Written By: Eram Shaikh
Published: August 30, 2026

KATSEYE members’ ages are between 18 and 24 years old. Manon is the oldest at 24, while Yoonchae is the youngest at 18.

KATSEYE isn’t your typical K-pop group. The six members come from the US, Switzerland, the Philippines, and South Korea, so the usual Korean age hierarchy doesn’t play out the same way it does in fully Korean lineups. 

Still, fans want to know who’s older, who’s the maknae, and how the age gaps break down. Here’s the full picture.

KATSEYE Members’ Age Order (Oldest to Youngest) 

KATSEYE members’ age order is: Manon (24 years), Sophia (23 years), Daniela (22 years), Lara (20 years), Megan (20 years), and Yoonchae (18 years).

Here’s a detailed breakdown of each KATSEYE member’s age, from the oldest to the youngest. 

MemberReal NameBirthdayAge (2026)Position
ManonMeret Manon Sarpong BannermanJun 26, 200224Visual, Vocalist
SophiaSophia Elizabeth Guevara LafortezaDec 31, 200223Leader, Vocalist, Dancer
DanielaDaniela Andrea Avanzini LlorenteJul 1, 200422Main Dancer, Vocalist
LaraLara RajagopalanNov 3, 200520Main Vocalist, Lead Dancer
MeganMegan Meiyok SkiendielFeb 10, 200620All-Rounder
YoonchaeJeung Yoon-chaeDec 6, 200718Vocalist

Looking at the table, you’ll notice the ages spread out more than they do in most K-pop groups. 

KATSEYE Members
Source: Instagram/@katseyeworld

That’s mostly because KATSEYE wasn’t built through a single company’s trainee system. It was formed through a global open casting process, so age wasn’t the deciding factor the way it usually is in Korea. 

Who Is the Oldest Member of KATSEYE? 

Manon is the oldest member of KATSEYE. Her full name is Meret Manon Sarpong Bannerman, born on June 26, 2002, making her 24 years old.

Oldest Member of KATSEYE
Source: Instagram/@meretmanon

Manon was born and raised in Lucerne/Zurich, Switzerland. She made history as the first Black artist signed to a HYBE label. She’s currently on a temporary hiatus from group activities, which KATSEYE announced in February 2026, so she could focus on her health.

Fans often assume Sophia is the oldest since she’s the group’s leader, but Manon actually beats her by about six months.

Meet Every KATSEYE Member (In Age Order)

Meet the six members of KATSEYE, from the oldest to the youngest, and get to know the talented girls behind the global girl group. 

Manon (24 years old) 

Manon is the group’s visual and a vocalist. Born and raised in Lucerne/Zurich, Switzerland, she’s the daughter of a Swiss-Italian mother and a Ghanaian father, and she has one older sister. 

Before KATSEYE existed, Manon spent years building an audience on TikTok and Instagram, posting fashion and lifestyle content starting in 2020, and she picked up modeling work in Switzerland along the way, including collaborations with brands like Laura Mercier and Charles & Keith. 

Manon
Source: Instagram/@meretmanon

A HYBE casting manager discovered her through her social media presence and invited her to audition. She placed sixth on “Dream Academy” in 2023 and went on to become the first Black artist signed to a HYBE label. 

She’s currently on a temporary hiatus from group promotions to focus on her health, though she remains an official member. 

Sophia (23 years old) 

Sophia serves as KATSEYE’s leader and placed first on “Dream Academy,” earning the top spot among thousands of global applicants. She’s Filipino American, born in New York City, and grew up with performing in her blood. 

Sophia
Source: Instagram/@sophia_laforteza

Her mother, Carla Guevara Laforteza, is a well-known singer and actress in the Philippines, which gave Sophia early exposure to the entertainment industry long before she auditioned for KATSEYE. She graduated from high school in 2021 and speaks both English and Tagalog fluently. 

Beyond her leadership duties, Sophia contributes as a vocalist and dancer, and fans often point to her as the member who fields most English-language media interviews given her comfort in front of cameras and her natural ease connecting with international audiences. 

Daniela (22 years old) 

Daniela holds down the main dancer position and built her reputation on dancesport long before KATSEYE. 

Born in Atlanta, Georgia, to a Cuban mother and a Venezuelan father, both of whom are professional ballroom dancers, she began training at age 4 and won international competitions as a child, including a second-place finish at Super Kids Europe. 

Daniela
Source: Instagram/@daniela_avanzini

She gained national attention in the US after competing on “America’s Got Talent” in 2013 as part of a samba duo, and she later advanced to the Top 10 on “So You Think You Can Dance” in 2016. 

Daniela placed third on “Dream Academy” and is recognized as the first Latin American artist signed under HYBE, a distinction she’s spoken about with pride in interviews since her debut. 

