KATSEYE Members Age: Everything You Need to Know About the Global Girl Group in 2025
If you’ve been following K-pop or global pop music lately, you’ve probably heard the name KATSEYE popping up everywhere. This six-member girl group took the world by storm when they debuted in 2024. And fans everywhere keep asking one big question — what is the katseye members age? How old are these girls, and where do they come from?
In this article, we’ll break it all down in one place. From birth dates and ages to fun facts about each member, we got you covered.
Who Is KATSEYE? A Quick Group Overview
Before we dive into the katseye members age details, let’s talk about who KATSEYE actually is. This is not your average K-pop group. KATSEYE is a multinational girl group formed through a collaboration between HYBE (the company behind BTS) and Geffen Records. They were born out of a reality competition show called The Debut: Dream Academy in 2023, which attracted over 120,000 applicants from around the world.
Out of all those hopefuls, only six girls made it. The final lineup was decided by a mix of fan voting and judge scores. The group officially debuted on June 28, 2024, with the single “Debut.” Their follow-up single “Touch” went viral on TikTok through a huge dance challenge. And by 2025, they dropped “Gnarly,” which became their first entry on the Billboard Hot 100. That’s a big deal for any artist, let alone a group just over a year into their career.
Their group name has a cool meaning too. A cat’s eye is a type of gemstone that shows different colors from different angles. Each member of KATSEYE is unique in her own way — kind of like how the gem reflects different light. The idea to replace the “C” with a “K” was actually Lara’s idea, giving it that K-pop feel.
Full KATSEYE Members Age List (2025)
Here’s a quick reference table so you can see all the katseye members age at a glance:
| Member | Full Name | Date of Birth | Age (2025) | Birthplace |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Manon | Manon Bannerman | June 26, 2002 | 23 | Lucerne, Switzerland |
| Sophia | Sophia Laforteza | December 31, 2002 | 22 | Manila, Philippines |
| Daniela | Daniela Avanzini | June 1, 2004 | 21 | Atlanta, GA, USA |
| Lara | Lara Rajagopalan | November 3, 2005 | 19 | Los Angeles, CA, USA |
| Megan | Megan Skiendiel | February 10, 2006 | 19 | Honolulu, HI, USA |
| Yoonchae | Jeong Yoonchae | December 6, 2007 | 17 | Seoul, South Korea |
The age range in KATSEYE goes from 17 to 23 years old, making them a young and energetic group. Every member brings something different to the table.
Manon Bannerman — The Oldest Member
Age and Birthday
Manon was born on June 26, 2002, making her 23 years old in 2025. She is the oldest member of KATSEYE, and she hails from Lucerne, Switzerland.
What Makes Manon Special
Manon is widely known as the visual of the group. She has a striking, fashion-forward look that helped KATSEYE get attention from major brands early on. Manon speaks multiple languages, which is part of what makes her so interesting to fans globally. She often stands out in photoshoots and music videos with her bold styling choices.
Even though she’s the oldest, she still has that youthful energy that fits perfectly within the group dynamic. Manon was actually featured in KATSEYE’s interview with NYLON in April 2026, showing that the group continues to get major media attention even into their second year.
Sophia Laforteza — The Leader
Age and Birthday
Sophia was born on December 31, 2002, which makes her 22 years old in 2025 (turning 23 at the end of the year). She is from Manila, Philippines, and she serves as the leader of KATSEYE.
What Makes Sophia Special
Sophia ranked first during the Dream Academy finale, which is why she became leader. She is known for her amazing dance skills — before joining Dream Academy, she actually competed on So You Think You Can Dance? in Season 13. She also came in second at the Super Kids Europe international competition.
Her role models include BTS’s V and ENHYPEN’s Jungwon. She is a night owl and often cooks meals for the rest of the group — pretty sweet, right? Sophia carries the group with both her talent and warm personality.
Daniela Avanzini — The Main Dancer
Age and Birthday
Daniela was born on June 1, 2004, making her 21 years old in 2025. She was born and raised in Atlanta, Georgia, USA.
