KATSEYE is a global girl group with 6 members: Daniela, Lara, Manon, Megan, Sophia and Yoonchae. Put together by HYBE and Geffen Records through the show The Debut: Dream Academy, the group debuted on June 28, 2024 with the single "Debut." Sophia is the leader, Yoonchae is the maknae, and fans are called EYEKONS.
One big thing to know in 2026: two members are on hiatus. Manon stepped back in February 2026 and Sophia in August 2026, both for health reasons. They're still in the group, but for now KATSEYE is performing as four. Here's who's who, where they're from, how the group was formed and which songs to start with.
KATSEYE members: names, birthdays and nationalities
From oldest to youngest:
| Name | Full name | Date of birth | Nationality and heritage | Role |
|---|
| Manon | Manon Bannerman | June 26, 2002 | Swiss, Ghanaian and Italian heritage | On hiatus since February 2026 |
| Sophia | Sophia Laforteza | December 31, 2002 | Filipino | Leader; on hiatus since August 2026 |
| Daniela | Daniela Avanzini | July 1, 2004 | American, Cuban and Venezuelan heritage | Dance |
| Lara | Lara Raj | November 3, 2005 | American, Indian (Tamil) heritage | Vocals |
| Megan | Megan Skiendiel | February 10, 2006 | American, half Singaporean | Vocals and dance |
| Yoonchae | Jeung Yoon-chae | December 6, 2007 | South Korean | Maknae |
Ages in 2026: Manon and Sophia are 24 (Sophia's birthday is December 31), Daniela is 22, Lara 21, Megan 20, and Yoonchae turns 19 on December 6. Four countries are represented: Switzerland, the Philippines, the United States and South Korea.
Like a lot of newer groups, KATSEYE doesn't have detailed official positions. Fans tend to link Daniela with dance and Lara with the biggest notes, but parts shift from song to song.
Each KATSEYE member in a nutshell
Sophia, the leader
Sophia Laforteza is from the Philippines. The daughter of musical theater actress Carla Guevara Laforteza, she has been singing since she was 3. Picked as leader, she's often the one speaking for the group.
Manon, the Swiss member
Manon Bannerman is the only European in the group. Before Dream Academy, she was already posting content on TikTok and Instagram. Her low voice and bold style made her one of the most talked-about members from the start.
Daniela, the dancer
Daniela Avanzini grew up in Atlanta and has danced competitively since she was 3. TV audiences first saw her as a kid on America's Got Talent in 2013, then on So You Think You Can Dance in 2016.
Lara, the voice
Lara Raj, an American of Tamil heritage, is known for her powerful vocals. When she was younger, she appeared in a 2018 campaign for Michelle Obama's Global Girls Alliance.
Megan, the all-rounder
Megan Skiendiel, who is half Singaporean, trained in dance from an early age. She sings and dances with the same ease, which is why fans see her as an all-rounder.
Yoonchae, the maknae
Jeung Yoon-chae is the only Korean member and the youngest. A K-pop trainee from 2020 before joining Dream Academy, she brings first-hand experience of the Korean system.
KATSEYE's lineup in 2026
The group first announced Manon's hiatus in February 2026 so she could focus on her health and wellbeing. She sat out the spring festivals and the fall tour. In August 2026, Sophia announced her own health-related hiatus and skipped the European leg of the tour.
These are temporary breaks, not departures: both are still members of KATSEYE, and the group said it looks forward to being together again "when the time is right." No return date had been announced as of early October 2026. On stage, KATSEYE is currently Daniela, Lara, Megan and Yoonchae.
Dream Academy: how KATSEYE was formed
KATSEYE comes from a joint project between HYBE, the company behind BTS, and Geffen Records, a US label under Universal Music. The idea: take the K-pop training system and apply it to a worldwide casting call. Auditions opened in late 2021 and drew more than 120,000 applicants.
Twenty finalists then trained for a year in Los Angeles, Korean-trainee style: vocals, dance, lessons and evaluations. Their journey was filmed for The Debut: Dream Academy, which aired in 2023 with a public vote. The final six were announced in November 2023. Netflix later told the story in the documentary Pop Star Academy: KATSEYE, released in August 2024.
What is KATSEYE's concept?
KATSEYE isn't a K-pop group in the strict sense. They're based in the US and sing in English, but they run on K-pop rules: intense training, synchronized choreography, EP-based comebacks, a named fandom and content made for fans. HYBE calls it a "global" girl group.
Their style leans Y2K (low-rise jeans, crop tops) and puts the members' different backgrounds front and center: that diversity is a core part of the group's identity. Musically, it's current, dance-heavy pop built for social media, and plenty of fans found them through a viral dance before ever playing an EP.
When did KATSEYE debut? Key songs to know
New to the group? Here are the songs that mattered, in release order:
- "Debut" (June 28, 2024): the first single, aptly named.
- "Touch" (July 2024), then the first EP, SIS (Soft Is Strong), in August 2024.
- "Gnarly" (April 2025): the love-it-or-hate-it track that won everyone over, and their first Billboard Hot 100 entry.
- "Gabriela" (June 2025), from the second EP Beautiful Chaos. It earned them a 2026 Grammy nomination, on top of a Best New Artist nod.
- "Internet Girl" (January 2026) and the third EP Wild (August 2026), their first No. 1 album on the Billboard 200.
For a first listen, "Touch" shows their soft side, "Gnarly" their wildest, and "Gabriela" everything in between.
KATSEYE on tour
After a first tour in late 2025, KATSEYE launched The Wildworld Tour on September 1, 2026 in Dublin, in support of Wild. The European run included London, Manchester, Amsterdam and a Paris stop on September 9, 2026 at the Accor Arena, without Manon or Sophia. The North American leg starts October 13, 2026 in Miami and wraps in late November in Mexico City. Sophia's participation in those dates hadn't been confirmed as of early October.
Got a show coming up, KATSEYE or anyone else? Our guide on what to wear to a K-pop concert will help you plan the fit.
EYEKONS, the KATSEYE fandom
KATSEYE fans are called EYEKONS. The name, picked in April 2024 after an open call for ideas, blends "eye," echoing the group's name, with "icons." Still torn on your favorite member? In K-pop that's called finding your bias, and we explain it all in what a K-pop bias is.
Wear KATSEYE
Our KATSEYE Cat jersey is printed with your member's name and number, and the menu has all six: Daniela, Lara, Manon, Megan, Sophia and Yoonchae. A nice way to show some love to Manon and Sophia while they're away. For the "Gnarly" era, there's the GNARLY hoodie, and for everyday wear the KATSEYE tee. It's all in the KATSEYE collection.
It's fanmade, unofficial merch, made to order, so allow 1 to 3 weeks for delivery. Sizing is Asian, so size up if you're between two sizes.
FAQ
How many members are in KATSEYE?
Six: Daniela, Lara, Manon, Megan, Sophia and Yoonchae. Since 2026, Manon and Sophia have been on hiatus, so the group is performing as four.
When did KATSEYE debut?
On June 28, 2024, with the single "Debut," after the show The Debut: Dream Academy.
Did Manon leave KATSEYE?
No. She's been on a temporary hiatus since February 2026 for health reasons, but she's still a member of the group.
What are the KATSEYE members' nationalities?
Daniela, Lara and Megan are American, Manon is Swiss, Sophia is Filipino and Yoonchae is South Korean.
Who is the leader and youngest member of KATSEYE?
Sophia is the leader. Yoonchae, born December 6, 2007, is the maknae.
