KATSEYE Prepares for Global Domination

This time last year, Daniela Avanzini, Lara Raj, Manon Bannerman, Megan Skiendiel, Sophia Laforteza, and Yoonchae Jeung weren’t yet DANIELA, LARA, MANON, MEGAN, SOPHIA, and YOONCHAE. They weren’t yet KATSEYE. They were simply 6 of the 20 remaining hopefuls (out of 120,000 initial applicants) on “The Debut: Dream Academy,” competing for a spot in what HYBE and Geffen records are betting will become a global sensation on the level of K-pop superstars BTS and Blackpink. The women were in the midst of their missions, traveling toSeoul, South Korea, to visit HYBE headquarters and film covers of two of LE SSERAFIM’s hits. They returned to the States with enhanced abilities to sing and dance simultaneously—and brand new beauty routines.

“Wait, can we talk about the skincare?” Lara asks during our shoot for this cover last month.“That we all have the exact same...” she continues before Daniela interjects: “The Korean skincare!” “The exact same skincare routine,” Lara says as the members of KATSEYE talk over each other excitedly. “We went to Korea for one of our dream academy missions,” explains the group’s leader, Sophia. “We all came back with overweight [luggage] full of skincare and makeup.” In addition to the identical products they’re keeping on their vanities, the women declare they all make each other laugh (“I think we’re all really funny!”), share the same taste inTV shows (“All the love reality shows”), and are never not cooking and eating together (“We are live, laugh, love, eat.”) They have become, as Yoonchae puts it, family: “At first I was really nervous and really excited to come to L.A. I have [an] older sister in Korea,” says the youngest member of the group. “Our members... I felt like our members are my sisters, and like [I gained] five sisters.”

After everything they’ve experienced together, it’s not surprising that they’re bonded this way. Since being selected for the group in November during the “Dream Academy” live finale (following more than a year of 8-hour days training in K-pop methodology, documented in the Netflix series Pop Star Academy: KATSEYE), the six women have moved into a house together in Los Angeles. They’ve released two singles, “Debut” and “Touch,” followed by their first-ever EP, “SIS (Soft Is Strong),” which arrived in August.

“Our experience, that training, it changed our lives forever,” says Lara. “And no matter whether you ended up in the group or you didn't, it changed the trajectory of all of our lives.” For DANIELA, LARA, MANON, MEGAN, SOPHIA, and YOONCHAE, it seems that trajectory is up, up, up. Ahead, InStyle speaks with the group about their journey to becoming KATSEYE and what’s on the horizon. Watch here or keep scrolling to read the full interview.

InStyle: This is InStyle’s first-ever social-first cover, and y'all are the stars, so thank you very much. We're going to start with Lara. Some of you have been on this journey for more than even two years. So, I want to hear, Lara, when you found out you were selected to be a member of KATSEYE, the first person you called? Take me to that phone call.

Lara: Oh my God. Okay, okay, so at the finale, when we found out, my family was there. My sister, my mom and my dad. And I remember the first person I called was my sister, and I started screaming and hyperventilating. I remember on that stage when they called my name, we all started freaking out and I feel like I blanked out, and my eyes went black. I was so shocked.

I called my sister. She was so excited. I was crying, sobbing. I was a mess. And she was just so supportive. It was so nice that my family was able to be there, and I was able to hug them after and just kind of enjoy the moment.

InStyle: So Yoonchae, the training and development program to become a member of KATSEYE is all about teaching the K-pop methodology. And I would love to hear you tell us—for some people who don't know—tell us about K-pop methodology?

Yoonchae: The K-pop methodology is about [perfecting your] singing and dancing performance, everything to make for a great performance; and also synchronization for the choreography.

InStyle: And for the rest of you, were y’all familiar with K-pop methodology before going through this intensive training?

