I Love That My 9-Year-Old Daughter Is A Superfan Of KATSEYE

This article was originally published in November 2025. We’re rerunning it amid KATSEYE’s Best New Artist nomination at the 2026 Grammys.

As my daughter sat down for breakfast, I nudged and said, “You have to see this!” On my phone, global girl group KATSEYE was performing “Internet Girl” for the first time at The Armory in Minneapolis, Minnesota, on November 15, 2025. It was the first show of their “Beautiful Chaos Tour.”

By the time the chorus kicked in, “Haven’t you heard, I’m the internet girl… Eat zucchini, eat zucchini…” my daughter was vibing. “Can we play it again?” she asked when it was over. And suddenly, our morning wasn’t just about breakfast, it was about shared fandom. When the viral clip entered my FYP last night, I knew it was a banger, and I couldn’t wait for my 9-year-old KATSEYE fan to hear it.

It’s not rare to find a pop-culture moment that feels both thrilling for me and my tween. They seem to be growing up so much faster these days. And with our shared use of social media—my daughter will sometimes use my Instagram and TikTok accounts to scroll and watch videos—we basically share an algorithm now.

One might ask, is she old enough to be vibing to KATSEYE? I say, yes. This feels like her generation’s Spice Girls, after all—only with better choreography. Pair that with the girls’ global backgrounds, social-media savviness, and a louder message of “you belong.” And, as a mom of two girls, I’m totally on board. 

Why I’m Totally Good With My 9-Year-Old Being a KATSEYE Superfan

I understand the worry of some parents of younger kids—the lyrics to the songs and the sexy outfits. Are they appropriate for little ones? I still say yes, and here’s why…

The group was formed in 2023 via the survival show “Pop Star Academy: KATSEYE.” (also called “Dream Academy” in some coverage) by the labels HYBE Corporation and Geffen Records. The final six members hail from the U.S., South Korea, Switzerland and the Philippines—bringing together roots in Cuba, Venezuela, India, Sweden and more. Two of the members (Lara Raj and Megan Meiyok Skiendiel) are openly queer, which I believe is a meaningful, visible moment for young fans. 

Representation matters. One member of the group is Sophia Laforteza, who hails from the Philippines. My daughter is biracial and half Filipino, and I love that she can see someone who looks like her on that stage, and on our screens. 

So yes, their fits serve baddie vibes (with unmistakable sex appeal) and the choreography is pop-bright, but beneath that, there’s a core of empowerment, self-acceptance, and diversity. Watching my little girl—who is enrolled in musical theater, voice lessons, and dance classes all by choices of her own—lash onto a chorus, learn a move, and say “I want to be bold like that” feels like a small win.

Just stick to the clean versions of their songs on Spotify though.

Some Background: Who Is KATSEYE?

If you’re going to bop along to “Gnarly” with your nine-year-old, you’ll want to know the background. KATSEYE officially debuted on June 28, 2024, with the single “Debut.” Their first EP “SIS” (Soft Is Strong) dropped on August 16, 2024. Then on April 30, 2025, they released the single “Gnarly” (described as hyper-pop) as the lead for their second EP. And that’s roughly the time, I discovered them on the ‘gram. As I heard the lyrics: “like boba tea… gnarly… Tesla… gnarly…” They don’t make entirely that much sense, like is “gnarly” good or bad? I still don’t know, but it wasn’t long until my daughter and her little friends learned the choreo.

On June 20, 2025, the Latin-pop-influenced second single “Gabriela” was released. Also, with badass choreo. (I still can’t figure out how to do the hands.) Finally, their second EP “Beautiful Chaos” dropped on June 27, 2025, which debuted at No. 4 on the US Billboard 200 chart.

Then right before school started in August of 2025, GAP’s denim commercial dropped featuring the group and a familiar song from my youth, Kelis’ “Milkshake.” My obsession continued.

So this isn’t just some “cute girl group.” This is pop business, global scale.

I then went back in time and binged their “making the band” style show on Netflix. I watched the trainees cry, the coaches push them, and the musical and dance boot-camps. It was riveting, but also sad at times when contestants who didn’t make the cut had to leave. (I’m still crying for Emily.) It was like “Survivor” but for pop girlies who are triple-threats: they can sing, dance, and give good face. (That’s what some of their trainers consider star quality, anyway.) But at the end of the day, after watching the “making” of this global group, I realized, they’re not just a product. They lived the grind, and earned their spots.

KATSEYE Strikes a Balance: Creative Freedom, Girl Power, and Grit

I’m always trying to strike a balance that merges creative freedom with a side of values. With KATSEYE, I feel like I found something that hits both.

Their music might be glossy and fun, but their story is rooted in grit. These girls train like athletes, face public criticism, pick themselves up after every cut, and support each other through the pressure. What my daughter is absorbing when she watches and dances along isn’t just a catchy beat. She’s witnessing a group of diverse young women, working hard, empowering each other, and celebrating identity. If, in a sea of influencer noise and “perfect life” feeds, she catches a group from humble beginnings who worked hard to earn their fame, well, that feels like the kind of grounding we can be inspired by.