While you may be familiar with the members of Katseye, what has become of the Dream Academy contestants who did not make it through?
Netflix’s latest documentary series, Pop Star Academy: Katseye, offers an exclusive look into the creation of HYBE x Geffen’s inaugural “global girl group.”
As part of the intense training process to become K-pop idols, a group of 20 contestants competed for six coveted spots in Katseye. These individuals faced various challenges and missions as part of the survival reality series, The Debut: Dream Academy.
After the release of Katseye’s debut EP ‘SIS (Soft Is Strong)’ on August 16, the streaming service also premiered Pop Star Academy, a show that provides an inside look at the trainees and their individual journeys.
Abby – US
In the first episode, the team of HYBE x Geffen has eliminated Abby, an 18-year-old contestant from Colorado. They believed she lacked the necessary experience in singing and dancing to meet their expectations for the competition.
Despite criticisms, her unique voice and strong work ethic were praised by others. As a result, she has recently utilized these talents by releasing her solo album ‘Fall Behind’ under the stage name Abby Paradise earlier this year.
You can stay updated on her journey by following her Instagram page.
Adela
@adelajergova rattling my bones and stuff. thank youuu @Ai Shimatsu for an amazing class!!!
Despite being a beloved member among both the executives and the group as a whole, Adela Jergova’s hopes of becoming an idol were shattered after the first mission. Despite her popularity, the 20-year-old received the least number of votes from the public.
Despite this, Adela persists in sharing content on her Instagram and TikTok accounts, where she is receiving an abundance of praise and support for her participation in Pop Star Academy.
Brooklyn, United States
After the second mission, Episode 6 of the docu-series caused controversy as Brooklyn Van Zandt and three other trainees were eliminated. The group was informed of the news through a TV screen instead of in person, which sparked backlash.
Despite the news, the 18-year-old remained resilient and is now creating her own music. In addition, she has gained over a million followers on TikTok and has recently debuted her single ‘Unknown Caller’.
Celeste – Argentina
Despite performing well in mission three with her rendition of The Pussycat Dolls’ hit ‘Buttons’, Celeste Diaz was ultimately eliminated from the competition before reaching the final 10.
To stay updated on her current activities, visit her Instagram page, where she is being praised for her outstanding performances on Pop Star Academy.
Emily in the United States
From the beginning, Emily Kelavos impressed the executives with her dancing skills and strong work ethic, earning her a spot in the top tier of dancers known as “Group A.”She also showed improvement in her vocals, eventually securing a spot in the final 10.
Despite not making it through to become a member of Katseye in the finale, she has continued to showcase her impeccable dancing skills on platforms such as TikTok and Instagram. As a result, fans are now calling for the 19-year-old to star in a biopic about Britney Spears.
Ezrela’s Journey to Australia
@its.ezy my girls slayed as per usual @KATSEYE #katseye #katseye_touch #hybe #dancecover #dance #kpopfyp #kpopfypシ #ezrela #kpop #kpopdance
Despite being one of the trainees who reached the final 10, Exrela had the support of viewers at home as they hoped she would secure a spot in Katseye due to her optimistic demeanor and strong presence. Yet, despite her efforts in the final mission and voting round, the 21-year-old did not make it into the final cut.
Since the release of Pop Star Academy, she has been living her best life, regularly sharing dance videos and life updates on her TikTok and Instagram pages.
Hinari – Japan
At just 14 years old, Hinari was the youngest member to join Dream Academy. Despite joining the trainees later than the others, her peers took her under their wing and praised her for her star quality.
Despite being eliminated in Episode 5 alongside Adela, Hinari remained optimistic and said, “I will continue to persevere without giving up. I believe that both my skills and heart have improved.” Her Instagram followers have faith that she will achieve great success in the future.
Iliya, a Beautiful Country in Eastern Europe
Iliya quickly became a favorite among the executives for her impressive vocal skills. Although she made it to the second mission, she was ultimately eliminated along with Brooklyn and two other trainees.
At 22 years old, she still regularly posts singing content on different social media platforms. One of her most popular channels is TikTok, where she has amassed 2.8 million followers.
Karlee – US
@gnarly.karleeee For my burnt out overthinkers <3 #fyp #songwriter #fypシ
Despite being voted out alongside Iliya and Brooklyn after mission two, Karlee was able to accomplish a great deal during her time at the Dream Academy. She even managed to reach the top group of vocalists.
