Katseye

Did You Know?

• Megan Skiendiel suspended activities from September to October 2024 to recover from a back injury.
• Manon Bannerman and Sophia Laforteza are on temporary hiatus as of February 2026 and August 2026, respectively, due to health issues.

Name

The name Katseye derives from the gemstone chrysoberyl, specifically the cymophane variety known as "cat's eye." Group member Sophia explained in an interview that the gemstone's shifting optical effect reflects the members' diverse personalities, talents, and backgrounds. The spelling was originally planned as "Catseye," but Lara suggested altering it to "Katseye" for a more distinctive appearance. The logo and branding were designed by Seoul-based studio Husky Fox.

History

Several members had prior entertainment experience: Sophia Laforteza, born to a Filipino musical theater actress, appeared on Family Feud Philippines in 2022; Daniela Avanzini competed on America's Got Talent in 2013 and So You Think You Can Dance: The Next Generation in 2016; Megan Skiendiel trained in professional dance; Lara Raj appeared in a campaign video for Michelle Obama's Global Girls Alliance in 2018; Manon Bannerman posted fashion and lifestyle content on TikTok and Instagram from 2021 and pursued modeling in Switzerland; Yoonchae Jeung became a K-pop trainee in 2020. Formal preparations began in November 2021 when Hybe and Geffen Records launched a worldwide audition process. Auditions were held in South Korea, the United States, Japan, and the United Kingdom in 2022. From over 120,000 applicants, twenty contestants were selected for the reality series The Debut: Dream Academy, which determined the final lineup through performance-based missions. Before the series, contestants trained for a year in Los Angeles using methods from the Korean idol trainee system. The competition concluded on November 18, 2023, with the six members selected. The group's formation was chronicled in the Netflix documentary Pop Star Academy: Katseye, directed by Nadia Hallgren and released on August 21, 2024.

Endorsements

In September 2024, Katseye attended Coach's Spring Summer 2025 show at New York Fashion Week and later appeared in Coach's collaboration with South Korean streetwear brand Matin Kim. In April 2025, they were featured in Fendi's Fendi For Yourself campaign celebrating the brand's 100th anniversary, highlighting the Baguette and Peekaboo handbags. In May 2025, they partnered with Glossier to launch the 'Lip Glaze' lip oil line, with six shades each corresponding to a member. That same month, they performed at Urban Outfitters' "UO Haul" event in New York and released an exclusive neon blue vinyl edition of Beautiful Chaos limited to 3,000 copies. In June 2025, they partnered with Pandora to release member-selected charms and with Lush to release a bath bomb and six collectable soaps. In August 2025, they launched a merchandise collaboration with Jollibee, and the following month the brand released Katseye-themed menu items in the United States and Canada.

Public image

Katseye is widely labeled a "global girl group," blending Western pop with K-pop presentation. Daniela described them as "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 signed under Hybe. Teen Vogue named them one of twelve "Girl Groups to Watch in 2024." Their fashion styling draws from Y2K fashion, with low-rise jeans, crop tops, and archival pieces. Creative director Humberto Leon draws inspiration from art, film, and history, citing early-2000s celebrities like Devon Aoki and Shakira as references. Members have highlighted the group's openness to incorporating cultural items such as the bindi and waist beads. In December 2025, Katseye placed second in Google's U.S. "Trending Musicians" ranking, and TikTok named them "Global Artist of the Year" with over 30 billion views.