Katseye

**Katseye** (pronounced cat’s eye) is a global girl group based in the United States made through the reality show Dream Academy, a collaboration between Hybe and Geffen Records. There are six members: Manon, Sophia, Daniela, Lara, Megan, and Yoonchae. The group debuted in June 2024.

### Pre-debut activities and formation

In November 2021, Hybe Corporation and Geffen Records started taking applications for a new global girl group. In 2022, auditions were held in South Korea, the United States, Japan, and the United Kingdom. Hybe Corporation and Geffen Records wanted to make a group that would "transcend national, cultural, and artistic boundaries". In an interview with Korea JoonAng Daily, Hybe founder Bang Si-hyuk said that he wanted to promote the new group in the United States.

From over 120,000 applicants, twenty contestants were selected to compete in the reality show Dream Academy. The show premiered on August 19, 2023, and the competition ended on November 18. Sophia Laforteza, Lara Raj, Yoonchae Jeong, Megan Skiendiel, Daniela Avanzini, and Manon Bannerman were selected to be in the girl group Katseye.

### 2024–present: SIS (Soft is Strong) and Pop Star Academy: Katseye

Katseye's formation and their preparations for their debut EP were in the documentary . The documentary was premiered on August 21, 2024. The documentary was distributed by Netflix. The movie was directed by . For the EP, Katseye collaborated with several songwriters and producers, including Ryan Tedder and .

The first of the two singles for the EP, "Debut", was released on June 28, with a music video recorded in Medellín, Colombia, directed by Gregory Ohrel. The single is a dance-pop song about confidence and the strong bond between the group members. After the single was released, Hybe and Geffen said that the group’s first EP, "SIS (Soft Is Strong)", would be released in August.

The second single, "Touch", was released on July 26. The single had a different sound from "Debut" and focuses on the vocals of the members. "Touch" was number 22 on the Billboard Bubbling Hot 100 after a viral TikTok dance.

The full EP, named SIS (Soft Is Strong), was released on August 16. The EP had five tracks. SIS was number 119 on the Billboard 200. To support the EP, the group went on an tour in Asia starting in South Korea on September 12.  On November 14, Katseye released "Flame", the theme song for the Netflix animated series Jentry Chau vs. The Underworld.

Katseye released a new single, "Gnarly", on April 30. Gnarly was 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, Katseye released "Gabriela", the second single of Beautiful Chaos. The track also had a music video styled as a telenovela and featured a cameo from actress Jessica Alba. British singer Charli XCX helped write the song Gabriela. The song was described as a modern take on Dolly Parton’s song, "Jolene".

On June 27, Beautiful Chaos was released, along with a music video for the third single of Beautiful Chaos, "Gameboy". The EP was fourth place on  Billboard 200. "Beautiful Chaos" is Katseye's first EP to be in the top ten of the Billboard charts.

In November 2025, Katseye went on their first world tour. While they were still on the tour, Katseye released a new song called "Internet Girl".

## Public image

In an interview with the British magazine , Daniela said that Katseye is the first American girl group "to make American pop music but trained to do the crazy choreography of K-pop". Lara, Sophia, Daniela, and Manon are the first Indian, Filipina, Latina, and Black musical artists to be signed under Hybe.

Each member have symbols known as "Dream Charms," that represent their personalities and dreams. These symbols were revealed on June 17th, 2024. Manon's is the "Stellar Tiara", Sophia's is the "Dream Anchor", Daniela's is the "Guardian Shield", Lara's is the "Limitless Key", Megan's is the "Dual Cherry," and Yoonchae's is the "Soothing Shell."

## Members

- Daniela Avanzini - main dancer

- Manon Bannerman - visual, center

- Yoonchae Jeong - maknae

- Sophia Laforteza – leader

- Lara Raj - main vocalist

- Megan Skiendiel - rapper, lead dancer

### Extended plays

- _SIS (Soft Is Strong)_ (2024)
- _Beautiful Chaos_ (2025)

### Promotional singles

- _Flame_ <small>(**' OST)</small> (2024)
- _Time Lapse_ <small>(**' OST)</small> (2025)
- _Fright Song_ <small>(Monster High feat. Katseye)</small> (2025)
- _M.I.A_ <small>(with Valorant)</small> (2025)

## Music videos

- Debut (2024)
- Touch (2024)
- Gnarly (2025)
- Gabriela (2025)
- Gameboy (2025)

## Infobox (musical artist)

- **name**: Katseye
- **background**: group_or_band
- **image**: Katseye at Wango Tango 2025 (cropped).jpg
- **origin**: Los Angeles, United States
- **years active**: –present
- **current members**: * Manon Bannerman, Manon
* Sophia Laforteza, Sophia
* Daniela Avanzini, Daniela
* Lara Raj, Lara
* Megan Skiendiel, Megan
* Yoonchae Jeong, Yoonchae