix documentary series released in August 2024. The series follows the lengthy training and selection process behind Dream Academy, including the pressure placed on contestants, rehearsal footage, evaluations, friendships, and the choices that led to the final six-member lineup. It also shows the collaboration between HYBE, the South Korean entertainment company behind the project, and Geffen Records, an American label. KATSEYE’s early career has therefore been closely tied to both recorded music and the unusual public visibility of its creation. Rather than arriving as a group whose pre-debut process was largely private, its members’ path from trainees and contestants to a signed act was shown to viewers internationally. Their releases, performances, and documentary establish KATSEYE as a group built through a deliberately global pop project.