| NAME | KATSEYE |
|---|---|
| KOREAN | 캣츠아이 |
| FANDOM NAME | EYEKONS |
| DEBUT | June 28, 2024 |
|---|---|
| AGENCY | HYBE x GEFFEN |
| MEMBERS | Sophia, Manon, Daniela, Lara, Megan and Yoonchae. (6) |
The name KATSEYE stands for talent and versatility. It was inspired by the gemstone “Cat’s Eye”, which seems to change color depending on the viewing angle. Just like the gemstone, KATSEYE is very colorful: many different personalities and backgrounds come together in the girl group, as the members have different nationalities.
Join us and learn more about the story of KATSEYE.
PRE-DEBUT
The story of KATSEYE began in 2023 with the global survival show “The Debut: Dream Academy”, hosted by HYBE and Geffen Records. The show generated a lot of interest, since HYBE is home to K-pop megastars like BTS, Le Sserafim and Seventeen. 20 young talents were selected from over 140,000 applicants from all over the world and given the chance to show off their skills.
The contestants came from 12 different countries, including Argentina, Japan, Sweden, Brazil, South Korea and the U.S.A. Across 4 different rounds, the candidates competed for a spot in the global girl group that would later debut as KATSEYE and storm the charts.
In mid-November 2023, the final 10 candidates competed against each other in the live finale and performed original songs for the first time: “Girls Don't Like” and “Dirty Water”. Viewers voted one last time and chose the 6 winners: Sophia (Philippines), Manon (Switzerland), Daniela (USA), Lara (USA), Megan (USA) and Yoonchae (South Korea).
A good half a year later - on June 28, 2024 - the singers introduced themselves as KATSEYE and presented their first digital single “Debut”.
CAREER
After the release of “Debut”, everything happened very quickly. On the very same day, the first mini album “SIS (Soft Is Strong)” was announced. A month later, the 2nd pre-release single “Touch” arrived, which went viral on TikTok thanks to its captivating and expressive choreography.
Just two days later, on July 28, some lucky fans got to hear both singles live for the first time at KCON LA 2024.
The first mini album “SIS” was released on August 16, 2024, 9 months after the end of the survival show “The Debut: Dream Academy”, in which KATSEYE was formed. The album includes “Debut” and “Touch” plus three more songs called “My Way”, “I’m Pretty” and “Tonight I Might”. With this first release, KATSEYE topped Billboard's Emerging Artists chart and also placed on the Billboard 200.
The fans, lovingly called “EYEKONS” by the girl group, didn't have to wait long for new content, as usual. On August 21, the first episode of the Netflix documentary “Pop Star Academy: KATSEYE” aired, following the members on their journey from trainees to idol stars. The show picks up well before Dream Academy and shows, among other things, the casting process and the HYBE x Geffen training program.
In September 2024, KATSEYE completed their first Asia tour in South Korea, the Philippines and Japan to promote their debut album. The 6 singers were also invited by American fashion label COACH to New York Fashion Week that September. In January 2025, KATSEYE was chosen to present the exclusive “COACH Matin Kim” collection, a collaboration between COACH and the Korean brand Matin Kim.
Despite all the success, 2024 was also a year full of obstacles for the girl group. Megan had to take a longer break in September due to a back injury. The remaining members finished the Asia tour without her. Megan finally returned in late October, much to the fans’ delight. Still, at the 2024 MAMA Awards, KATSEYE performed with only five members because Manon had fallen ill shortly before.
2025 brought KATSEYE their international breakthrough. On April 30, their new single “Gnarly” was released, presenting a completely new sound - energetic, provocative and perfect for summer. “Gnarly” was a huge milestone for the group, as it marked their first entry on the prestigious Billboard Hot 100 chart. “Gnarly” kicked off the second mini album “Beautiful Chaos”. On June 20, another pre-release single called “Gabriela” was released. The music video impresses with an elaborate telenovela-style story and a cameo appearance by Hollywood actress Jessica Alba.
On June 27, KATSEYE finally presented “Beautiful Chaos”, along with the title track “Gameboy”! With this album, the girl group once again demonstrated their versatility. They combined different genres and set new standards for international girl groups.
Unfortunately, the members also had to deal with illness and injury in 2025. Lara injured her leg shortly before filming the “Gameboy” music video and was therefore unable to take part in the dance scenes. Luckily, the team still found a way to include her in the video.
Shortly after, Manon sprained her ankle and was therefore missing from the “Gabriela” performance video. EYEKONS noted with concern that the girl group rarely performs at full strength due to the constant health setbacks. On one hand, they question the management, who perhaps doesn't take enough care of the artists’ health. On the other hand, fans are grateful that the members have enough time to recover and skip performances rather than push themselves further.
KATSEYE isn't letting that slow them down, though! In July, the girl group announced their first world tour, “KATSEYE : THE BEAUTIFUL CHAOS TOUR”, which kicks off in Minneapolis on November 15, 2025. The tour currently includes 16 dates across North America and is expected to end on December 16 in Mexico.
KATSEYE's rapid rise also shows on social media. Just over a year after their debut, Sophia, Manon and the rest of the group have gathered 4.8 million followers on Instagram. On TikTok, it's almost double that: 8.5 million followers!
DISCOGRAPHY
FILMOGRAPHY/ VIDEOGRAPHY
| YEAR | TITLE |
|---|---|
| 2023 | The Debut: Dream Academy (Survival Show) |
| 2024 | Pop Star Academy: Katseye (Netflix Documentary) |
FUN FACTS
- Sophia has a dog named Charlie.
- Manon speaks German and English fluently. She's also learning French and Spanish.
- Before her debut, Daniela was a professional dancer and competed in season 13 of the dance competition "So You Think You Can Dance".
- Lara grew up in the U.S.A. but was born in India.
- Megan has a very mixed background. Her mother is Singaporean-Chinese and her father is Swedish-American. She was born in Hawaii.
- Yoonchae used to be a trainee under WakeOne, where she became friends with Jungeun and Saebi of IZNA.
OUR FAVORITE PERFORMANCE
KATSEYE win over fans with powerful vocals, international members and a modern, genre-spanning style. In an incredibly short time, the girl group has proven that they're ready to conquer the global stage, and we can't wait to be part of it!
Sources: KATSEYE social media channels, HYBE x Geffen, Dream Academy, Billboard
