KATSEYE is not slowing down. The five member group made up of Sophia Laforteza, Lara Raj, Daniela Avanzini, Megan Skiendiel and Yoonchae Jeung gathered with fans in Sydney, Australia, for an intimate Q&A session that offered a rare, unfiltered look into who they are as individuals and where the group is heading next. What emerged was a portrait of five young women who are thoughtful, funny, fiercely supportive of one another and very clear about the kind of artists they want to become.
Here are five of the most memorable things they shared.
Each member’s audition story is completely different
Perhaps the most charming part of the conversation was hearing how each member stumbled into the auditions in the first place because none of the paths looked alike.
Sophia, a devoted BTS fan, came across the audition on the group’s YouTube channel and followed the link on a whim. Megan was scouted while already training under another company, her talent spotted before she had even thought to look for an opportunity like this. Daniela’s path may be the most serendipitous of all: her mother, who ordinarily ignores audition emails without a second thought, felt an unusual nudge to open one particular message and urged her daughter to go for it.
Lara’s journey began online, where her singing covers caught the attention of HYBE and Geffen Records, who reached out directly via DM. And Yoonchae was filmed during a class at her singing academy by a teacher who believed she was worth submitting a quiet act of encouragement that changed everything.
Letting go of perfectionism was a turning point
The audition process for KATSEYE was by any measure rigorous, and the members did not shy away from acknowledging how mentally demanding it was. Megan spoke most directly to this, describing the moment she realized that holding on too tightly to perfection was getting in the way rather than pushing her forward.
Learning to release that unnecessary pressure, she reflected, was what ultimately allowed the group to find their footing and lean into what made them genuinely compelling as performers. It is a lesson that clearly stuck, and one that still shapes how they approach their craft.
Communication is the real secret behind their group chemistry
Asked what keeps five very different people functioning as a cohesive unit, Lara did not hesitate. The answer, she said, is communication not the polished, surface-level kind, but honest, ongoing conversation that addresses small tensions before they have a chance to grow into bigger ones.
The group makes a point of building real relationships outside of the rehearsal room and the recording studio, treating their bond as something worth actively tending to. That foundation, they believe, is what makes everything else work.
Their families are deeply, sometimes hilariously, invested
Family pride runs high across all five households, and the members were happy to say so. Daniela noted that her mother the same one who almost deleted that fateful audition email now fully delights in the attention and recognition her daughter receives. Lara added that her parents enjoy keeping up with the group’s online presence, following along with the kind of enthusiasm that is both touching and a little funny.
Megan offered perhaps the most endearing detail: her mother’s greatest ambition at this point appears to be meeting BTS. Given KATSEYE’s trajectory, it may not be such an unlikely dream.
A new EP, a possible movie and some very specific career dreams
KATSEYE recently announced a new EP, and the direction they described feels like a deliberate step away from a more polished, conventional image. Sophia explained that the goal is something messier, more authentic a creative space that feels truer to who they actually are rather than who they might be expected to be. Think less curated perfection, more personality.
Beyond music, each member carries her own ambitions. Daniela dreams of a world tour with a stop in Australia. Lara envisions building a fashion and jewelry line while also engaging in activism. Megan has already channeled her passion for fashion design into merchandise for their tour. Sophia has her sights set on musical theatre, while Yoonchae is drawn to acting.
And for fans hoping for something even bigger: the group hinted at a KATSEYE World concept a large scale project drawing inspiration from the era of Spice World along with the possibility of a full KATSEYE movie. It is early days, but the ambition is clearly there, and if their story so far is any indication, they are more than capable of seeing it through.
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