Sophia: Yeah, I feel like some of us kind of knew about groups such as BTS or Blackpink, but going really deeply into the K-pop methodology and the strategy of the training that we all went under... I feel like [you have to experience it to really] know. I feel like everybody knows that all these K-pop idols, who we have so much respect for, have gone through this rigorous training, and to be able to experience it firsthand really was an amazing experience for all of us, and we're really excited for it to be shown and unlocked in our Netflix docuseries, Pop Star Academy KATSEYE.

InStyle: So Sophia, as the leader of KATSEYE, you're probably a good person to ask this. When someone asks where the name KATSEYE came from, what's your answer? What does it mean

Sophia: So our group name, KATSEYE, is actually inspired by the gemstone Cat's Eye. And depending on the viewer's perspective, you can see a different view of the gemstone. You see different colors and that basically that represents each and every one of our talents and our different backgrounds. We are all very different girls with our own charms, personalities, where we come from, and what we represent.

InStyle: I'm so excited to talk about this. I like girl groups, so-called “girl groups.” I want to hear, Dani, I would love to hear who some of your favorite girl groups are. Who inspires you?

Daniela: Oh my gosh. There's so many amazing artists and girl groups that have inspired me, have inspired us. I think one of the main ones is Pussycat Dolls. We love Pussycat Dolls, Destiny's Child, Spice Girls. They're all just such a, like, perfect, group to look up to.

InStyle: I want to hear everyone answer that. So, Megan, your favorite girl group?

Megan: I mean, pretty much everything that Dani has already said. I love them all. I think some to add is Blackpink. I love Blackpink. Itzy, Twice, you know, all those K-pop groups.

Lara: Aespa.

Megan: Aespa.

Sophia: Kiss of Life, LE SSERAFIM.

InStyle: Manon, who’s your favorite?

Manon: Girl group? Oh, it has to be Destiny's Child. Yeah, I love Beyonce, so Destiny’s Child.

InStyle: Yoonchae?

Yoonchae: I think, yeah, they all already said mine.

Manon: We put them all out.

Lara: We said every single girl group.

Sophia: We all have very similar, like, taste.

Lara: Yeah, we do, we have similar taste. Um, for me, Destiny's Child and Pussycat Dolls. I can't pick.

InStyle: So what has it been like moving to L.A.? Has it been an adjustment? A culture shock? Yoonchae, tell us about what it's been like to move to L.A., and to live all together.

Yoonchae: At first, I was really nervous and really excited to come to L.A. I have [an] older sister in Korea... Our members... I felt like our members are my sisters and like [I gained] five sisters. So, yeah, I love it.

InStyle: So that helped. Manon, going off that, you are a group and sometimes that is, like Yoonchae said, like a family.

Manon: Yes.

InStyle: I would love to talk to all of you... Let's talk about who's who. So, Manon, who would you say is the funniest?

Sophia: Be careful now.

Manon: I mean, I think we're all really funny.

Lara: We have different humor.

Manon: We have different humors, but I feel like they all work together. And, you know, some days it's Megan. Some days it's Yoonchae. Yoonchae says the funniest random stuff. She's, like, so unintentionally funny. So, yeah, I think we all laugh a lot. So I would really say it's all of us.

InStyle: Alright, Megan, who is the most organized?

Megan: Organized? The most organized has to be Sophia, our leader, Sophia. Our queen.

Sophia: Honestly can I just say honorable mention? Dani is also organized.

Lara: Honorable mention!

Sophia: I have to give it to Dani. Dani is actually also really organized. And she's not getting enough credit.

Megan: Actually, I was thinking both of you guys.

Yoonchae: What about me? I’m organized too.

Sophia: Okay, Yoonchae too.

Lara: But [Sophia] is, like, more organized. I feel like if you weren’t roommates with Yoonchae you could only be roommates with Dani.

Sophia: Yeah.

Megan: I feel like if I needed help with anything, like if I [had] a question, [Sophia] has the answers to everything.

Lara: Yes she does.

Megan: Like, she knows everything. She knows where everything is.

Lara: She’s like a dictionary.

