The Beginning of Katseye
Katseye, a current rising sensation in the world of K-Pop, emerged in the past two years as the world’s first global girl group formed through the K-Pop trainee-based approach. Documented through the Netflix show Pop Star Academy, the group was created in part by Hybe, the entertainment company that formed BTS, in collaboration with the American record label Geffen, known for working with popular artists like Olivia Rodrigo and Camila Cabello. The creation of the group was by chance: a series of girls auditioned to be a part of an intense training camp, yet unbeknownst to them, the training program was to devolve into a survival show consisting of various trials and fan voting to determine who was cut out for the ruthless world of a K-Pop star.Â
Who is Katseye?Â
The training program scouted girls from all over the world in an attempt to cultivate a diverse group of members. The girls range from different backgrounds, including the United States, the Philippines, South Korea, and Switzerland. While most of their music is sung in English, the girls combined speak Tagalog, Spanish, Tamil, German, and Korean.Â
Unlike traditional K-Pop groups, Katseye is raw and relatable. Fans witnessed their journey from regular girls to popstars through the Netflix show, and are privy to their often unfiltered group dynamics through social media and livestreams. Girl groups like Little Mix, the Spice Girls, and Fifth Harmony from the 2000s and 2010s have offered a form of community for young girls of those generations. Katseye connects with not only women nostalgic for such groups, but also a younger generation of girls seeking role models. Katseye embraces their individualities while coming together as a group, fostering a safe space for all young girls to dream big, regardless of their backgrounds.Â
Katseye’s Debut
Katseye debuted on January 28th, 2024 with their first single Debut which was later featured in their album SIS (Soft is Strong). Through their lyrics, the girls emphasize female empowerment, sisterhood, and individuality amidst complex dance routines and acrobatics. Their song Gnarly, later released in 2025, created controversy upon first listens due to its bizarre lyricism and shocking beat, vastly different to Katseye’s previous songs. The song suggests that we all interpret and understand the world in different ways based on our various cultural contexts. Since debuting, Katseye has gone on tour once and performed at many events, from Lollapalooza, to Coachella, and the Grammys.Â
In addition to their impressive musical careers, Katseye has worked with many high-profile brands. These include Fendi, Gap, Pandora, Laneige, Coach, Jollibee, and several others. They even got their own Monster High dolls based on creatures inspired by their cultural heritage and personal style. Their collaboration with Gap particularly caught the attention of the media, as it gained traction as a response to the controversial Sydney Sweeney ad with American Eagle jeans. These girls aren’t just making music, they are reaching women from all over the world with their influence.Â
The Fall of Katseye?Â
Recently, Katseye faced controversy as one of its members, Manon Bannerman, has taken a “temporary hiatus” from the group for the benefit of her health. Fans are concerned that the reasoning behind this break lies in deeper systemic issues. Fans have critiqued HYBE and Geffen for mismanagement and racist treatment. In the forming of the group through the Netflix series, Manon was portrayed as lazy and uncommitted—assumptions she hasn’t been able to shake since debuting. She was scouted for the training program as a social media influencer with no previous dance or singing experience. People think of her as being selected based on her appearance and fan following alone. As a result, fans have been accusing management of treating her differently from the other members, with some even wondering if this is the beginning of the disassembling of the group, as Manon has pursued other opportunities, such as acting in a short film and potentially joining Germany’s Next Top Model as a guest judge. HYBE x Geffen assures fans that Manon will return in a few months, but that the group will continue their obligations without her in the meantime.Â
Despite fans’ current apprehension over the Manon hiatus, Katseye remains a global force with the power to influence girls all over the world. Katseye connects girls across cultures and generations. They empower us to embrace our own personalities, backgrounds, and styles with confidence. While their music promotes these positive messages, the girls themselves are what keep fans coming back to witness their endearing sisterhood. There has never been a group quite like them. They are new and interesting and different, but most importantly, they are girls, just like each one of us.