Currently, the 20-year-old is still pursuing her passion for singing and performing, regularly posting updates on her Instagram and TikTok profiles.
Lexie’s Travels to Sweden
Lexie was quickly cemented as a top contender for a spot in Katseye by the executives, not just because of her exceptional dancing and singing skills, but also due to her unparalleled celebrity status. However, her fate was not to secure a spot in the end.
In Episode 7 of Pop Star Academy, the contestant voluntarily removes herself from the program, citing a misalignment with her personal values and a desire to avoid competing against her fellow peers.
Even at the age of 20, Lexie continues to share updates about her life on Instagram, and her determination has earned her plenty of praise from viewers.
Destination: Thailand
Despite facing tough competition, Marquise’s exceptional singing and dancing skills allowed her to advance far in the competition, securing a spot as one of the top trainees. However, in the Netflix docu-series, there were discussions among executives about her lack of growth. Despite this, Marquise proved them wrong by ultimately making it to the final.
Despite not being selected for Katseye, she still managed to amass a dedicated fan base. At just 18 years old, she gained over 31,000 followers on TikTok.
May
Despite impressing the HYBE x Geffen group with her singing and dancing abilities, Mei was eliminated in the second round along with Brooklyn, Iliya, and Karlee, leaving the group with only four remaining contestants.
“Despite being passionate about K-pop, the 18-year-old acknowledges the need to face reality. “I was almost living my dream,”she confides in her peers. While she hasn’t shared any recent updates, she maintains an active presence on her Instagram account.”
Naisha – UK & Spain
Naisha Dos Santos was eliminated in what is considered to be one of the most controversial moments in the history of Pop Star Academy. This decision was made after she shared a video on Instagram featuring one of the program’s original songs.
Despite her attempts to argue that the content was only viewed within the academy, the executives rejected her argument and ultimately sent her away.
Despite being 20 years old, she continues to showcase her rapping and dancing skills in her recent Instagram posts, many of which feature her at Playground London, a dance school in the UK.
Nayoung’s Story in South Korea
Despite not being selected for Katseye, Lee Nayoung’s impressive appearance in multiple TV shows, including a survival competition, solidified her reputation as a rising star to keep an eye on when she joined the academy during the second round of casting. Her talent as a strong vocalist was evident as she made it to the final 10.
The young woman, who is 22 years old, regularly shares updates about her life and posts videos of her singing on her Instagram account. She has gained over 33,000 followers on the platform.
City of Samara, Brazil
Samara Siqueira was added to the casting in the second half as one of the most powerful vocalists in the group. This secured her a spot in the final, although she ultimately did not make it into the group.
At the age of 18, the idol from Brazil still performs singing and dancing routines, gaining a following of 43,000 and 101,000 on TikTok and Instagram respectively.
Rain – Japan
Despite being the second youngest of the group, Ua, who was 15 years old at the time, received care and support from the other trainees. She joined during the latter half of casting, and was praised by executives for her impressive dancing and singing skills.
Despite being eliminated before the final in Episode 8, she remains active on her Instagram page, where she frequently shares dancing clips and updates. According to her bio, she has recently joined the WORLD OF DANCE team LaLa in Japan.
Katseye Members
From left to right: Lara, Megan, Yoonchae, Daniela, Sophia, Manon
Out of the Dream Academy trainees, six were able to successfully complete the final challenge and make Katseye.
- Daniela Avanzini – 20, from the US (Instagram & TikTok)
- Manon Bannerman – 22, from Switzerland (Instagram & TikTok)
- Yoonchae Jeong – 16, from South Korea (Instagram)
- Sophia Laforteza – 21, from the Philippines (Instagram & TikTok)
- Lara Raj – 18, from the US ( Instagram & TikTok )
- Megan Skiendiel – 18, from the US (Instagram & TikTok)
Katseye released their first single, appropriately titled ‘Debut’, in June, followed by ‘Touch’ in July.
Just before the Netflix docu-series was released, their first EP, ‘SIS (Soft Is Strong)’, became available on all major music streaming platforms for listeners to enjoy.
You can also stay updated on the girl group’s latest news by following them on Instagram and TikTok at Katseyeworld and Katseyeworld, respectively.
Katseye from Pop Star Academy is currently available for streaming on Netflix. For those in search of new content, be sure to browse the latest TV shows premiering this month, along with the top series of 2024 thus far and the most binge-worthy shows to add to your watchlist.
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