K-pop fans and girl group enthusiasts, gather around because HYBE has partnered up with Geffen Records to give us the best of both worlds with The Debut: Dream Academy.
The K-pop juggernaut (home to BTS, SEVENTEEN, TXT, LE SSERAFIM, NewJeans, and more) and the esteemed American record label have joined forces to bring us "a worldwide search for the next global girl group." After combing through thousands of applications, HYBE x Geffen finally announced the 20 girls selected to participate in The Debut: Dream Academy in late August 2023, and fans started picking favorites immediately.
Whether you are new to the show or followed live as it aired, find out everything you need to know about The Debut: Dream Academy below. Keep scrolling or click on a topic to jump there directly:
→ About
→ Where to watch
→ Finale date
→ How to vote
→ Contestants
→ Eliminations & Final Group Lineup
What exactly is The Debut: Dream Academy?
The Debut: Dream Academy was an audition program taking the form of what's commonly referred to as a girl group debut project — or, in other words, a survival-style series where participants compete to be part of the final lineup of a new girl group debuting after the finale. Per HYBE x Geffen, the group resulting from this program is being touted as “the world's biggest girl group.”
The Debut: Dream Academy did things a bit differently than your regular survival-style show, however. For starters, rather than being poached directly after their auditions, The Debut: Dream Academy participants had already trained for a year in Los Angeles with "K-pop methodology." Translation: The 20 girls had been receiving K-pop trainee-inspired lessons to prepare them for the show, during which they showed off their best chops.
By the end of these episodes, it's customary that the newly-created group will have its first song as part of the show. As shared by HYBE x Geffen execs, the song for the girl group formed via The Debut: Dream Academy was always going to be in English to showcase their global prowess and mix different cultural elements visually and sonically.
Where can I watch The Debut: Dream Academy?
The Debut: Dream Academy was broadcast for all fans around the world via its own YouTube channel. The show also aired via ABEMA in Japan.
That's not all, though. Though The Debut: Dream Academy might have ended, the HYBE x Geffen partnership was actually formed years ago and will be the focus of an upcoming original Netflix docuseries directed by Nadia Hallgren and slated to premiere sometime in 2024. The documentary project will follow the partnership's genesis as well as the formation and training of the group, so there'll be plenty of The Debut: Dream Academy to consume for the foreseeable future.
When did The Debut: Dream Academy finish airing?
The first episode of The Debut: Dream Academy, focused on auditions, premiered on YouTube at 11 a.m. (ET) on Friday, September 1, 2023. New episodes have premiered weekly, each Friday at the same time.
The Debut: Dream Academy lasted for a total of 12 weeks. The final lineup and name for the group were revealed during the finale, which took place in Los Angeles on Friday, November 17, 2023.
How did voting for The Debut: Dream Academy work?
Voting for The Debut: Dream Academy was available via fan platform Weverse once the show started airing. The final lineup was decided with fan votes, but, per a press release, “a panel of experienced evaluators [also offered] valuable feedback and guidance to the contestants.”
Who participated in The Debut: Dream Academy?
According to promotional teasers, there were over 120,000 audition tapes submitted to take part in The Debut: Dream Academy from prospective contestants around the world, but only 20 candidates were selected. Meet the 20 participants of The Debut: Dream Academy, in alphabetical order, below, and check out their Polaroid headshots exclusively shared with Teen Vogue:
- Age: 19
- Home Country: Slovakia
- Instagram: @adelajergova
- TikTok: @adelajergovaa
- Age: 17
- Home Country: Texas, U.S.A.
- Instagram: @houseofbrooklyn
- TikTok: @houseofbrooklyn
- Age: 19
- Home Country: Argentina
- Instagram: @celestee._4
- TikTok: @chelee.4
- Age: 19
- Home Country: Atlanta, Georgia, U.S.A.
- Instagram: @daniela_avanzini
- TikTok: @daniela_avanzini
- Age: 17
- Home Country: Dallas, Texas, U.S.A.
- Instagram: @emilykelavos
- TikTok: @emilykelavos
- Age: 14
- Home Country: Japan
- Instagram: @hina_rinchan
- TikTok: @user4386005903668
- Age: 21
- Home Country: Belarus
- Instagram: @iliya.ria
- TikTok: @riais4air
- Age: 19
- Home Country: Honolulu, Hawaii, U.S.A. (of Korean- and Japanese-American descent)
- Instagram: @gnarly.karlee
- TikTok: @gnarly.karleeee
- Age: 17
- Home Country: Los Angeles, California, U.S.A. (of Indian descent)
- Instagram: @lararajj
- TikTok: @lararajj
- Age: 19
- Home Country: Sweden
- Instagram: @levin_lexie
- TikTok: @levin_lexie
- Age: 21
- Home Country: Switzerland (of Swiss and Ghanian descent)
- Instagram: @meretmanon
- TikTok: @meretmanon
- Age: 17
- Home Country: Thailand
- Instagram: @marquiseaura
- TikTok: @marquiseaura
- Age: 17
- Home Country: Honolulu, Hawaii, U.S.A. (of Chinese-American descent)
- Instagram:@meganskiendiel
- TikTok: @meganskiendiel
- Age: 17
- Home Country: Japan
- Instagram: @ap_rlsn
- Age: 21
- Home Country: South Korea
- Instagram: @160.0_0
- Age: 17
- Home Country: Brazil
- Instagram: @samisiqueiraa
- TikTok: @samisiqueiraa
- Age: 20
- Home Country: Philippines
- Instagram: @sophia_laforteza
- TikTok: @sophialaforteza
- Age: 15
- Home Country: Japan
- Instagram: @uachanmama
- TikTok: @mjukmjvjmtp
- Age: 15
- Home Country: South Korea
- Instagram: @y0on_cha3
- TikTok: @useri72me93zt1
Who was eliminated from The Debut: Dream Academy? Who made the final cut?
After completing missions, contestants were eliminated from The Debut: Dream Academy. The first elimination of the program happened on September 15 after the first round of missions in which contestants were split into four groups — two dance teams and two vocal teams — to showcase their abilities. Fans voted via Weverse and YouTube to pick their favorites, with results unveiled via Instagram. Taking into account fan commentary while selecting the chopping block, the judges ultimately eliminated Adéla and Hinari.
The second elimination arrived on October 8, 2023, with four contestants going home after completing a round of LE SSERAFIM-inspired missions, which took place in South Korea. After voting, the contestants chosen to leave the program were Brooklyn, Mei, Karlee, and Iliya.
On October 21, Lexie announced her decision to withdraw from the competition. “It's hard leaving something that means so much to you, but sometimes it’s actually what’s best for you. Life is an adventure with lots of changes. Sometimes it’s scary, but as long as you’re listening to your heart, life will lead you to happiness,” she wrote a few days later on Instagram. “Dream Academy will always have a special place in my heart, but now it’s meant for me to start a new chapter in my life. And I am now entering it as a stronger and better version of myself, all thanks to Dream Academy!”
Four more contestants were to be eliminated after mission three, but given Lexie's withdrawal, the number was reduced to three. The third mission saw the girls split into three groups to perform Demi Lovato’s “Confident," The Pussycat Dolls’ “Buttons,” and the Spice Girls’ “Wannabe.” UA, Nayoung, and Celeste were the three girls chosen to leave the show on November 5.
The ten finalists that remained on The Debut: Dream Academy participated in the live finale in Los Angeles on November 17, where the final group name was revealed to be KATSEYE, and the final lineup was announced. KATSEYE is comprised of six girls: Daniela, Lara, Manon, Megan, Sophia, and Yoonchae.
