Katseye has taken the music world by storm since their debut in 2024. The six-member girl group, formed through a collaboration between HYBE and Geffen Records, represents a new kind of global pop act. Their members come from the Philippines, South Korea, Switzerland, and the United States, making them one of the most diverse groups in the industry. Leni Klum is a 22-year-old model and the eldest daughter of supermodel Heidi Klum, carving her own path in the fashion industry. Here is everything you need to know about the members of Katseye in 2026.
Who Are Katseye? The Global Girl Group Explained
Katseye (pronounced “cat’s eye”) is a Los Angeles-based girl group formed through the Netflix docuseries Pop Star Academy: KATSEYE [citation:3]. The group was created through a collaboration between South Korean entertainment giant HYBE (home to BTS) and American label Geffen Records [citation:3][citation:4]. Their name reflects their multifaceted nature—like a cat’s eye gemstone that reveals different colors and patterns from various angles, Katseye is never the same twice [citation:9].
The six members are Sophia, Lara, Yoonchae, Megan, Daniela, and Manon [citation:1]. They debuted on June 28, 2024, with the EP SIS (Soft Is Strong), which charted in the UK Official Albums Sales Chart at Number 45 [citation:3][citation:8]. In 2025, they released a second EP, Beautiful Chaos, featuring collaborations with hitmakers Justin Tranter, Andrew Watt, and John Ryan [citation:5]. Their 2026 single “Pinky Up” debuted at No. 28 on the Billboard Hot 100 and earned them three American Music Award nominations, including New Artist of the Year [citation:2][citation:6].
Katseye Members Full Profile
The group’s diversity is their greatest strength. Each member brings a unique cultural background, musical influence, and personality to the ensemble. Here is a complete breakdown of every member.
Sophia Laforteza — Leader and Main Rapper
Sophia Elizabeth Guevara Laforteza was born on December 31, 2002, in Queens, New York [citation:8]. She is 23 years old in 2026 and stands 5’6″ (167 cm). Although born in the United States, Sophia has deep roots in the Philippines and spent a significant part of her life there [citation:8]. She is ethnically Filipina and speaks both English and Tagalog fluently [citation:8].
Her mother, Carla Guevara Laforteza, is a well-known singer and actress in the Philippines, so performing is genuinely in Sophia’s blood [citation:8]. She serves as KATSEYE’s leader, main rapper, and sub-vocalist. Among the members, Sophia is known as the chef of the group. She and Yoonchae are both night owls and dorm roommates. Her favorite color is pink, and she cannot live without her dog Charlie, her headphones, and her lip balm [citation:8].
Lara Rajagopalan — Main Vocalist
Lara Rajagopalan was born on November 3, 2005, in Los Angeles, California [citation:8]. She is 20 years old in 2026 and stands 5’6″ (167 cm). Her mother Kavita Raj is Indian and her father Sri Rajagopalan is Sri Lankan; both are ethnically Tamil, making Lara one of the most prominent South Asian voices in the global pop scene right now [citation:8]. She speaks English and Tamil and also produces her own music [citation:8].
Lara is part of the LGBT+ community and has been open about it, making her an important figure for fans who feel seen through her [citation:8]. Her nickname is “Laru” or “Lar Lar” among the members. She is passionate about fashion, crystals, and coffee. Her role models are ENHYPEN’s Ni-Ki and BTS’s Jimin, and she dreams of KATSEYE performing at Coachella and winning Grammys [citation:8].
Yoonchae Jeong — Maknae and Main Dancer
Yoonchae Jeong was born in Seoul, South Korea. She is the youngest member of Katseye, known as the “maknae” in K-pop terms. She serves as the group’s main dancer and is the tallest member at 5’9″ (175 cm) [citation:4][citation:8]. Yoonchae brings the K-pop training system’s precision and discipline to the group, having trained under HYBE’s rigorous system before debuting [citation:4].
Despite being the youngest, Yoonchae is known for her stage presence and mature performance skills. She rooms with Sophia, and the two have developed a close bond as night owls who stay up late together [citation:8]. Yoonchae is widely considered the most popular member of Katseye among fans [citation:8].
Megan Skiendiel — Lead Vocalist and Lead Rapper
Megan Meiyok Skiendiel was born on February 10, 2006, in Honolulu, Hawaii [citation:4][citation:8]. She is 20 years old in 2026 and stands 5’6.5″ (169 cm). Her background is uniquely multicultural—her mother is Singaporean-Chinese and her father is Swedish-American, making Megan ethnically Swedish and Chinese [citation:4][citation:8]. She was homeschooled from 4th grade onward due to medical and learning needs [citation:8].
Megan makes it a point to connect with her Singapore roots, just like how her mother remains close to her family there even after living in Hawaii for almost two decades [citation:4]. She is one of the more outspoken members, often taking the lead during interviews and fan interactions. Her middle name “Meiyok” reflects her Chinese heritage [citation:8].
