HYBE X Geffen Records Announces New Girl Group KATSEYE
Meet HYBE X Geffen Records’ new girl group, KATSEYE. Selected from over 120,000 applicants, the 20 contestants competed fiercely on The Debut: Dream Academy for a position in the finale. Now, the finalists have been announced. Meet the six lucky women debuting in HYBE’s first international girl group.
But first…
What is “The Dream Academy?”
Dream Academy defies the norms of your typical survival audition program. Instead of quick passes or fails, 20 handpicked talents underwent a year of K-pop training in LA.
Fans could watch missions and behind-the-scenes on YouTube, but no daily drama was aired–just pure talent on display.
For the next 12 weeks, they were assessed by fans and the industry’s best–songwriters, choreographers, and execs.
Once the numbers dwindled to a stellar 10, the finalist returned to LA for a shot at debuting in KATSEYE.
Meet Sophia
As the first addition to KATSEYE, Sophia is a 20-year-old Filipina sensation who claimed the coveted #1 spot. With a lineage steep in talent–her mother is actress and singer Carla Guevara–Sophia’s journey to stardom seemed destined.
She often credits BTS as the driving force behind her decision to audition, especially acknowledging V as her ultimate bias.
Now she’s labelmates with her favs.
Meet Lara
Say hello to this 18-year-old first-generation Indian-American passionate about producing. Her lifelong dream of stardom sparked at just four years old.
In an interview with Teen Vogue, Lara expressed her desire to spend the rest of her career with the girls by her side.
Watch her and fellow contestants Emily, Sophia, and Daniela’s store adventure below:
Curious about Lara’s picks? We’ve got the snacks!
Meet Daniela
This vibrant 19-year-old dancer is of Venezuelan and Cuban heritage. Her remarkable talent is a tribute to her mother, the first Cuban to conquer a world ballroom championship.
When asked what she wanted to share with the world post-graduation from the program, Daniela expressed a deep desire to showcase her passion for ballroom dancing.
Did you know she’s also a bilingual master? She can speak English and Spanish.
Daniela introduce herself at The Debut : Dream Academy Press conference today! pic.twitter.com/CcjDkocSy5
— KATSEYE Updates (@KATSEYE_UP) August 29, 2023
She also gained much attention in her youth when she auditioned for America’s Got Talent, and So You Think You Can Dance: The Next Generation.
Meet Yoonchae
Welcome to the stage, Yoonchae. At just 15-years-old, she holds the title of the group’s youngest (maknae) and stands as the sole Korean. In her introduction, she said her biggest ambition is to “inspire an audience.”
But here’s the fun twist! She is eyeing a TikTok dance challenge with New Jeans.
And her guilty pleasure? She LOVES Yakult.
Yoonchae talking about her item🥹🥹
— ⭐️ (@manonkatseye_) November 21, 2023
She just the cutest baby😭😭 and Daniela helping her on what to say🥹 so happy for her, she has 5 older sisters to take care of her❤️#KATSEYE #DREAMACADEMY pic.twitter.com/5glWj9Ku7E
Meet Megan
Introducing Megan, a 19-year-old Chinese-American sweetheart from the stunning shores of Honolulu!
Megan talking about her item.#KATSEYE pic.twitter.com/q1fU6YdePr
— ⭐️ (@manonkatseye_) November 21, 2023
She’s a triple threat with a knack for modeling, acting, and playing her ukulele. Watch a clip of her as Tamira on Disney Channel’s “Sydney to the Max?”
did you know we had actress megan on disney channel? this girl did EVERYTHING before dream academy pic.twitter.com/pzOSn6jVGF
— bea KATSEYE (@katseyex) November 21, 2023
Meet Manon
As the final addition to KATSEYE, from Switzerland, Manon, at 21, stands as the oldest member of the group. Her dreams of stardom manifested in a song she wrote in 2020.
With roots deep in Swiss-Italian and Ghanaian heritage, her confidence is as diverse as her background.
When asked what advice she’d give her future self, her answer was simple: “Keep following my dream.”
When Will KATSEYE Debut?
The buzz around KATSEYE’s debut is still a mystery, but one thing’s for sure: we’ll see their EPIC stage arrival in 2024.
But wait, there’s more! Netflix will whisk fans behind the scenes of KATSEYE’s rise! In a docuseries directed by the amazing Nadia Hallgren, this show promises a purr-fect peek into their journey!
Introducing KATSEYE. #KATSEYE #HYBE #GEFFEN pic.twitter.com/iLglkCoE1B
— KATSEYE (@katseyeworld) November 22, 2023
So stay tuned for the inside scoop into KATSEYE’s evolution and the moment that shaped their path to stardom!
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Where can I watch Dream Academy?
You can watch the missions and the season finale on the HYBE Labels YouTube channel.
Who was the youngest contestant in Dream Academy?
The youngest contestant in the group is Hinari (14) from Japan.
Who ranked #1 in the live finale of Dream Academy?
Sophia secured the #1 spot in the finale with 88.33 points, 40 points from early voting, 10 points from the live voting, and 38.33 points from the judges.
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