KATSEYE member Sophia Laforteza will not participate in the European leg of the girl group's Wildworld Tour, extending a temporary hiatus for her well-being.
The group's management, HYBE and Geffen Records, confirmed the news in a statement on Instagram Stories on August 30. The missed shows in Europe and the UK are scheduled from September 1 through September 17.
"We would like to share an update regarding Sophia's upcoming schedule," the statement read. "Sophia is focusing on her well-being, and the company remains fully committed to providing her with all the support and resources needed."
The record labels asked fans, known as EYEKONS, for their understanding. "We sincerely ask for EYEKONS' warm understanding, as our highest priority will always be the health and long-term well-being of our artists," the labels said.
"We will share further updates as they become available," the statement concluded. "Please continue to send your love, warmth, and support to Sophia and KATSEYE."
Laforteza first shocked fans on August 7 when management announced she would step away temporarily from promotional activities. A statement shared on the group's website at the time read, "We understand how much EYEKONS were looking forward to seeing Sophia on stage, but it is imperative that her mental health and wellness are prioritized."
HYBE and Geffen Records stated that she was receiving the "utmost support" and that medical professionals advised the 23-year-old to "take dedicated time for extended rest and ongoing care to ensure a full recovery."
The management company stressed that her condition would be reassessed come September, noting that the "health, safety, and long-term well-being of our artists will always remain our highest priority."
Her absence comes six months after her bandmate Manon Bannerman announced her own hiatus in February 2026 to focus on her health and wellbeing.
The remaining four members of KATSEYE, Lara Raj, Daniela Avanzini, Yoonchae, and Megan Skiendiel, addressed the absences during a stage appearance on August 14. Speaking to Craig Melvin of the Today show, Raj said, "As KATSEYE, it's so important to us to always prioritize our well-being."
"We stand by Sophia and Manon through and through," Raj said. "We ride for them." Asked if the group had a message for the absent members, Raj replied, "We love you guys so much, always."
The creation of KATSEYE
KATSEYE was formed in 2023 on "The Debut: Dream Academy", a reality competition series created through a collaboration between Geffen Records and Hybe, the South Korean entertainment label behind BTS.
Hybe chairman Bang Si-hyuk described the project as an effort to build "an international group based on K-pop methodology." The process, which involved 20 global contestants and years of training, was chronicled in the Netflix documentary series "Pop Star Academy: Katseye".
Sophia Laforteza
Laforteza, widely considered the leader of KATSEYE, was born on December 31, 2002. She is the daughter of actress Carla Guevara Laforteza and chef Godfrey Laforteza.
Representing the Philippines, she began her career at the age of five, performing alongside her mother on the Philippine talk show "She Said, She Said".
Chosen from 120,000 global applicants for Dream Academy, Laforteza consistently earned high placements in fan-voted challenges. She secured her spot in the group by placing first in the show's finale with an overall top score of 88.33.
Lara Raj
Raj was born in Connecticut on November 3, 2005. She spent her early childhood in Dallas, Texas, where she took vocal lessons, acting training, and dance classes.
She told Voyage LA magazine in 2020 that she spent years performing with the Septien Entertainment Group at venues including the House of Blues, Hard Rock Cafe, American Airlines Center, Six Flags, and various music festivals.
As a teenager, she moved to New York City to study at the Professional Performing Arts School and Fiorello H. LaGuardia High School, an institution with an alumni list including Jennifer Aniston and Timothée Chalamet. She also landed an appearance on a 2018 episode of "The Blacklist".
Producers on Pop Star Academy said they needed "a vocalist that will sell out stadiums" when introducing Raj. She placed second in the competition with a score of 82.67, and suggested spelling the group's name with a K.
Daniela Avanzini
Avanzini, born on July 1, 2004, had significant television experience before joining Dream Academy. She represented the United States in the competition.
Her early resume includes appearances on "America's Got Talent" and "So You Think You Can Dance: The Next Generation". She also appeared in a 2013 episode of "The Queen Latifah Show" as part of an America's Most Talented Kids segment.
Producers found her to be the strongest technical dancer during her training for the competition. She secured her place in KATSEYE with a third-place finale score of 79.00.
Yoonchae
Born Jeung Yoon-chae on December 6, 2007, in South Korea, the mononymous singer grew up listening to K-pop groups such as BLACKPINK.
She spent two years training to become an idol with the management group WakeOne. In a 2025 interview with Billboard Philippines, she said her biggest challenge was trying to learn more about the other members' cultures.
"Of course, another challenge for me was embracing English as a language, especially since I was not used to it before," she told the publication. "I'd like to think that I made some progress there."
Yoonchae joined the final lineup after placing fourth in the series with an overall score of 78.00.
Megan Skiendiel
Skiendiel, a Hawaiian native born on February 10, 2006, had acting experience alongside her vocal and dance training before auditioning for Dream Academy.
She worked as an extra in the 2015 film "Jurassic World" and secured minor roles in "Raven's Home", "Sydney to the Max", and "Bosch: Legacy". Pop Star Academy documented her as one of the earliest candidates to begin training for the reality show.
She placed fifth in the finale with a score of 68.33. Skiendiel previously took a brief break in September 2024 to address a back injury related to scoliosis.
Manon Bannerman
Bannerman was born Meret Manon Sarpong Bannerman in Switzerland on June 26, 2002. She told the Swiss newspaper Tages-Anzeiger in 2023 that she began using her middle name at age 15 while studying abroad in America.
"At school, they pronounced Meret so strangely," she explained. "So I switched to Manon. That worked better."
Hybe casting manager Michelle Kim discovered her on social media. Despite having little dance experience, she was invited to Los Angeles to train.
Bannerman was the final addition to the six-member group, earning a score of 68.00. Her own temporary break to focus on her health and wellbeing was announced by KATSEYE in February 2026.