What Makes Daniela Special
Daniela is the main dancer of KATSEYE, and it’s not hard to see why. She has trained in a huge range of dance styles, including Afro-Cuban, Afro-style, cha-cha-cha, and salsa. That background gives her moves a unique flavor you don’t often see in pop groups.
She is also the shortest member of the group, according to the members themselves. Despite her petite frame, her stage presence is massive. She draws a lot of her style inspiration from Shakira, fitting for a dancer with Latin roots in her performance background.
Lara Rajagopalan — The Producer and Vocalist
Age and Birthday
Lara was born on November 3, 2005, which puts her at 19 years old in 2025. She is an Indian-American artist from Los Angeles, California.
What Makes Lara Special
Lara is the main vocalist of the group and also a producer. She speaks both English and Tamil. What’s really cool is that she actually participated in Michelle Obama’s Global Girls Alliance campaign before KATSEYE even debuted. That says a lot about her character and reach as a young woman.
She placed second in the Dream Academy final lineup and is one of the most vocally impressive members in the group. Her dream collaborators include Rihanna, BTS Jimin, Pharrell Williams, and Timbaland — a very ambitious wish list that fits her level of talent.
Megan Skiendiel — The All-Rounder
Age and Birthday
Megan was born on February 10, 2006, making her 19 years old in 2025. She is from Honolulu, Hawaii, USA.
What Makes Megan Special
Megan is known as the all-rounder of KATSEYE, which means she doesn’t have one standout role — she’s great at everything. Vocals, dance, performance — she does it all. Her charm symbol is a cherry, which fits her fun and bright personality.
She did have to take a break from the group’s Asian tour in September 2024 due to a back injury, but she recovered and came back stronger. Fans love Megan for her consistency and versatile skill set.
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Yoonchae Jeong — The Youngest Member (Maknae)
Age and Birthday
Yoonchae was born on December 6, 2007, making her 17 years old in 2025. She is from Seoul, South Korea and is the youngest member (called the maknae in K-pop terms) of KATSEYE.
What Makes Yoonchae Special
Yoonchae is the tallest member of KATSEYE, which is pretty funny given she’s the youngest. She speaks both Korean and English, which helps bridge the group’s connection to K-pop culture.
Her nicknames include “Bruni,” “Marshmallow,” and “Yoonchip.” She auditioned for CJ E&M back in 2020 at just 12 years old, showing how driven she’s been from a young age. Her biggest inspirations are BLACKPINK’s Jennie and BTS — she’s said BTS is literally the reason she pursued K-pop.
KATSEYE Age Ranking: Oldest to Youngest
For fans who love knowing exactly where each member falls in terms of age, here’s a simple list:
- Manon — 23 (oldest)
- Sophia — 22
- Daniela — 21
- Lara — 19
- Megan — 19
- Yoonchae — 17 (youngest / maknae)
The age gap between the oldest (Manon) and youngest (Yoonchae) is about six years. That’s actually a pretty common age spread for K-pop-style groups, where the range helps cover different markets and fan bases.
How Were the KATSEYE Members Selected?
This is where the story gets really interesting. KATSEYE wasn’t just put together by a label. They went through one of the most intensive selection processes in modern pop history.
The whole thing started with 120,000 global applicants for the Dream Academy show. That’s a huge number. The 20 finalists went through months of intense training in singing, dancing, and performance. The final six members were chosen by a combination of 50% fan voting and 50% judge scores during the live finale on November 17, 2023.
This process was later documented in the Netflix series Pop Star Academy: KATSEYE, which premiered on August 21, 2024. If you haven’t watched it, it gives a great look at just how hard these girls worked before ever setting foot on a real stage.
KATSEYE’s Global Roots — Where Each Member Is From
One of the most unique things about KATSEYE is how multinational they are. Let’s break it down:
- Manon — Switzerland 🇨🇭
- Sophia — Philippines 🇵🇭
- Daniela — USA (Atlanta, Georgia) 🇺🇸
- Lara — USA (Los Angeles, California) 🇺🇸
- Megan — USA (Honolulu, Hawaii) 🇺🇸
- Yoonchae — South Korea 🇰🇷
Three members from the US, one from the Philippines, one from Switzerland, and one from South Korea. The group covers three continents and brings wildly different cultural backgrounds together under one group. That’s part of why they’ve resonated so quickly with a global audience.
