True pop success hinges on more than talent — it’s about possessing that rare, magnetic presence. Bang Si-hyuk, the visionary behind BTS and chairman of HYBE, understands this better than most. “Usually, people believe that skill is the most important part, but for me, it’s star power,” he says in the Netflix series Pop Star Academy: KATSEYE, highlighting the elusive aura that can elevate a performer to an icon.

The docuseries depicts HYBE and Geffen Records’ years-long mission to build the perfect global girl group, harnessing the K-pop industry’s meticulous eye for detail and its exhaustive artist training and development program to mold a new generation of pop stars. From 120,000 submissions, 20 girls were evaluated on their development in key areas like dance, vocal ability, visual performance, star quality, and attitude. The project’s focus is clear: find the members who exude that undeniable spark, capable of captivating millions.

The final lineup was determined through a Korean-style survival show, The Debut: Dream Academy, which allowed fans to vote for the members they wanted to see in the group. The result is KATSEYE, comprised of six young women from around the world — Daniela Avanzini (20, Atlanta), Lara Raj (18, Los Angeles), Manon Bannerman (22, Zurich), Megan Skiendiel (18, Honolulu), Sophia Laforteza (21, Manila) and Yoonchae Jeong (16, Seoul) — who each demonstrate that unique combination of craft and charisma.

To celebrate the release of their debut EP, SIS (Soft Is Strong), on August 16, KATSEYE held their first-ever fan event at the El Rey Theater in Los Angeles last week, performing their singles “Debut,” “Touch” and “My Way” for a few hundred fans. It was the first time they could meet their fans face-to-face. “There were so many more fans than we expected,” Laforteza tells PAPER. “We could fully see their faces… Like, you could see everybody all the way to the back.” The fan fervor even prompted a bonus performance of “Debut” since some fans couldn’t enter the theater in time “because the line went all the way around the block.”

Their energy is palpable even through the screen during our video call the next day. The members of KATSEYE are still buzzing from the night before.

“We were laughing backstage, like, there’s no way people are actually here for us,” Raj says. “And the craziest thing is that they were singing our songs. They knew our songs, and as we were doing it, they were chanting and doing it with us. It was such a special moment, and that’s the first time we’ve ever experienced or felt that.”

On stage, KATSEYE look like naturals, effortlessly commanding attention with their dynamic choreography — “Debut” conveys power, while “Touch” keeps it playful and demure — and solid vocals. As one social media fan put it, “They’re all IT girls like I’m obsessed.” But behind the polished performance are countless hours of practice, relentless hard work and the determination to perfect every detail. The members have honed their skills through rigorous training (as documented on Pop Star Academy), pushing themselves to embody the perfect pop star. Their journey has been guided by a dream team of industry experts, including HYBE performance director and now HxG Executive Creator Son Sung-deuk, as well as HxG Creative Director Humberto Leon, who previously served as the co-creative director of Kenzo and co-founder of Opening Ceremony, and a stacked roster of dance instructors and choreographers like Grant Gilmore, Sohey Sugihara and Nikky Paramo, who crafted choreography that enhances their cool, confident image.

Pop Star Academy gives viewers a glimpse into the process. For dance, the girls were split into different classes based on skill level; only the more advanced trainees could add heels to their lessons with Paramo, who takes on the role of the unforgiving dance instructor in the series. “She is literally our queen,” Raj says now. “She kept it so real with us and helped us grow.” Laforteza adds, “She’s our mother.” Leon, who guides the group on visuals, is also mother, Raj says. Leon focuses on developing the girls’ individual styles, drawing from their diverse cultural backgrounds — Cuban-American; Indian; Ghanaian, Swiss and Italian; Cantonese and Singaporean; Filipina; and Korean — while ensuring visual harmony as a group. This attention to detail includes personal touches deeply important to the members themselves, like Raj’s bindi and Bannerman’s waist beads.

Each mentor brought a different perspective, helping to shape the group’s identity and performance style. Throughout the process, they had to learn more than just technique; they needed to embody the essence of being a pop star. And that starts with confidence. It’s something that Skiendiel, who entered the program at 15, struggled with initially. “Looking back, I was such a baby,” she admits. “I was so naive and hard on myself.” Through the training, Skiendiel evolved from a perfectionist struggling with self-doubt to an artist who recognizes the importance of feeling self-assured. “If I don’t believe in myself, no one else will,” she explains. As a performer, Skiendiel evokes a sense of duality central to pop stardom — off-stage, she’s a self-described nerd and a little socially awkward; on stage, she’s a tiger. The key to unleashing her confidence was simple: “I stopped caring what other people think of me.”