Daniela: That is true, that is true.

Lara: Literally. She’s Google.

Sophia: Encyclopedia!

Lara: Sophia is Google.

Sophia: I’m Google. Sophia wiki.

InStyle: Okay, who loves fashion the most?

All: Lara.

Lara: Easy.

Sophia: I feel like Lara, she's the most expressive, one of the most expressive people in fashion that I've ever met.

Lara: Oh my god.

Sophia: I feel like she's... that's one of the biggest outlets I feel like Lara has.

Lara: Yeah for sure.

InStyle: Well, she’s got that sweater as a skirt.

Lara: Yeah, girl, innovation. DIY.

InStyle: Who has the best beauty products?

Megan: I feel like we all have similar ones. We all have the same stuff.

Daniela: It’s all really good.

Lara: Yeah. Wait, can we talk about the skincare?

Daniela: Oh!

Lara: That we all have the exact same...

Daniela: The Korean skincare!

Lara: The exact same skincare routine.

Sophia: We went to Korea for one of our Dream Academy missions. We all came back with overweight luggage full of skincare and makeup.

Daniela: Oh, my gosh, so much stuff.

Sophia: And the glow is real.

Lara: When Yoonchae’s mom comes to visit her, she brings us all skincare.

Sophia: She gets our orders!

Yoonchae: My mom got, like, extra bag.

InStyle: Alright. I feel like I may know the answer to this, but who is the mom of the group?

All: Sophia.

Daniela: Sophia is mom.

Manon: She cooks for us.

InStyle: So she’s Google and Mom.

Lara: Mother.

Daniela: Yeah. She's mommy.

Megan: She's our mommy.

InStyle: And best cook?

All: Sophia.

Daniela: Or Yoonchae!

Megan: Or Lara!

Sophia: Yoonchae actually.

Lara: I can cook.

Sophia: Or Lara.

Lara: I think spices—

Manon: Spices.

Lara: Spices. I am good with spices.

Sophia: She knows her spices, yeah.

InStyle: Because that's something that is sweet about you all. You all have different backgrounds, you all came from different places. Has food been a way to get to know each other?

Manon: Oh, girl. All the time.

Sophia: Oh yeah. For sure.

Lara: You don’t even know.

Daniela: We have all tried each other's food and it's just, it's so cool, honestly. I've never tried Korean food before this, and it is really good. It's so, so good. But yeah, we all—

Sophia: You ate it every day.

Daniela: Literally. But we all try and share our food with each other so we can have a little taste of each other's culture.

Sophia: I say this in, like, every single interview. It's one of... food is one of our main lovelanguages. Like, food and laughter, I feel like that's one of the things that—

Lara: Food and laughter.

Sophia: Right?

Daniela: We love food.

Lara: That's so mom of you to say.

Megan: It’s like live, laugh, love.

Sophia: We are live, laugh, love, eat.

Lara: No actually though, like, when we get food, we all just get a bunch of things to share.

Daniela: Yeah, we love sharing.

Sophia: You should see our pantry at the house.

Daniela: Oh my God.

Sophia: Manon said it's a global supermarket.

Daniela: Yeah, it is.

Manon: There's everything in there. I love it.

InStyle: Manon, What’s something in there, in the pantry, that you go to a lot.

All: [laughter]

Daniela: I think I know the answer to that one.

Manon: The Buldak.

Daniela: I knew it!

Manon: The ramen. It’s those instant ramen, so probably not healthy. So don't, no...

Daniela: Don't get into that.

Lara: No, But they are so good.

Manon: They’re so good.

Sophia: They make you sweat.

Daniela: I literally had it yesterday. Yeah, yeah we love.

Sophia: We had cheese, and we had milk, and we had eggs, olive oil, and garlic powder.

Lara: Me and Megan put sesame oil on it all the time. And I put everything but bagel seasoning,

Megan: Yes.

Daniela: Ohhh, yes, That's good.

Sophia: All Yoonchae’s fault.

