HYBE x Geffen’s The Debut: Dream Academy has announced the final six members of new global girl group KATSEYE.
During the two-hour finale on Friday (Nov. 17) in Los Angeles, it was revealed that the sextet will consist of international members Daniela Avanzini, Lara Rajagopalan and Megan Skiendiel (United States); Yoonchae Jeong (South Korea); Sophia Laforteza (Philippines); and Manon Bannerman (Switzerland).
“This has been a long journey and an unprecedented collaboration between HYBE and Geffen,” HYBE chairman Bang Si-Hyuk said in a statement. “We are very proud of the results and of all the contestants who joined us in this project. We wish KATSEYE much success as we are sure they will inspire fans across the globe.”
The finalists were chosen for KATSEYE were determined by a combination of early votes and real-time votes during the live finale, as well as evaluators’ scores. The event livestreamed through YouTube, Weverse and Abema. Fans who missed it can watch here.
KATSEYE will now begin working on its forthcoming album, which is scheduled for release in 2024. Three songs that debuted during the finale — “Dirty Water,” “Girls Don’t Like” and “All the Same” — are now available on YouTube.
The process of developing KATSEYE will be the subject of an upcoming Netflix documentary series, set to premiere in summer 2024. The film will be directed by Emmy-nominated filmmaker Nadia Hallgren and produced by HYBE, Interscope Films and Boardwalk Pictures.
Ahead of Friday’s finale, the top 10 contestants sat down with Billboard‘s Tetris Kelly to reflect on their time in the competition.
“I feel like it’s a bond like no other,” Emily Kelavos said of her relationship with fellow contestants. “Having girls from all over the world is such a special and unique experience, and to be able to share these moments that we’ll cherish for the rest of our lives together has created a bond that’s truly unbreakable. It’s such a blessing to be able to experience it with such amazing girls.”
Watch the full interview here.