KATSEYE are fast on their way to becoming the biggest girl group in the world – and while not officially classed as such – a lot of their success comes from their K-Pop roots.
Daniela Avanzini, Lara Raj, Manon Bannerman, Megan Skiendiel, Sophia Laforteza and Yoonchae Jeung spent two years in a training camp with other hopefuls before eventually becoming members of the group.
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The early days of Katseye echo those of K-Pop icons Blackpink who, prior to their launch, trained for six years and often worked from 11am until 2am while getting only two days off a month.
Katseye were also allegedly ‘lied to’ by management right from the start.
While the girls assumed they were part of a standard training camp, they were initially unaware they were actually on public survival show The Debut: Dream Academy with viewers ultimately deciding who made it into the group.
After scoring a number one album on the Billboard 200 chart earlier this year, Katseye are currently on tour of North America and Europe – but they’re two members down.
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In February Manon, 24, announced she was taking a break from the group to focus on her health and well-being and, just last month, group leader Sophia, 23, followed suit, pulling out on medical advice for extended rest.
And it was almost a hat trick when Megan, 20, badly sprained her ankle during rehearsals for the tour.
Unsurprisingly all of this has caused fans to worry the girls are being overworked and insiders have revealed the concerns echo that of those close to the group.
A well-placed source said: “They’re growing at such a rapid rate that it’s easy to see why the girls are feeling so overwhelmed.
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“But to have two members pull away from Katseye due to their physical and mental well-being within months of each other isn’t normal.
“Of course getting to the top takes hard work and dedication, the girls are no stranger to that, but those close to them are starting to wonder just how far management will go to get them there.
“They’re dropping like flies and at this rate there’ll be no members left to go on tour.
“It’s also crazy that they’re back on the road less than a year after their first tour finished. Questions have been raised over just what it will take for bosses to cut them some slack.”
Fans have taken to social media in their drones to complain that the Katseye girls are being overworked.
One wrote: “It seems like the members are being worked to death. I don’t know why their team is working them for 12 hour days.”
And another said: “They are obviously overworked, and I have a feeling their management is dehumanising. They are just a product.”
While on The Debut: Dream Academy, the Katseye girls shared a reasonable goal of selling out stadiums and topping the Billboard charts within five years.
But it looks like management is keen to get them there much faster – no matter what it takes.