KATSEYE: About the stars behind THAT viral Gap advert
Unless you’ve been living under a rock, I’m sure we’ve all seen at least a glimpse of Gap’s Fall 2025 campaign: catchy choreography set to the iconic tune of ‘Milkshake’ by Kelis.
The advert has taken the world by storm, with millions of impressions across TikTok, YouTube, Instagram and more.
However, hundreds of people don’t recognise the popstars featured in the advert; global girl group, KATSEYE.
Music News Blitz writer Rhys Rogers explains their rise to superstardom and why it’s so important.
Back to the beginning
KATSEYE have recently emerged onto the music scene, and they have certainly made a huge cultural impact in just one year.
The group was formed through a reality competition series ‘Dream Academy’, an international collaboration between record labels Hybe, who manage K-pop artists BTS and LE SSERAFIM, and Geffen Records - an American label with artists like Guns N’Roses and Olivia Rodrigo.
According to Hybe, the goal of the project was to create an ‘international group based on K-pop methodology’, with the contestants showcasing their talents through both K-pop songs and iconic hits like ‘Buttons’ and ‘Confident’.
By the finale of the show, six members ‘debuted’ in the group Katseye: Sophia Laforteza from the Philippines, Yoonchae Jeung from South Korea, Manon Bannerman from Switzerland, and Lara Raj, Daniela Avanzini and Megan Skiendiel from the USA.
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Discovering their sound
Following their appearance on Dream Academy, KATSEYE released their first single “Debut” in June 2024, followed by their EP “Soft is Strong” in August, which included songs like “Touch” and “Tonight I Might”.
These releases placed them firmly within the K-pop genre, with audiences learning the dance routines from music videos and recording their own covers, and the group quickly became popular amongst fans of K-pop music.
However, their careers reached a turning point with the release of “Gnarly” in April, with the song snatching the attention of a wider audience.
The hit song was their first entry onto the Billboard Top 100 and has been described as “polarising” because of its experimental, hyperpop sound.
The group kept the momentum going with the release of their sophomore EP Beautiful Chaos, which featured “Gabriela” - a song with strong Latin American influences in its style, lyrics and choreography.
“Gabriela” is a perfect example of why KATSEYE has become so popular.
Accurately described as a ‘global’ girl group, their songs, choreography, and performances often draw from the cultures of their members, celebrating their backgrounds and showing true representation.
Awards, adverts and festival appearances
What is certain, is that this has definitely been KATSEYE’s summer.
From performing at Lollapalooza in Chicago to winning the MTV Push Performance of the Year for ‘Touch’, the group have gone from strength to strength on the world stage.
And of course, the cherry on top - the Gap x KATSEYE Fall campaign, which sees the members perform original choreography by Robbie Blue alongside an ensemble of denim-clad dancers.
It’s essentially a music video, and fans have gone wild for it.
The advert reached over 400 million views across platforms in under two weeks and has been celebrated for its message of diversity and inclusion, especially in comparison to the highly-criticised American Eagle advert featuring Sydney Sweeney.
KATSEYE’s appearance in the campaign has given them the final push into the mainstream pop world, and personally, I am very excited to see where they go next.
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