Bannerman joined the HxG trainee program after being scouted on social media for her star aura. Her artistry bloomed through poetry, songwriting and art, but her technical skills in vocal and dance were underdeveloped, meaning Bannerman had to work twice as hard to get up to speed. “We all really learned how to be hard workers,” she says. Her growth reflects a deeper understanding of the music industry and her role within it: “We learned how to communicate with each other [and] how to be professionals.”

Similarly, Raj felt driven by her perfectionist tendencies. A powerhouse vocalist, she entered the program like a bolt of lightning. Her biggest hurdle was learning how to be part of a team. “I was so focused on being perfect,” she recalls. “I had this fire and drive to be the best at everything that I could possibly be. But I’ve learned to embrace my imperfections, which makes us unique and special.” This mindset also strengthened her bond with her group members. “We’ve grown so much, and we’ve come to a place where we love each other and want to be there for each other through this time,” she says. This deeper connection and self-acceptance have shaped her role in KATSEYE as a member the others can rely on.

“All of us are perfectionists,” Laforteza laughs. As the group’s leader, she has a way of talking that is both candid and reassuring. She leads with a deep sense of empathy, creating an atmosphere where the other members feel comfortable sharing their struggles. “I didn’t even realize I was a perfectionist until it was pointed out,” she continues, “and learning to manage that has been a big part of my growth. It’s all about finding that balance between pushing myself and being kind to myself.” This self-awareness and self-care became essential as she navigated the intense demands of the program, helping her to thrive despite the rigorous schedule.

“One of the biggest things I would remind myself and the others, too, is how this is literally the dream,” she says. “This is what we wanted so much, and constantly reminding ourselves that we deserve this.”

For Avanzini, who grew up competing in ballroom dance, the program allowed her to define herself as an artist. “Going through the training and learning more about myself helped me find other ways to express my emotions,” she says. “I tend to concentrate a lot on other things [when I’m dancing], and it shows on my face, and I’ve learned to hide that and to put on a performance.” As an only child, Avanzini has also had to learn to co-exist with five other girls. The group lives together in a house in Los Angeles. “I didn’t have a lot of girlfriends when I was younger,” she adds. “So I’ve learned a lot about myself, like how to communicate with other girls.”

Jeong, the youngest member, moved from South Korea to the US for KATSEYE. The move has led to significant cultural and personal growth for the talented teenager. “I learned so much about different cultures, languages, and foods,” she says through an interpreter. (She’s still learning English.) “When I first arrived, I didn’t know much about American culture, the culture of a big country, because my world had been kind of small until now, having lived in Korea.” This exposure to new environments and perspectives has expanded her worldview, helping her learn more about herself and the industry.

“Something that we’re all learning is that this industry is very scary,” Raj says. “It’s so exciting, and it’s so fun, but it’s also very new to all of us, and the best part of being in a group is that with every experience, we get to go through it with each other.”

“Everybody here has something that I feel like I lack,” Laforteza adds. “We balance each other so well, and we all bring our strengths to the table… We are all individually so powerful, and when you put six powerful girls together, it’s going to be successful.”

They watched the docuseries together as a group, reliving the ups and downs of their journey to debut. Watching their trainee selves was surreal and emotionally intense, bringing old wounds to the surface and strengthening their sisterhood. “It felt like we time-traveled through the screen, and all the feelings came back,” Laforteza says. “I’m so glad we had all those obstacles to make us so much stronger and more connected.”

“Before we watched it, we made a promise and a pact to each other that everything then, it’s in the past,” Raj says. “What’s right now is our reality, and we are just going to support each other and stand with each other through everything.” Most importantly, Bannerman adds, “We’ve all matured.”

However, there is one thing they can’t move past, at least not yet: Ariana Grande’s “Break Free,” which soundtracked a pivotal routine in the Dream Academy competition — one the girls spent months perfecting in heels. “I get into a barrel jump turn right away once I hear that song play,” Laforteza laughs. “I’ll never forget that choreo,” adds Raj. “I could do it on my deathbed.”

Photography: Cody Critcheloe