Daniela Avanzini — Main Dancer
Daniela Andrea Avanzini Llorente was born on July 1, 2004, in Atlanta, Georgia [citation:8]. She is 21 years old in 2026 and stands 5’5″ (165 cm), making her the shortest member of the group [citation:8]. She is of Venezuelan, Cuban, and Italian descent, giving her an incredibly vibrant energy that comes through in everything she does on stage [citation:8].
Daniela is a trained ballroom dancer and can also perform Afro-Cuban dance, Afro-style, cha-cha, and salsa [citation:8]. Before Dream Academy, she placed 10th in Season 13 of So You Think You Can Dance, placed 2nd in Super Kids Europe, and appeared in Season 8 of America’s Got Talent [citation:8]. She is fluent in both English and Spanish. Her nickname is simply “Dani.” She dreams of collaborating with Beyoncé, Shakira, Rosalía, Rihanna, BTS, and Doja Cat [citation:8].
Manon Bannerman — Lead Vocalist (Currently on Hiatus)
Meret Manon Sarpong Bannerman was born on June 26, 2002, in Zürich, Switzerland [citation:8]. She is 23 years old in 2026 and stands 5’5″ (166 cm). She is the oldest member of Katseye [citation:8]. Her mother is Swiss-Italian and her father is from Ghana, giving her a beautiful blend of European and African heritage [citation:8].
Her first language is Swiss-German, and she also speaks German, English, and a little French. She has been learning Spanish from Daniela since they share a dorm room [citation:8]. Manon has been writing songs since she was five years old and also works as a photography model. Her nicknames are “Manz” and “Manzanita.” She is a huge Billie Eilish fan and cites Beyoncé as her biggest role model [citation:8].
In February 2026, Manon announced she was taking a temporary hiatus from group activities “to focus on her health and well-being” [citation:2][citation:6]. As a result, Katseye has been performing as a five-member group at recent events, including Coachella and the 2026 American Music Awards [citation:2][citation:6][citation:10]. Fans have sent her nothing but love and support during her time away from the spotlight.
Formation Through Dream Academy
The group was formed through the reality competition show The Debut: Dream Academy. Over 120,000 applicants were whittled down to 20 contestants who competed for a spot in the final six-member group [citation:3]. The process was documented in the Netflix series Pop Star Academy: Katseye, which gave fans an intimate look at the grueling training and selection process [citation:3][citation:5].
Musical Releases and Achievements
Katseye released their debut singles “Debut” and “Touch” across June and July 2024 [citation:3]. Their first EP, SIS (Soft Is Strong), was released on August 16, 2024, and placed at Number 45 on the UK Official Albums Sales Chart [citation:3]. In 2025, they released Beautiful Chaos, a five-song EP exploring the challenges of shaping meaningful identity in the digital age [citation:5].
Their 2026 single “Pinky Up” arrived in April and debuted at No. 28 on the Billboard Hot 100 [citation:2][citation:6]. The song earned the group three American Music Award nominations: New Artist of the Year, Best Music Video for their single “Gnarly,” and Breakthrough Pop Artist [citation:2][citation:6]. At the AMAs on May 25, 2026, they delivered a colorful performance of “Pinky Up” complete with a tea party and teddy bears theme [citation:2][citation:10].
Katseye Member Quick Facts Table
| Name | Age (2026) | Birthday | Birthplace | Ethnicity | Position |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sophia Laforteza | 23 | Dec 31, 2002 | Queens, NY | Filipino | Leader, Main Rapper |
| Lara Rajagopalan | 20 | Nov 3, 2005 | Los Angeles, CA | Indian (Tamil) | Main Vocalist |
| Yoonchae Jeong | ~18 | N/A | Seoul, South Korea | Korean | Main Dancer, Maknae |
| Megan Skiendiel | 20 | Feb 10, 2006 | Honolulu, HI | Chinese-Swedish | Lead Vocalist, Lead Rapper |
| Daniela Avanzini | 21 | July 1, 2004 | Atlanta, GA | Venezuelan-Cuban-Italian | Main Dancer |
| Manon Bannerman | 23 | June 26, 2002 | Zürich, Switzerland | Ghanaian-Swiss | Lead Vocalist (Hiatus) |
Frequently Asked Questions
Who is the oldest member of Katseye? Manon Bannerman, born June 26, 2002, is the oldest member at 23 years old in 2026 [citation:8].
Who is the youngest member of Katseye? Yoonchae Jeong is the youngest member, known as the “maknae” [citation:4][citation:8].
Where did Katseye come from? Katseye was formed through the reality competition Dream Academy, a collaboration between HYBE (the label behind BTS) and Geffen Records [citation:3][citation:7].
Why was Manon not at the 2026 AMAs? Manon has been on a temporary hiatus since February 2026 to focus on her health and well-being. Katseye performed as a five-member group at the awards show [citation:2][citation:6][citation:10].
What does Katseye mean? The name Katseye (pronounced “cat’s eye”) refers to a cat’s eye gemstone, which reveals different colors and patterns from various angles—symbolizing the group’s multifaceted and ever-evolving nature [citation:9].
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