Wherever someone goes these days, people are almost guaranteed to see a Katseye reference. The girl group can be seen everywhere by fans, called Eyekons, and school dances to viral videos, brand collaborations, and even appearances at the Video Music Awards (VMAs). Katseye has become one of the most recognizable global girl groups in the world. How did they get so popular?
Their journey began in 2023 on the survival show “Dream Academy”. Contestants included 20 girls who would then form the group Katseye. The girls would complete three missions to determine which of the girls would debut as Katseye. In the end Adéla and Hinari were eliminated performing “Pink Venom” by Blackpink, Iliya and Karlee during their “ANTIFRAGILE” stage, Brooklyn and Mei after performing “Fearless”, Celeste and Nayoung after performing “Buttons”, and Ua after performing “Wannabe”. In the end, the six finalists were Daniela, Megan, Yoonchae, Sophia, Lara, and Manon, all of whom went on to form Katseye.
Their debut song, “Debut” from the SIS: Soft Is Strong album, released on Aug. 16, 2024, and introduced the public to the group. However, their fame did not skyrocket until 2025. Katseye exploded into global fame after their song, “Gnarly”, released on April 20, went viral. The album “Beautiful Chaos” shortly followed, being released on June 27, 2025, with even more hits like “Gameboy”, “Gabriela”, “Mean Girls”, and “M.I.A.” further putting their name on the map.
They partnered with brands like Gap, Glossier, Urban Outfitters, Pandora, Jollibee, 5 Gum, American Eagle, Lush, and Monster High. Their Gap commercial became especially iconic, with millions recreating the dance online and spreading Katseye’s influence everywhere. Their rivalry with Sydney Sweeney’s controversial American Eagle advertisement also blew up on multiple platforms, with Eyekons and Sweeney fans battling out for the superior jean advertisement.
Katseye also had an impact on the 2025 VMAs. They won their first MTV VMA award for push performance of the year. They also performed “Gabriela” and “Gnarly” at the award show, according to Today.
Now, Katseye is impossible to miss. Whether scrolling online or shopping at the mall, they’re everywhere, proving they’ve become one of the defining girl groups of this generation.
