The Debut: Dream Academy is a talent competition reality show created as an international collaboration between record labels Hybe and Geffen Records aimed at creating a global girl group. The fan-interactive project involved 20 female candidates from around the world competing in three \"missions\" to test their artistry. Eliminations occurred after each mission, leaving 10 contestants to compete in the finale, where the group's final members were decided.

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According to Hybe Chairman Bang Si-hyuk, the project's intention was to form \"an international group based on K-pop methodology\". The project was announced on August 28, 2023, premiered later that week on September 1, and finished on November 17, running for a total of 12 weeks. The show concluded with the announcement of the winning six contestants as the girl group Katseye.\n

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Selection

In order to select the 20 candidates competing for a spot in the group, Hybe and Geffen Records launched global auditions online in November 2021. Over 120,000 submissions were received.\n

Voting

After each mission performance release, fans were encouraged to vote via Weverse and by liking their favorite contestants' fancams on YouTube. Fan votes were taken into consideration in addition to commentary from experts.\n

Missions

Mission 1

During Mission 1, the 20 contestants were split into four groups–two performing vocals and another two performing choreography. The six contestants with the most fan votes would receive immunity and continue to Mission 2.\n

Vocal Teams:\n

Paramore's \"Still Into You\": Celeste, Lara, Nayoung, Samara, and Sophia

Robyn's \"Dancing on My Own\" and Billie Eilish's \"Happier Than Ever\": Brooklyn, Iliya, Karlee, Lexie, and Manon

Dance Teams:\n

Blackpink's \"Pink Venom\": Adéla, Daniela, Hinari, Megan, and Ua

NewJeans's \"OMG\": Emily, Ezrela, Marquise, Mei, and Yoonchae

The results were released on September 15, 2023. At the end of the mission, Adéla and Hinari were eliminated.\n

Mission 2

For Mission 2, the girls traveled to the Hybe headquarters in Seoul and received a surprise appearance from Le Sserafim. The 18 contestants were split into four groups, each assigned to sing and dance one of two of Le Sserafim's songs, either \"Fearless\" or \"Antifragile\".\n

\"Fearless\" Team A: Brooklyn, Lexie, Marquise, Mei, and Nayoung

\"Fearless\" Team B: Celeste, Daniela, Ezrela, Manon, and Ua

\"Antifragile\" Team A: Emily, Lara, Sophia, and Yoonchae

\"Antifragile\" Team B: Iliya, Karlee, Megan, and Samara

Results were announced on October 8, with Brooklyn, Iliya, Karlee, and Mei eliminated. On October 21, Dream Academy announced Lexie's decision to withdraw from the competition, which reduced the number of contestants eliminated in the next mission from four to three.\n

Mission 3

Mission 3 entailed group performances that were uploaded on October 28. Centered on artistry, the mission divided the 13 members into three groups to perform three \"iconic\" songs and an original choreography.\n

Demi Lovato's \"Confident\": Lara, Marquise, Megan, and Yoonchae

The Pussycat Dolls' \"Buttons\": Celeste, Daniela, Manon, Nayoung, and Sophia

Spice Girls' \"Wannabe\": Emily, Ezrela, Samara, and Ua

The results were released on November 5, with Celeste, Nayoung, and Ua eliminated.\n

Live finale

The live finale occurred at XR Studios in Los Angeles, and premiered at 7 PM PST on YouTube on November 17. The remaining 10 contestants performed original songs for the first time. Two songs were performed in teams of five, \"Girls Don't Like\" and \"Dirty Water\", as well as a group performance of \"All the Same\".\n

Finale Teams: \n

\"Girls Don't Like\": Daniela, Emily, Marquise, Megan, and Yoonchae

\"Dirty Water\": Ezrela, Lara, Manon, Samara, and Sophia

Early fan voting occurred on Weverse from November 10–17 and then live voting occurred for the first 30 minutes of the finale. Fan votes, a panel of three Hybe/Geffen executives, and the input of both labels' CEOs were used to decide the winners. The six slots in the final girl group, named Katseye, went to Sophia, Lara, Yoonchae, Megan, Daniela, and Manon, eliminating the other four contestants: Samara, Emily, Ezrela and Marquise.\n

Netflix series

The process of Katseye's creation throughout the series was recorded and released as a Netflix documentary series on August 21, 2024. Pop Star Academy: Katseye was directed by Nadia Hallgren, and explores the contestants' training and development throughout the project. It was produced by Hybe, Interscope Films, and Boardwalk Pictures.\n

List of contestants

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The contestant was eliminated

The contestant received enough fan votes to be safe from elimination

The contestant was on a winning team and was safe from elimination

The contestant withdrew before the next mission

The contestant was in the final top six and earned a position in Katseye

Post-show activities

The top six debuted as Katseye on June 28, 2024.

Other contestants

On March 18, 2024, Nayoung Lee was revealed as a contestant on the JTBC survival show Girls on Fire. She placed first in the final episode, making her a member of the show's final lineup. On December 23, 2024, the group's debut was cancelled.
Mei Terada joined Inkode and debuted as a member of Say My Name on October 16, 2024.
Several contestants have since released music: Adéla Jergová, Iliya Fedartsova, Brooklyn Van Zandt, and Marquise Auramornrat.
In July 2025, Karlee Tanaka was a contestant on the Netflix competition show Building the Band. She has released music under the stage name Karlee Girl.
In August 2025, Emily Kelavos, Samara Siqueira and Lexie Levin were revealed as three of the four members of another Hybe/Geffen girl group, Saint Satine. Levin departed in July 2026.
In July 2026, Hinari Irie was revealed as a member of Hybe/INCS's South Korean-Japanese girl group, Girls Archives.

Discography

Singles

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References

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External links

Dream Academy website

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Selection

Voting

Missions

Mission 1

Mission 2

Mission 3

Live finale

Netflix series

List of contestants

Post-show activities

Other contestants

Discography

Singles

See also

References

External links

Dream Academy

Broadcast History