Pinay among contestants of HYBE’s search for next girl group 'The Debut: Dream Academy'
There's simply no stopping Pinoy talent from going global! A 20-year-old Pinay has been listed as one of the 20 candidates of HYBE and Geffen Records' search for the next global girl group titled The Debut: Dream Academy.
On Aug. 29, Sophia Laforteza was revealed to be a contestant in the upcoming audition program produced by the famed K-pop entertainment company and its partner American record label.
Sophia will be competing for a spot on the girl group along with contestants from South Korea, Japan, the USA, Australia, Argentina, Slovakia, Belarus, Sweden, Switzerland, Thailand, and Brazil.
She and the other 19 candidates were selected from over 120,000 auditionees worldwide.
A press conference introducing the contestants was held at the Geffen Records Studio in California. Sophia introduced herself in both English and Filipino languages.
“Magandang araw. Ako po ay si Sophia mula sa Pilipinas. Mabuhay sa inyong lahat,” she said in her introduction.
An “art film” was also released, briefly showcasing the talents of the girl group hopefuls. Sophia demonstrated her singing ability through a duet with American contestant Lara.
Sophia has been posting TikTok videos showcasing her vocal talents through short covers and duets. She and her mother, actress Carla Guevarra Laforteza, have posted about The Debut: Dream Academy on their Instagram pages.
The Debut: Dream Academy is a joint project spearheaded by HYBE LABELS, the record label of K-pop groups BTS, Seventeen, Tomorrow X Together (TXT), ENHYPEN, Le Sserafim, and NewJeans– alongside Geffen Records which currently houses Olivia Rodrigo, Kali Uchis, and Marshmello.
According to HYBE LABELS chairman Bang Si-hyuk, the audition program’s aim is to “create an international group based on the Kpop methodology.”
Starting Sept. 1, the 20 contestants will undergo a series of missions and challenges streamed live via YouTube. Viewers from all around the globe are given the chance to determine the final lineup through online voting on TikTok and Weverse.
The program’s finale will be held on Nov. 17, where the final lineup as well as the group’s name will be revealed.
The audition program will also be the subject of an upcoming Netflix documentary series directed by Emmy-nominated filmmaker Nadia Hallgren. It will document the group’s development process, as well as insight into HYBE and Geffen Records’ training program. It is set for release in 2024.