The Grammy-nominated global girl group KATSEYE has reshaped a new chapter of pop-group history, drawing heavily on KPOP development methodologies. The group will arrive at the Hollywood Palladium on Dec. 12 for their first headlining tour, “KATSEYE: THE BEAUTIFUL CHAOS TOUR,” ready to ignite Los Angeles with their dynamic stage presence.
The six members of the multinational girl group — Daniela Avanzini, Lara Raj, Manon Bannerman, Megan Skiendiel, Sophia Laforteza and Yoonchae Jeong — formed KATSEYE through the 2023 reality survival show “The Debut: Dream Academy.” Of the 20 auditioned contestants that emerged from 120,000 submissions, the six finalists of Katseye today made their official debut on June 28, 2024 after enduring a series of intense elimination rounds. The debut release, aptly named “Debut,” instantly went viral across social media with its addictive rhythm and rigorous choreography, establishing KATSEYE as a one-of-a-kind international girl group.
The group is managed jointly by HYBE Entertainment and Geffen Records, highlighting KATSEYE’s status as a global act that integrates KPOP marketing strategies with the western music industry. HYBE, one of the big four Kpop agencies, represents world-wide superstars including BTS, Seventeen, TOMORROW X TOGETHER, ENHYPEN and LE SSERAFIM. Geffen Records, meanwhile, is home to major artists such as Camila Cabello and Olivia Rodrigo.
The name KATSEYE references the cat’s-eye gemstone, renowned for its iridescent radiance of color that shifts at different angles — an allusion to the six members’ unique charisma and the way their diverse backgrounds interlace to create the group’s unified identity. The name of their international fandom, EYEKONS symbolizes the group’s distinctive vision and innovative spirit.
KATSEYE’s debut EP “SIS (Soft is Strong)” reached No. 6 on Billboard’s Top Album Sales chart. The five-track project introduced one of their signature songs, “Touch,” a liquid drum and base song with R&B undertones that inspired countless dance covers.
Their second EP “BEAUTIFUL CHAOS” launched in June 2025 and became the group’s first top 10 entry on the Billboard 200 Chart, placing at number four. Additionally, the group was recently Grammy nominated for “Best New Artist” and “Best Group Performance” for “Gabriela,” marking another turning point for KATSEYE in their rapidly growing legacy.
KATSEYE is also known for their unconventional and expressive lyricism.
For instance their track “Gnarly,” begins with the intro, “They could describe everything with one single word. / You know? Like / Boba tea (Gnarly) / Tesla (Gnarley) / Fried Chicken (Gnarly).” Songwriter Alice Longyu Gao explained that the hyperpop and glitched instrumental of the song was intentionally crafted to suggest a sense of discomfort, evoking an artistic comment on the oversaturation of the pop industry. The unstructured and random elements of the song further contribute to the duality of the word “gnarly,” which can be used to describe both unpleasantness and excellence.
Essential components that contribute to KATSEYE’s cultural takeover include their dominant presence on Tik Tok and their ability to spark new trends. Their official account, @katseyeworld, has gained over 15.1 million followers, and the group was nominated for the first inaugural Tik Tok Awards as “Breakthrough Artist of the Year.” KATSEYE’s dance challenge of the song “Touch,” featuring TOMORROW X TOGETHER’s Yeonjun, received 2.1 million likes on the platform, while their “Better in Denim” campaign with GAP signified another major commercial success that refashioned a cultural moment.
The one-minute ad, featuring the members dancing to Kelis’ “Milkshake” with Robbie Blue’s choreography, received 6.4 million likes on Tik Tok. The reimagination of the iconic 2003 song and the girls’ energetic charisma in all-denim outfits together created an eclectic chemistry that celebrates individuality, creativity and diversity.
“KATSEYE: THE BEAUTIFUL CHAOS TOUR” marks a major milestone for KATSEYE, and fans are beyond excited to see what the group can achieve on stage. Their 16-day North American run will span across the United States and Mexico, with expectation for additional days to meet the growing demand.
Eva Jia is an Arts & Entertainment Intern for the fall 2025 quarter. She can be reached at jiae1@uci.edu.
Edited by Corinna Chin and Annabelle Aguirre