If the name KATSEYE has been popping up everywhere lately, you’re not imagining it. Search interest in the group has surged more than 5,000% over the past five years, according to Google Trends. But here’s the thing worth knowing right away: KATSEYE isn’t actually a “K-pop group” in the traditional sense. And right now, they’re also in an unusual situation where only 4 of their 6 members are actively performing. Here’s everything sorted out for anyone just discovering this group — from what they actually are, to the members, to their biggest songs.
What Exactly Is KATSEYE?
KATSEYE is a six-member girl group formed through a partnership between HYBE and the major American record label Geffen Records, based not in Korea but in Los Angeles. Genre-wise, they’re classified as Pop, not K-pop.
The group was formed in 2023 through the reality competition series “The Debut: Dream Academy.” More than 120,000 people applied worldwide, and 20 were selected to go through a grueling, year-long K-pop-style training regimen. The process was livestreamed on YouTube over 12 weeks starting September 1, 2023, and the final 6 members were revealed on November 18 that year. This formation process was also documented in the Netflix docuseries “Pop Star Academy: KATSEYE,” which serves as an important reference for understanding the group.
In short, KATSEYE can be described as “a global experimental group that combines American pop sensibility with a K-pop-style training system.” K-pop fans will recognize familiar training methods and performance styles, but the group’s music and overall approach lean much closer to the Western pop market — and that’s exactly what sets them apart.
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Right Now (2026), Only 4 Members Are Active
KATSEYE is officially a six-member group, but as of August 2026, only Daniela, Lara, Megan, and Yoonchae are actively performing. The remaining two members, Manon and Sophia, are both on temporary hiatus — more on that below. First, here’s an introduction to the four currently active members.
Daniela Avanzini
Cuban-American, Daniela placed third in the survival competition with a score of 79.00 to secure her spot in KATSEYE. This wasn’t her first time in the spotlight, either — at age 8 in 2013, she appeared on “America’s Got Talent,” performing a samba and jive routine with a partner — meaning she came into the group with real stage experience already under her belt.
Lara Raj (real name Lara Rajagopalan)
Indian-American, born in 2005, Lara finished second in the competition. In a Weverse interview, she named Rihanna, Britney Spears, Timbaland, BTS’s Jimin, and Pharrell Williams as dream collaborators, and shared her hope that within five years, KATSEYE will be touring the world, playing Coachella, and winning Grammys.
Megan Skiendiel
Born in Honolulu, Hawaii, on February 10, 2006, Megan has a Singaporean-Chinese mother and a Swedish-American father, giving her a genuinely multicultural background. Her middle name, “Meiyok,” means “beautiful jade” in Chinese. Before joining KATSEYE, she worked as a professional dancer and walked runways at Paris and LA Fashion Week, and she’s often noted for her distinctive visual presence within the group.
Yoonchae (Jeung Yoonchae)
The group’s only Korean member, born in South Korea on December 6, 2007. She grew up listening to K-pop groups like BLACKPINK and spent two years as a trainee at the Korean agency WakeOne starting in her early teens. At just 15 during the competition, she cited “understanding the other members’ cultures” and “getting comfortable with English” as her biggest challenges. She finished fourth to secure her place in the final lineup.
The 2 Members on Temporary Hiatus — What’s Actually Confirmed
If you’ve searched for KATSEYE, you’ve probably noticed Manon’s and Sophia’s names coming up a lot — there’s a clear reason for that. Both members are officially on temporary hiatus, and their agency has explicitly stated that neither has left the group.
Manon Bannerman (real name Meret Manon Sarpong Bannerman), born June 26, 2002, in Zürich, Switzerland, has a Swiss-Italian mother and a Ghanaian father, and is the first Black artist to sign to a HYBE label. She’s been on official hiatus since February 20, 2026, citing her health and wellbeing, which meant she missed Coachella in April and did not appear in the music videos for singles released afterward. As fan concern grew, Manon addressed it directly on Weverse: “I want you to hear this from me, I’m healthy, I’m OK, and I’m taking care of myself. Thank u for checking in! Sometimes things unfold in ways we don’t fully control, but I’m trusting the bigger picture.”
Sophia Laforteza, from the Philippines, topped the competition with an overall score of 88.33 and has effectively served as the group’s leader. She’s been on hiatus since August 7, 2026, to focus on her mental health, with HYBE and Geffen stating via Weverse that the decision followed consultation with medical professionals who recommended an extended period of rest. Her situation is set to be reassessed in September. She did not perform at the Head in the Clouds festival on August 8, and the remaining four members have led promotion for the EP “Wild,” released later that month.
For both situations, only the official statements from the agency and the members themselves have been confirmed, and this guide doesn’t go beyond that into speculation. It’s worth following the group’s official channels directly for any updates on their return.
Signature Songs and Key Achievements
KATSEYE debuted on June 28, 2024, with the single “Debut” and their first EP, SIS (Soft Is Strong). Since then, they’ve released a steady stream of tracks that have generated real buzz in a short amount of time.
- “Gnarly” — went viral on social media and put the group firmly on the map
- “Gabriela” — charted on the Billboard Hot 100, translating buzz into commercial success
- “Pinky Up,” “Touch,” “Internet Girl,” “Iconic By Mistake,” “Animal” — a steady run of releases that broadened the group’s musical range
- EP Wild (released August 14, 2026) — their latest project, promoted by the current 4-member active lineup
On the back of these releases, KATSEYE earned a nomination at the 68th Grammy Awards in 2026, putting them on the Grammy stage just two years after debut. Within a remarkably short window, they’ve landed a Billboard Hot 100 entry, a Grammy nomination, and appearances at major festivals like Coachella and Head in the Clouds — establishing a real foothold in the Western pop market.
If You’re Just Getting Started, Try These First
- “Debut” — a compact introduction to the group’s identity
- “Gnarly” — the track that first made KATSEYE a topic of conversation; a good way to understand exactly why it went so viral
- “Gabriela” — combines commercial appeal with accessible melody, an easy entry point even if you’re not usually a K-pop listener
Quick Recap
- KATSEYE = a HYBE x Geffen collaboration, 6 members, LA-based, genre is Pop (not K-pop, though it borrows the training system)
- Formed via the 2023 survival show “Dream Academy”; documented in the Netflix docuseries “Pop Star Academy: KATSEYE”
- As of August 2026, 4 active members: Daniela (Cuban-American), Lara (Indian-American), Megan (from Hawaii), Yoonchae (Korean)
- 2 members on hiatus: Manon (since Feb 2026, health/wellbeing) and Sophia (since Aug 2026, mental health) — not departures, per official statements
- Signature songs: “Debut,” “Gnarly,” “Gabriela,” “Pinky Up,” and the 2026 EP “Wild”
- Nominated at the 68th Grammy Awards in 2026
If you’re new to KATSEYE, the most accurate way to think about them is as “a global pop group that went through K-pop-style training,” rather than a K-pop group itself — that framing makes it much easier to understand why their music and activities feel a bit different from a typical K-pop group.
