What began with 20 female candidates from around the globe competing against one another on The Debut: Dream Academy, a reality competition series, became the global sensation KATSEYE.
The show, which aired on YouTube, would put 20 contestants from around the globe through intense performances and missions that, along with worldwide fan voting, would whittle the field down to the six winners who would secure a spot in HYBE’s and Geffen Records’ new global girl group. When all was said and done, the final six who would become KATSEYE were chosen: Sophia Laforteza, Manon Bannerman, Daniela Avanzini, Lara Raj, Megan Skiendiel, and Yoonchae Jeung.
KATSEYE officially debuted on June 28, 2024, with the release of their first single, “Debut.” Netflix capitalized on the competition and the excitement around the group’s single by releasing their own version of the reality show under a new name: Pop Star Academy: KATSEYE. The Netflix show offered viewers more details and a behind-the-scenes look at the original show. This was a positive move for Netflix, as the group had already acquired a significant amount of fame because of the original series. One factor that seems to draw people to KATSEYE is the diversity of the group, as it boasts members having cultural backgrounds in Switzerland, India, China, the Philippines, Cuba, Singapore, and the United States.
But what were some of the other factors that contributed to the rise of their fame? KATSEYE received 166 million views on YouTube on their second single release, “Touch.” A few months later, in April 2025, they released their song “GNARLY”. However, the day this song was released, fans had mixed opinions. Comments on the official music video included statements such as “the lyrics are questionable,” and “I don’t know how to feel about this song.” This uncertainty persisted for about a week before fans seemed to have a change of heart. Feedback became much more positive, as comments were now about how the song grew on them, and it was catchy. The choreography from the song went viral on social media platforms such as TikTok and Instagram. Some notable comments on TikTok were “The dance is so satisfying” and “I love how the dance allows for each member to be in the spotlight.”
By the summer of 2025, KATSEYE was unstoppable. Lollapalooza, an annual American four-day music festival held in Grant Park in Chicago, invited the rookie group to perform. According to The Express Tribune, a Pakistani newspaper associated with The International New York Times, “Their high-impact set introduced two new tracks and reportedly set the record for the largest audience ever recorded for an early daytime set with an estimated 85,000 attendees between 2 pm and 4 pm, cementing their arrival as a global force in K-pop.”
KATSEYE recently debuted a new ad campaign with GAP titled “Better in Denim.” CNN entertainment writer Lisa Respers France reports on the ad’s impact in her article, “In America’s denim divide, Katseye delivered a moment that’s as comfy as an old pair of jeans.” She writes, “The diversity, dancing, and fashion has helped the ad go viral at a time when there’s been debate about how companies are relating to their customer base.” The ad reached over 400 million views in a span of three days.
KATSEYE’s journey within the music industry is still unfolding, but one thing is already certain: they’re on the path to dominate the charts, stages, and the global spotlight. Their influence is only going to continue to grow from here.
