KATSEYE: The Global Rise

KATSEYE, a name many have heard at least once by now. The group is famous for their globally viral hits, with “Gnarly”, “Gabriella”, and “Touch” standing out as their most popular. Members Sophia, Daniela, Manon, Megan, Lara, and Yoonchae pour all their talent into every song they create. In this article, we will take a deep dive into KATSEYE’s music and their lives as of early 2026.

KATSEYE was formed through the Netflix documentary survival show The Debut: Dream Academy, from HYBE. The goal was to create a global girl group using K-pop training methods. HYBE and Geffen Records launched a worldwide audition that drew more than 120,000 applicants, though only 20 girls were chosen to compete in the show. After several elimination rounds, the final line-up was announced: Sophia, Yoonchae, Daniela, Megan, Manon, and Lara. Though after their debut, the members confirmed they didn’t like how the show was handled.

Meet the members. Sophia Laforteza was born on December 31, 2002, in Manila, Philippines. She has been singing since age three and has taken extensive dance training. Jeung Yoon-chae, was born on December 6, 2007, in Seoul, South Korea and aspired to be an idol since childhood. She loved artists like BTS and IU. Lara Rajagopalan (Raj), was born on November 3, 2005, in Stamford, Connecticut. She was raised in Dallas, Texas. She began vocal and dance training around age four. Manon Bannerman was born June 26, 2002, in Lucerne, Switzerland, and was raised in Zurich. She started writing songs at age 15. Daniela Avanzini, born July 1, 2004, in Atlanta, Georgia, started competing at a young age and appeared on America’s Got Talent. And finally, Megan Skiendiel, was born February 10th, 2006, in Honolulu, Hawaii, and began dancing at the age of four and singing at six.

On June 28, 2024, KATSEYE released their first single, “Debut”. Two months later, on August 16th, they followed up with their EP SIS featuring: “Debut”, “Touch”, “My Way”, “I’m Pretty”, and “Tonight I Might”.

“Touch” was the most popular track and went viral, trending on TikTok and Instagram. While “Debut” was also successful, receiving 60 million views on YouTube, it didn’t quite reach the status of “Touch”. Although “My Way” wasn’t as successful, it was still a fan favorite and highlighted the amazing vocals of Lara and Sophia. “I’m Pretty” and “Tonight I Might” had smaller success but remained favorites within the fandom.

The release of “Gnarly” on April 30, 2025, was a true game-changer, bringing many new fans to the group. However, it wasn’t all roses as the track was heavily criticized for its cringy lyrics. The group quickly followed up with “Gabriella,” which has since become one of their more beloved songs.

From the Beautiful Chaos EP, the track “M.I.A.” was praised for its “baddie” energy, and “Meangirls” became a hit for its infectious choreography. Even the less-discussed “Gameboy” was well-received by dedicated fans. Most recently, on January 2, 2026, the group released “Internet Girl”. Many fans and critics called it “trashy” and disappointing, while others loved it. A specific issue that many had with the song was the baby voice sample (sampled from Melanie Martinez’s “Fire Drill”).

In conclusion, despite the ups and downs, KATSEYE continues to be well-loved and enjoyed by their many fans!