InStyle: Okay, so when you're not eating—

Daniela: We're not never eating.

InStyle: You're putting sesame oil on stuff. Are you watching shows? Is there something you binge together? Is there a TV show that you’ve all watched together that you’ve enjoyed?

Sophia: I'm excited to binge our docuseries.

All: Yeah, yeah.

InStyle: So other than your own show. Are there any things that y'all watch together?

Daniela: Love Island, and Too Hot to Handle.

Megan: Oh, oh,

Daniela: We have to continue that.

Megan: Yes.

Daniela: All the love shows.

Lara: Wait, what episode are you guys on?

Megan: We’re on the fifth...

Lara: I’m on episode four.

Daniela: Four.

Megan: What?

Daniela: Yes.

Megan: Wait, then I watched without you.

Lara: You watched without her?

Daniela: Wow.

InStyle: Love Island, we like.

Daniela: Love Island. We watch Too Hot to Handle. We watch all the love shows, love reality shows.

Lara: Wait, we watched... Did you guys watch Perfect Match?

Megan: No.

Daniela: I haven’t watched that.

Lara: Perfect Match was so good.

Sophia: You have to watch Single’s Inferno.

Daniela: I've never heard of that.

Yoonchae: Yeah, Single’s Inferno.

Sophia: Yoonchae and I love to start K-dramas together, and then we go at our own pace after that.

InStyle: You do have some music to talk about, so we’re going to talk about music. Daniela, I want to go back to what it was like recording your first single, “Debut.” That was a while ago, but I want to hear: Were you nervous, was there anxiety about releasing it into the wild?

Daniela: Honestly, yeah. I feel like the very first time recording was surreal because it was our first song, the very first time we were going to hear our voices on a track all together. Finally, like, girl group, you know?

And it was just so cool to hear [all of our voices together]. We were like {gasp} when we heard it the demo. I loved recording in the studio. I always love recording in the studio and shooting music videos, too. I think that's so, so much fun.

But, of course, there are some challenges that come to it vocally, but I always have the best time recording.

InStyle: So obviously your fans—and they’re growing by the day—are also noticing your dance moves, and something about something about your debut single “Debut” that came about was the kick. I was talking to your choreographer about the kick, and the kick has a name. How difficult was it to get that kick nailed?

Lara: The fan kick.

Manon: Good question.

Megan: It's called a fan kick, and I feel like we all really didn't struggle too hard.

All: No.

Megan: Because during our training days we would, like, stretch all the time to get our splits and everything. So we were all pretty flexible by the time that we had to learn the dance moves. But getting it synchronized, at the same time, was the hardest part.

Daniela: Yeah, it's true. Yeah.

Lara: I remember we had to be like, uppp annnnnnnd down.

Megan, Manon, Yoochae, Lara: Up! Down!

Daniela: And we have to, like, slam our foot on the floor. Make sure it all slams at the same time.

Lara: Y’all we drilled that so much.

All: So much.

Manon: Like, 8 hours a day. 8 hours a day.

Sophia: We were adding, like, hair whips.

Megan: Oh my gosh.

Sophia: We were being extra the first time we learned it. We all kicked our leg up and we all kept whipping our hair. And they were like, “whoa whoa whoa.”

Megan: Like, no.

InStyle: Alright, so, Manon, let's talk about “Touch.” How would you describe the differences between “Debut” and “Touch”? Let’s talk about those two songs and even the dances.

Manon: Yeah, I feel like those two songs, “Touch” and “Debut,” they kind of showcase our duality because “Debut” is maybe like—what's the word?—strong, punchy, powerful, fierce. All of the above. And then “Touch” is more soft. I always like to say it's velvety and dreamy and, yeah, it shows our duality. It's two very different sounds.

InStyle: And “Touch” has a little bit of... I call it “hand-ography,” I don’t know what the actual...

Sophia: You're correct.

Daniela: Right.