Lara (20 years old) 

Lara is the group’s main vocalist and lead dancer, and she placed second on “Dream Academy” out of a massive global applicant pool. 

She’s of Tamil Indian descent, with a mother from India and a father originally from Sri Lanka, and she grew up in Los Angeles speaking both English and Tamil. 

Lara
Source: Instagram/@lararajj

Music runs in her family since her older sister, Rhea Raj, is also a singer-songwriter. Before KATSEYE, Lara acted in NBC’s “The Blacklist” and appeared in commercials for brands like Macy’s and Spotify. 

She was scouted by HYBE at 17 after posting song covers online, and she’s been open about being part of the LGBTQ+ community, which has made her a meaningful figure for many fans. 

Megan (20 years old) 

Megan takes on the all-rounder role, contributing across vocals, dance, and overall performance polish. 

Born in Honolulu, Hawaii, she’s of Chinese Singaporean descent on her mother’s side and Swedish descent on her father’s side, and she has an older brother.

Megan
Source: Instagram/@meganskiendiel

Megan started formal dance training at age four and began vocal lessons at six, building a performance background well before she ever auditioned for a girl group. 

She transitioned to online schooling starting in the fourth grade to focus on her craft. She’s also been candid in interviews about living with dyslexia and psoriasis, using her platform to normalize those conversations. She placed fifth on “Dream Academy” before joining KATSEYE. 

Yoonchae (18 years old) 

Yoonchae is the group’s maknae and a vocalist, and the only member from South Korea. 

Born and raised in Seoul, she grew up with an older sister who introduced her to makeup, and she developed an interest in K-pop during elementary school after discovering BTS. 

Yoonchae
Source: Instagram/@yoonchae

That fascination grew as she found inspiration in artists like BLACKPINK and IU. Yoonchae began training at 12 years old, spending two years at WAKEONE before moving to HYBE in 2023, giving her more formal idol training than most of her groupmates going into “Dream Academy.” 

She placed fourth in the competition’s finale. Despite being the youngest, she’s also the tallest member of KATSEYE. 

Who is The Youngest Member of KATSEYE?

Yoonchae is the youngest member of KATSEYE. Born December 6, 2007, in Seoul, South Korea, she’s currently 18 years old and holds the group’s maknae position.

She’s also the tallest member of KATSEYE at 170 cm (5’7″), which flips the usual expectation that the youngest member is also the smallest. 

Youngest Member of KATSEYE
Source: Instagram/@yoonchae

Before joining the group, Yoonchae trained under WAKEONE for two years and previously passed auditions with other Korean agencies, giving her more formal idol training experience than most of her groupmates going into “Dream Academy.”

Conclusion: Manon Is The Oldest Member of KATSEYE, Aged 24

KATSEYE spans an age range of 18 to 24 as of 2026, with Manon leading the group in age and experience and Yoonchae bringing fresh energy as the maknae. 

Because the group was built through global auditions rather than a traditional trainee system, the age gaps are wider than what you’d typically see in K-pop, and that mix is part of what makes KATSEYE’s dynamic stand out.

Whether you’re new to KATSEYE or you’ve followed them since “Dream Academy,” knowing the age order gives you a better sense of who’s who in the group.

FAQs 

Who is the maknae of KATSEYE? 

Yoonchae is the maknae. She’s also the tallest member of the group at 170 cm (5’7″), despite being the youngest. 

How old is everyone on KATSEYE? 

The members of KATSEYE range from 18 to 24 years old. From oldest to youngest, the group consists of Manon (24 years old), Sophia (23 years old ), Daniela (22 years old ), Lara (20 years old ), Megan (20 years old ), and Yoonchae (18 years old).  

What is KATSEYE’s fandom name?

EYEKONS is the official fandom name for the global girl group KATSEYE. EYEKONS means a blend of “eye” (from KATSEYE) and “icon”. It signifies that the fans are the icons reflected in the group’s eyes. 

Is Manon still in KATSEYE? 

Yes. Manon remains a member of KATSEYE, though she’s on a temporary hiatus announced in February 2026 to focus on her health. 

About the Author

A lifelong music enthusiast turned stan, Eram started KpopBeen to create a space where the global fandom can stay updated on comebacks, chart rankings, fandom buzz, and everything happening in the K-Pop world. Eram combines deep love for K-Pop with a passion for storytelling that connects fans across the globe. Through KpopBeen, her goal is simple: to celebrate idols, amplify fandom voices, and bring the energy of K-Pop to every fan’s screen. When not writing or curating the latest updates, you’ll find Eram streaming new releases or reliving legendary stages that made K-Pop the global movement it is today.

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