Katseye Says They’re ‘So Proud’ of Sophia Ahead of Her Return to the Group: ‘She’s Our Sister’

Katseye is excited to welcome Sophia Laforteza back to the group after a brief hiatus. Members Lara Raj, Daniela Avanzini, Megan Skiendiel and Yoonchae Jeung shared their support for their “sister” on the carpet at the Victoria’s Secret Fashion Show on Sunday.

“We are so happy that she’s coming back,” Raj told E! News, speaking for the group. “We are so proud of her. I think she’s really been so brave, and we respect her so much for taking the space and taking time for her health. She’s our sister, so we can’t wait for her to come back.”

Laforteza announced in August that she would be taking a step back from upcoming promotional activities to prioritize her “mental health and wellness.” HYBE x Geffen confirmed earlier this month that Laforteza is scheduled to return to group activities beginning in January 2027.

The girl group kicked off its “Wildworld” tour in Dublin on Sept. 1, with the first U.S. stop in Miami on Oct. 13. The tour continues across North America through the end of November, with shows in Boston, Montreal, Chicago, Los Angeles and Mexico City.

Laforteza’s step back from the group comes after member Manon Bannerman announced her own temporary hiatus in February. There has been no announcement made about her return to the group.

Katseye formed and gained popularity as K-pop trainees on the 2023 reality competition series “Dream Academy.” Their new documentary, “Katseye: Wild Hearts,” hit Disney+ and Hulu on Oct. 16. The film picks up where Netflix docuseries “Pop Star Academy: Katseye” left off, following the group on their journey to pop stardom after leaving the competition series.