Do you know KATSEYE yet? If not, you will soon. The six-member girl group has been taking over social media with their catchy songs, jaw-dropping choreo, and even a viral Gap commercial. After stealing the spotlight with their recent MTV VMAs performance (and win!), fans are asking the same question: who are these mega-popular stars that seemed to appear overnight?
Spoiler: their rise was anything but random.
KATSEYE (pronounced “cat’s eye”) is a global girl group based in Los Angeles with members hailing from the Philippines, South Korea, Switzerland and the United States. The lineup includes Daniela, Lara, Manon, Megan, Sophia and Yoonchae, and together they represent the diversity and international reach that sets them apart from other pop acts.
In an interview with InStyle, Sophia revealed the meaning behind their name. “Katseye” comes from the gemstone chrysoberyl, specifically the cymophane variety, which is often referred to as a “cat’s eye.” Like the stone, the group’s image is meant to shine with strength and resilience.
The girls first came together in 2023 through The Dream Academy, a joint reality competition series by Hybe (the K-pop powerhouse behind BTS and NewJeans) and Geffen Records. Their grueling audition process, years of training, and eventual lineup reveal were later chronicled in Netflix’s docuseries Popstar Academy: Katseye.
The experience bonded the six members beyond just music. “We really, really, really spent so much time together and put in a lot of effort to develop our relationship with each other,” Lara told Rolling Stone. “This isn’t something you could manufacture or develop. It’s a genuine friendship with a deep bond.”
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KATSEYE officially debuted in June 2024 with their first single, “Debut,” followed quickly by “Touch.” Their first EP, SIS (Soft Is Strong), dropped later that year. But it was April 2025’s “Gnarly” that cemented their spot in the industry. Though the track initially received mixed reviews, it soon went viral, earning the group their very first Billboard Hot 100 entry. The girl group also took home their first-even VMA award in September 2025, winning the trophy for Push Performance of The Year for their hit, “Touch.”
Sophia summed up the group’s philosophy best: “We really are pushed to shine individually with our strengths. We’re Katseye members first, but we also shine on our own.”
Scroll through our gallery to meet each member of KATSEYE and see why the group is being called the future of global pop.
