KATSEYE's Sophia Laforteza Announces Hiatus Due to Mental Health
KATSEYE's Sophia Laforteza Announces Hiatus Due to Mental Health
Hayley Santaflorentina Fri, August 7, 2026 at 11:17 PM UTC
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Ian Maule / AFP via Getty Images
Originally appeared on E! Online
Sophia Laforteza is putting herself first.
Nearly six months after her fellow KATSEYE member Manon Bannerman announced she would be going on hiatus, the group confirmed that Laforteza, too, would be temporarily stepping away.
“We are very sorry to share that Sophia will be temporarily unable to participate in upcoming promotional activities,” an announcement from HYBE x Geffen Records shared to the girl group’s website read on Aug. 7. “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.”
The statement confirmed that Laforteza has been receiving the “utmost support,” however medical professionals advised that the 23-year-old “take dedicated time for extended rest and ongoing care to ensure a full recovery.”
As for her future with the group—which also features members including Yoonchae, Daniela Avanzini, Lara Raj and Megan Skiendiel—the management company stressed that “the health, safety, and long-term well-being of our artists will always remain our highest priority.” Despite Laforteza’s eagerness to continue, the statement noted she’d be away until September, at which time her health would be reassessed.
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Shortly after the announcement was made, Laforteza took a moment to personally address KATSEYE’s fans, affectionately referred to as the EYEKONS.
“It truly breaks my heart to have to miss out on a lot,” she wrote on her Instagram Story. “You know how much I love being on stage, performing, and sharing these moments with you. Making this decision wasn't easy, but I'm learning that health has to come first.”
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As she noted, “I'm realizing that if I don't take care of my mind and body now, I won't be able to keep doing what I love the most for so long.”
She expressed her gratitude for fans’ patience, love and understanding.
“It means more to me than I could ever say,” she continued. “I promise I'm going to work as hard as I can to get through this, heal properly, and come back stronger.”
Back in February, fellow member Bannerman, 24, also announced a break from the group, citing a need to prioritize her health and wellbeing.
Emma McIntyre/Getty Images for The Recording Academy
While the Swiss singer has been keeping a relatively low profile in the months since, in June, Laforteza previously spoke about the band’s desire not to “rush” Bannerman back to the group.
“We want to give her all the time that she needs, all the space that she needs,” she added in her interview with Allure. “So we don't want to make any assumptions, set anything in stone.”
As Laforteza noted, “She really deserves that and the door is always open.”
For more about the members of KATSEYE, read on...
How Was KATSEYE Formed?
KATSEYEwas the result of the 2023 reality competition seriesThe Debut: Dream Academy, a collaboration between Hybe—the South Korean entertainment label behindBTS—and Geffen Records.The show saw 20 global contestants undergo challenges to create what Hybe chairmanBang Si-hyukdescribed as "an international group based on K-pop methodology."The process, including the yearslong training candidates had to go through, was chronicled in the Netflix docuseriesPop Star Academy: Katseye.Sophia Laforteza
Considered the leader of KATSEYE, Laforteza was born to actressCarla Guevara Lafortezaand chefGodfrey Lafortezaon December 31, 2002.She began her career at a young age, most notably performing alongside her mom on the Philippine talk showShe Said, She Saidwhen she was 5 years old.Chosen out of 120,000 worldwide applicants, Sophia—representing the Philippines—consistently wowedDream Academyjudges with her polished performances. She was also often ranked high in the fan-voted challenges.So, it was no wonder that she placed first in the show's finale with an overall top score of 88.33.In August 2026, Sophia announced that she would betaking a temporary hiatusto focus on her physical and mental health.Lara RaJ
Born on November 3, 2005, in Connecticut, Lara already had quite the performing résumé before she was scouted forDream Academythrough her singing videos on social media."I began vocal lessons, acting training and dance classes in Dallas, Texas, where I spent my early childhood," she toldVoyage LAmagazine in 2020. "I spent years performing with the Septien Entertainment Group there at venues like the House of Blues, Hard Rock Cafe, American Airlines Center, Six Flags and various music festivals."She moved to New York City as a teen to study at Professional Performing Arts School and Fiorello H. LaGuardia High School, which boasts an alumni list includingJennifer AnistonandTimothée Chalamet. Between classes, she auditioned for various performing and modeling gigs before landing an appearance on a 2018 episode ofThe Blacklist.As seen inPop Star Academy, Lara was introduced after producers believe they needed "a vocalist that will sell out stadiums."She made it into KATSEYE—spelled with a "K" under her suggestion—with a second place score of 82.67.Daniela Avanzini
Like many of her bandmates, Daniela—born July 1, 2004—started performing at a young age.She had already competed onAmerica's Got TalentandSo You Think You Can Dance: The Next Generation—as well as appeared in a 2013 episode ofThe Queen Latifah Showas part of an "America's Most Talented Kids" segment—before being recruited forDream Academy.That's why when she started training for the competition, producers found her to be the strongest technical dancer.Representing the United States, Daniela joined KATSEYE after achieving a third place score of 79.00 in the show's finale.Yoonchae
BornJeung Yoon-chaeon December 6, 2007, in South Korea, the mononymous singer grew up listening to K-pop groups likeBLACKPINK.In fact, she started training to become an idol as a tween, spending two years with K-pop management group WakeOne. So, while the then-15-year-old was more than ready forDream Academy, her biggest challenge was admittedly "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 toldBillboard Philippinesin 2025. "I’d like to think that I made some progress there."In the series, Yoonchae placed fourth with an overall score of 78.00.Megan Skiendiel
In addition to dance and vocal training, the Hawaiian native—born February 10, 2006—also had acting experience under her belt beforeDream Academy.She appeared as an extra in 2015'sJurassic World, before landing minor parts inRaven's Home,Sydney to the MaxandBosch: Legacy.As documented inPop Star Academy, Megan was one of the earliest candidates to train for the competition. She placed fifth in theDream Academyfinale with a score of 68.33.In September 2024, Megan took a brief break due to a back injury related to scoliosis.Manon Bannerman
Though she was bornMeret Manon Sarpong Bannermanon June 26, 2002, the Swiss nativestarted going by her middle name at 15 years old when she spent a year studying abroad in America."At school, they pronounced Meret so strangely," she explained to Swiss-German newspaperTages-Anzeigerin 2023. "So I switched to Manon. That worked better."She was scouted forDream Academyafter Hybe casting managerMichelle Kimsaw her on social media. At the time, Manon was living in Switzerland and had little dance experience, leading to producers inviting her to Los Angeles to train.She was the final addition to the six KATSEYE members, scoring 68.00 in the competition.In February 2026, KATSEYE announced that Manon would betaking a temporary breakto "focus on her health and wellbeing."
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Source: “AOL Entertainment”
