Cats Eye has made history as the first K-pop act to earn a Grammy nomination just two years after debut. CNN reported on November 9 that HYBE’s multinational girl group received nominations for both Best New Artist and Best Pop Duo/Group Performance, marking a remarkable rise since their 2023 formation through the reality show Debut: Dream Academy.
The six members—Daniela Avantzini, Lara Raj, Manon Bannerman, Meghan Skyndiel, Sophia Laporteza, and Jung Yoonchae—represent a blend of American, European, Filipino, and Korean backgrounds, embodying the global identity of HYBE and Geffen Records’ joint project.
Their debut EP SIS (Soft Is Strong), released in August 2024, featured the viral hit Touch, followed by Beautiful Chaos in June, which peaked at No. 4 on the Billboard 200. The group’s popularity soared further after fronting Gap’s Better in Denim campaign, praised for its celebration of racial and body diversity—an intentional contrast to the Eurocentric imagery of earlier American brands.
In an interview with BBC Radio 1, Raj expressed that their goal is to influence culture by continuously reinventing their sound and style. Following the Grammy announcement, Cats Eye shared their gratitude via Instagram Stories, calling the nomination an honor alongside artists such as Olivia Dean, The Marias, Addison Rae, Somb, Leon Thomas, Alex Warren, and Lola Young.