Katseye’s Manon and Sophia on Global Fame and Beauty Secrets

If you aren’t already familiar with Katseye, you’re about to be. The girl group debuted just last summer with their single “Touch” after forming through the Dream Academy reality competition in 2023, but they’ve already released two EPs, accumulated over 25 million monthly Spotify listeners, and secured a slew of high-profile brand deals (the most recent, with Invisalign, even made it into their video for “Gabriela”). Formed under a collaboration between Hybe and Geffen Records, the sextet mixes high-energy K-pop choreography with a global, American-influenced sound—a fresh combo that has made them stand out from the jump.

Later this year, they’re going on their first tour in support of their sophomore EP, Beautiful Chaos, providing the all-under-25 group with their biggest opportunity yet to engage with their already-dedicated fanbase. We were lucky enough to catch up with two members—Manon Bannerman and Sophia Laforteza—to discover how they’re finding balance as they navigate Gen Z global fame.

Ahead, learn all about the rising stars’ beauty essentials, thoughts on their meteoric rise, and the self-care practices that keep them smiling amidst their packed schedules.

What has it been like navigating your rise to global fame over the past year since Katseye debuted?

Sophia Laforteza: It’s a journey, and we’re all such newbies to this. We’re so blessed because everything is coming at such a fast pace, faster than we ever expected, and bigger than all of our dreams. We’re navigating it all together, learning what our groove is and what works for us. And not only that: We’re also learning so much about ourselves as a group, discovering how we can uplift each other and how we can go through all of these hurdles. It’s been great.

Is there a certain song or moment that’s gotten an especially memorable response so far?

Manon Bannerman: “Gnarly” was a rollercoaster of a song. A lot of people had opinions on it, and it was our first song to ever be in the Billboard Hot 100. That song really means a lot to us.

You already have an incredibly engaged fan base. How do you balance that with continuing to build your identity and the sound of the group?

SL: Since we’re such a new group, we’re still trying to figure out what exactly is the Katseye sound. We’re dabbling around, figuring out what we like, what the fans like, what we don’t like, and what the fans don’t like. The fans play a big role in it because obviously, we make our music for them, so we are curious about what they have to say and how they feel about the songs.

What are your top three must-have beauty products?

SL: I cannot go a day without wearing my Invisalign. If I don’t wear it, I can genuinely feel the difference in my own confidence. I need lip gloss, and one of my favorites is Glossier Balm Dotcom. I love the espresso and cherry colors. And I need my Dyson Airwrap—I need my hair to be blown out.

MB: Sophia always has the most gorgeous, blown-out hair every morning. She probably wakes up at about 5 a.m. For me, it’s also my Invisalign aligners, because you can’t skip a day, and then I like to put on lashes. I feel like they make such a big difference. And then a good perfume.

Can you share a few of your favorite fragrances?

MB: I have like five favorites right now: Two of them are Le Labo Rose 31 and Glossier You Rêve. I also love Orebella and Byredo Gypsy Water.

SL: I also love Orebella—Blooming Fire is my favorite—as well as Glossier You Fleur. I also have a lot of perfumes that I wear all the time, but right now. one of my favorites is the OG Glossier You. I’m obsessed with it. I love almost anything Jo Malone, but one of my all-time favorites is the English Pear and Sweet Pea. I always go back to her.

Have you gotten any beauty tips you swear by over the years?

MB: Get your gut health in check. Fixing your gut, watching what you’re eating, and making sure you’re eating well has been a game-changer for me. I think skincare starts in your gut.

SL: The biggest beauty lesson that I’ve learned from being in Katseye is the importance of a skincare base. I can’t do my makeup if my skin is too dry. It’s not even about texture: A hydrated, primed base just makes my makeup look so much better. Even if I’m breaking out, I will chug water and apply skincare products to make sure my lips, my eyes, and everything else looks hydrated. It’s so much easier to do my makeup after this, and it lasts longer as well. My all-time favorite hydrating product is the Laneige Sleeping Mask. I literally use it almost every single night. I’ll layer it on my face and when I wake up, I wash it off and it feels so good. I also use Aquaphor. I am on Accutane at a pretty strong dose so I get extremely, extremely dry.

How do you practice self-care when navigating your busy schedule?

SL: When we’re on the go, each of us have these little pouches of self-care products. I always carry my Invisalign aligners. My case is bedazzled, and it’s easy to take places, especially because we’re going on tour soon. I always have a pouch with Aquaphor. I carry essential oils: one for self-love, a lavender essential oil, and all of that. Also, a little facial spray and mints for a little refresh throughout the day, which always feels good on the go. It really is the little things.

How do you stay grounded amidst your packed schedule?

MB: We all really take rest seriously and make sure that when we’re not working, we sleep as much as possible and take time to ground ourselves. I like to journal or make music on the side. We all have our little things that we do.

SL: It’s about taking time for ourselves and staying in touch with our own hobbies. We’re so lucky because we turned our hobby into our whole life. Singing has been my everything: It’s one of my favorite things to do. When I’m at work, I’m singing our songs, and I get home and I literally do karaoke. That’s how a lot of us stay grounded: We really stay in touch with what we enjoy doing.

What do you love most about being part of one of the most prominent Gen Z girl groups?

MB: It feels like girl groups, especially in the West, are coming back after having kind of died down for a while. Flo is up and coming right now, but there’s only a few of us right now on the market, and people are excited about girl groups again. Performing in malls and bringing all of that stuff back has been very exciting.

SL: When we were filming something, I watched a clip of us dancing, and I was like, ‘Wait, I’m a fan of y’all.’ I’m such a fangirl: If I wasn’t in Katseye, I would be such a fan. I’m talking as if I’m not in it—I genuinely forget that I’m in Katseye. I’m all about what we stand for and the whole global perspective of it all. I’m also lucky because these girls are genuinely my best friends, and if I’m going through anything, I hit up the group chat. Everybody knows everything about each other, and that really does make it a lot more fun than it can be.

MB: It feels just like a friend group that got famous and sings and dances together, and we get to travel the world.

SL: We’re all such social butterflies. We love meeting people, and it gives us so much energy. We genuinely have so much fun. As tiring as it is, it’s so worth it.

What practices have you integrated to ensure you always stay camera-ready, from your smile to everything else?

SL: I always make sure that my hair is at least blow-dried. I also put my Invisalign aligners in every night when I’m going to bed, and if I forget, I run to my bathroom. Last night, I was about to go to bed, and I was like, ‘Oh my God, I’m not wearing it.’ I have a little cleaner I use, and then I put them in. Then, when I wake up the next day, my smile is bright. As I mentioned, I also do a face mask overnight. As long as I feel hydrated with hair done, lashes curled, and lip gloss, I’m good.