Leave it to the pop girls to turn winged liner into a killer lyric (thank you, Taylor Swift) or in this case a band name. So then, we must ask the million dollar question: who is Katseye? The six-member multi-national girl group rewriting pop’s global playbook, cutting across borders, genres and redefining beauty for the new era.
Katseye was formed through the Debut: Dream Academy, a joint venture between HYBE (The K-Pop powerhouse behind BTS and NewJeans) and Geffen records.
The group was chosen from thousands of eager hopefuls in a Netflix-documentary competition series. They have rocked the stage at Lollapalooza and there seems to be no stopping their latest rise to power in the music scene.
Who Is In Katseye?
The final line up is a who’s who of multi-national pop girl perfection. Made up of six core members, Daniela, Lara, Manon, Megan, Sophia, and Yoonchae.
The girls all hail from different parts of the world. Sophia, is Filipina, Lara is Indian, Manon is Swiss-Italian-Ghanaian, Daniela is Venezuelan-Cuban, Yoonchae is Korean and Megan an American, is from Chinese-Singaporean descent.
The pop band marks a first in the name of girl groups where members typically hail from the same corner of the world.
Who Is The Leader Of Katseye?
Sophia was appointed as the groups official leader after wining the final of the reality show on Netflix. She secured the first-place ranking to become a member of Katseye. Her leadership skills have been praised as the defining factor for uniting the group.
Where Did The Name Katseye Come From?
Their name, Katseye, draws inspiration from the luminous cat’s-eye gemstone, which shifts colour depending on the light, an apt metaphor for the groups diverse talents and multifaceted backgrounds. As leader of the sextet, Sophia explained “you see different colours that represent each and everyone of our talents and our different backgrounds“.
Are Katseye A K-pop Group?
The band officially debuted in June 2024 with their first single. “Debut”, a slick introduction that positioned them as more than just a K-pop experiment.
They sit in a fascinating in-between space between genres that lends to their creative uniqueness. For starters, they sing in English, they are based in Los Angeles, and were formed through a global audition process. Still, the influence of K-pop runs through their DNA, from the polished choreography and sharp styling to the intense fandom culture surrounding them.
In many ways the girls embody a new hybrid model: part K-pop precision, part Western pop accessibility.
Are Katseye The New Queer Pop Icons?
While traditionally not labelled as queer, the K-pop adjacent group have already carved out a place in queer pop culture. With members who openly celebrate difference, the band leans into a fluid, expressive image that resonates deeply with LGBTQ-+ fans.
Their fashion nods to camp and club culture, their visuals embrace gender-bending glamour, and their fandom spaces have quickly become safe havens for young queer listeners worldwide.
In a landscape where representation mattes. Katseye’s unapologetic mix of softness and strength has made them a group you don’t just listen to but identity with.
Related stories
Native ad body.
Native ad body.
Native ad body.
