KATSEYE World Domination

KATSEYE is the most global, iconic girl group of the decade. I think everyone on the planet has seen their collaboration with Gap; a sensational, choreographed advertisement that emphasized that all genes (and jeans, if you will) should be

celebrated. Their emphasis on inclusivity and authenticity in the music industry is breaking down barriers, and with their recent achievements I really wanted to talk about their journey and how they’re making an impact!

Photo: KATSEYE for Gap

Photo: Katseye Debut

The group was formed by a music survival show, called Dream Academy on Netflix, where twenty contestants competed for a spot in HYBE’s new music group. Though I haven’t watched it myself, I heard it’s great reality TV and gives a lot of insight into the company’s rigorous vocal and dance training process. The members, Manon, Daniela, Lara, Megan, Sophia, and Yoonchae, were then selected to be in KATSEYE. 

With being introduced on TV and voted for by fans, KATSEYE has a unique transparency that doesn’t feel overly PR-trained or inauthentic like some other artists. They’re very unfiltered about their experiences and have great senses of humor, making their lives super

fun to watch. 

Phoro: "Gnarly" Single Cover

Word really got out about the group after their hit song "Gnarly" was released. I specifically remember all of the criticism it received online for being “cringy” and “too campy.” But public opinion flipped overnight, and within a week everyone was gushing about how catchy the song is. This is when their reach really expanded outside of the realm of K-Pop, with their music and addictive choreography going viral on TikTok.

Their performance at Lollapalooza this year was absolutely amazing, showcasing their vocal range and most recent album, Beautiful Chaos. The members simply exude star power—with iconic Y2K inspired outfits and an explosive stage presence that just makes you want to root for them. I highly recommend you watch their set! 

The Gap advertisement skyrocketed their career, reaching all corners of the internet. KATSEYE stood for celebrating diversity. Their choreography to "Milkshake" by Kelis (which was re-recorded so the original artist received the profit!) is still circulating my feed, and many (including myself) have rewatched the campaign many times. It reached around 400 million views in just two weeks, marking it as one of the brand’s most successful advertisements yet. 

Photo: Kevin Mazur/Getty Images

Something that really stood out to me was how KATSEYE embraces their

culture. Growing up, I never saw South Asian representation in western media, let alone see traditional jewelry incorporated into modern fashion like Lara Raj does. It honestly brings me to tears seeing her wear a tikka and mehndi at the VMAs, I feel so proud! 

The other members also show connections to their culture, with Daniela singing a Spanish verse in their recent song "Gabriela" and Manon incorporating waist beads into her outfits. I think it’s extremely cool how KATSEYE is being so unapologetically themselves, blending their backgrounds into their music and image.

As I said, I genuinely believe that KATSEYE is the girl group of the decade. There’s something about their individuality and music that resonates with all audiences. I am so proud of how far they have come, with VMA awards and big brand deals with Pandora and Jollibee, and I’m really excited to see how far they will go!