Haven’t you heard? There’s a new global sensation taking over the world. And as a former One Direction kid, I can confidently say that I’m loving it.
Girl group Katseye skyrocketed into global relevance one song, music video, and well-placed advertisement at a time. What began as a survival-style K-pop-inspired competition called Dream Academy quickly evolved into something that feels bigger than just another girl group.
Viewers watched competitors train and push themselves through over two years of daily practice through singing or dancing. By the end, the show brought together six young women from completely different cultural and personal backgrounds: Manon, Yoonchae, Lara, Sophia, Megan, and Daniela, who officially formed Katseye in late 2023.
Once the final six were chosen, their story didn’t stop. Instead, Netflix released a behind-the-scenes documentary showing the two-year training process these girls and women went through. Fans got to see what it takes to become a K-pop idol. That transparency set Katseye apart from other groups, showing how desperately the finalists wanted to debut, inviting audiences into their world, and creating a sense of intimacy that Western fans had yet to see.
But their real claim to fame began with their viral hit “Gnarly”, which debuted at #92 on the Billboard Hot 100. That chart placement signaled a shift. A brand-new girl group born from a K-pop influence and marketed globally had out-charted solo acts. Their visibility skyrocketed when they appeared in a Gap jeans commercial shortly after Sydney Sweeney’s controversial American Eagle ad. Viewers praised the choreography, style, and the group’s chemistry. Today, the commercial sits at over 50 million views, proving that these girls are not just musicians but also a group with a voice.
But what makes Katseye so different from a traditional K-pop group? And why is the Western audience so drawn to them?
Katseye is what we needed
The simplest answer is that the Western pop landscape was missing a girl group. A real one. A popular one. A cultural force.
Since Fifth Harmony went on an indefinite hiatus in 2018 and Little Mix stepped away in 2021, the U.S. and U.K. experienced a girl-group drought, while boy bands like The Runarounds and 5SOS continued to pop up all over the place. For young women and girls, the sense of unity, camaraderie, and empowerment that a girl group should provide had been noticeably absent.
Katseye filled this void, but with a noticeable twist.
Unlike the hyper-manufactured image associated with Western pop artists, Katseye represents a mosaic of identities. Each member comes from a different cultural background, showing a version of America and girlhood that feels far more realistic. They’re not marketed as identical but instead as individuals. They resonate with younger audiences who crave seeing someone who looks like them on their screen.
This fresh take on girl groups combined with their celebration of cultural inclusivity is what made me so drawn to Katseye. Never in my life have I seen such a diverse band, and it feels both exciting and long overdue. There’s a younger version of me who would be absolutely ecstatic to watch Katseye carve out their place in the music industry. Even though I missed the Beautiful Chaos tour, one thing is certain: the next time they’re on stage, I’ll be in the crowd, doing every dance and screaming every lyric.
Now that the Beautiful Chaos tour has ended, it’s clear that Katseye is just getting started. During their opening show in Minneapolis, the group surprised fans with a new unreleased track titled “Internet Girl“, which is now on all streaming platforms. Judging by the reaction online, this era is going to be even bolder than the ones before.
If this is what Katseye is delivering only a year and a half into their debut, then it’s certain the world hasn’t seen everything they have to offer. Katseye is not just the next viral sensation; they’re shaping the future of girl groups.