KATSEYE’s Music Journey So Far
Now that you know all about the katseye members age, let’s talk briefly about their music. This helps you understand what these young women have achieved at their ages.
- “Debut” (June 2024) — their first single, an upbeat pop track about confidence and sisterhood
- “Touch” (July 2024) — a melodic drum and bass R&B track that went massively viral on TikTok
- SIS (Soft Is Strong) EP (August 2024) — their debut extended play, which debuted at #119 on the Billboard 200
- “Gnarly” (April 2025) — their first Billboard Hot 100 entry
- Beautiful Chaos EP (June 2025) — debuted at #4 on the Billboard 200, their biggest achievement yet
All of this in just over a year. For a group where the oldest member is 23 and the youngest is 17, that is a remarkable trajectory.
Why KATSEYE Is Different From Other Girl Groups
You might be wondering what sets KATSEYE apart from the hundreds of K-pop groups out there. A few things stand out:
- They are the first global girl group built using K-pop training methods but targeted at a Western pop market
- Their fashion is heavily influenced by Y2K style — low-rise jeans, crop tops, and archival pieces
- They have a dedicated creative director, Humberto Leon, who shapes their image beyond just music
- Major fashion houses like Coach and Fendi have already partnered with them
- Their fandom is called EYEKONS — a mix of “eye” from KATSEYE and “icon”
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Key Takeaways
Here’s a quick summary of everything important about katseye members age and the group:
- KATSEYE has 6 members: Manon, Sophia, Daniela, Lara, Megan, and Yoonchae
- Age range: 17 to 23 years old (as of 2025)
- Oldest member: Manon Bannerman (born June 26, 2002)
- Youngest member: Yoonchae Jeong (born December 6, 2007)
- Leader: Sophia Laforteza
- Debuted: June 28, 2024
- Label: HYBE and Geffen Records
- Based in: Los Angeles, California
- First Billboard Hot 100 entry: “Gnarly” (2025)
- Netflix documentary: Pop Star Academy: KATSEYE (2024)
Conclusion
So there you have it — a complete look at katseye members age, backgrounds, and everything in between. These six young women range from 17 to 23 years old, come from four different countries, and have already made history in the music industry in a remarkably short time.
Whether you’re a long-time EYEKON or just discovering KATSEYE for the first time, it’s hard not to be impressed by what this group has built. They’re young, talented, and clearly just getting started. With their Beautiful Chaos EP already hitting #4 on the Billboard 200, the next few years are going to be exciting to watch.
Keep an eye on these six — they’re not slowing down anytime soon.
FAQ: KATSEYE Members Age
Q: How old is the oldest member of KATSEYE? A: The oldest member is Manon Bannerman, who was born on June 26, 2002. She is 23 years old in 2025.
Q: Who is the youngest member of KATSEYE? A: Yoonchae Jeong is the youngest, born on December 6, 2007. She is 17 years old in 2025.
Q: How old is Sophia from KATSEYE? A: Sophia Laforteza was born on December 31, 2002, making her 22 years old in 2025.
Q: What is the age gap between the oldest and youngest KATSEYE member? A: There is roughly a 6-year age gap between Manon (oldest) and Yoonchae (youngest).
Q: How old were the KATSEYE members when they debuted? A: When they debuted in June 2024, the members ranged from about 16 (Yoonchae) to 21 (Manon).
Q: Is Lara from KATSEYE Indian? A: Yes, Lara Rajagopalan is Indian-American and was born in Los Angeles, California.
Q: Where is Megan from KATSEYE from? A: Megan Skiendiel is from Honolulu, Hawaii, USA.
Q: Who is the leader of KATSEYE? A: Sophia Laforteza is the leader of KATSEYE. She ranked first in the Dream Academy finale.