Manon: Yeah. Yeah, we have this little hand choreography that is very catchy. And, a lot of people are copying it and doing it, so it's very fun to see EYEKONS or fans doing it. It's very fun.

InStyle: What has it been like to see... Lara, what has it been like to watch social media and see people pick up on your choreography, and pick up on the songs and enjoy it, and mimic you or copy you, as it were?

Lara: Oh my God, it's surreal. I don't think it's really hit us yet that people are, like, singing our song and they're dancing to our song, and doing our choreography; that is so crazy because I feel like all of us, we are such big fans of music. We love getting into an artist, into their journey and their story.

So I feel like the fact that people are actually doing that for us is wild. Yesterday my friend, she texted me and she said that she came home from the gym and she heard someone blasting“Touch” in their car—

Manon: {gasp}

Lara: I never told you guys this!

Sophia: What?!

Lara: She said that someone drove past her...

Manon: Crazy!

Lara: ...and “Touch” was blasting in her car.

Daniela: You’re joking?!

Megan: Oh my gosh

Sophia: “Touch” passed the car test.

Manon: Someone sent me a video of it playing in H&M and I was like, Whoa.

Lara: In H&M?

Daniela: Yes

Megan: In H&M

Lara: That’s crazy, that’s crazy.

Daniela: Our song is playing in retail stores. It’s crazy.

Sophia: My best friend all the way in the Philippines has sent me, I swear, like, four videos already of it playing on the radio.

Megan: Oh my God.

Sophia: And I was like, “That's insane.”

Daniela: That’s so cool.

Lara: Wild.

InStyle: Well, this is even before your EP’s released.

Lara: I know. Yeah, it's so unreal. We're so grateful.

InStyle: So, what can you, I know this is confidential maybe, but what can you tease out to us? What's the next dance move? Can you show me a little bit? What have you been rehearsing? What can you show us?

All: Ooooo... Umm...

Lara: What can we show them, Sophia?

Daniela: What can we?

Manon: Just got to wait and see.

Sophia: Tonight I might show you my way because I'm pretty. Period.

Manon: Oh, that was really good.

All: {laughter}

Sophia: Nobody understands.

Lara: Nobody understood that.

InStyle: Looking towards the rest of your year, what are you most excited about?

Manon: In the future?

InStyle: Yeah.

Lara: Towards the next year.

Megan: I think I'm most excited for the touring and meeting the EYEKONS face to face. I feel like that's going to be the most fun part. Especially feeling the energy from the crowd. I feel like it's just going to be a feeling that, I don't know, will never be matched. It's so fun and energetic and to be able to perform for the EYEKONS and to show them what we've been working on for so long. And yeah, I feel like it's just our passion to be able to perform and, you know, inspire.

Manon: I would say, same, because we just recently had our first performance ever at the Crypto [Arena] and it was insane. It was such a surreal feeling because we've been working towards that for so long and having it turned into reality and seeing all of the people that support you is a feeling that is unmatched.

InStyle: So last question: Looking back to becoming members, going through the training, going through the Academy, you know, even auditioning and competing... the people who didn't make it, the people who weren’t selected to be members... are you in touch with them? Have you remained friends with some of the people who weren’t selected?

Megan: For the past contestants that didn't make it, I feel like we all have this strong bond with every single contestant, because this experience that we all went through is unique and we'll always be able to have that special bond because they are our sisters. I'm still very close with some of the past contestants, and they're my best friends to this day.

Daniela: I still talk to them almost every single day.

Sophia: Yeah, me, too. Literally every single day I'm still talking to the other contestants.

Lara: Yeah, I feel like nobody can really understand what we went through and how it was, except for those girls. Our experience, that training, changed our lives forever. And no matter whether you ended up in the group or you didn't, it changed the trajectory of all of our lives. So I feel like we can really always relate to each other about that. We’ll always be connected in someway.

Sophia: Sisters forever.

Lara: Literally forever.

InStyle: Awesome. Thank you,

All: Thank you, thank you, thank you.