GMA Brandtalk
Tracking
Archives
This Filipina is among the contestants for HYBE’s girl group competition
Sophia Laforteza is among the 20 finalists who made it to “The Debut: Dream Academy” audition program. The ladies were selected from 120,000 applicants, and are a diverse set of candidates from South Korea, Thailand, USA, Japan, Brazil, Switzerland, and many more.
The contestants were revealed at a press conference in Los Angeles and an art film on YouTube.
In fan-posted videos, Sophia could be seen introducing herself in Tagalog and English at the conference.
She also greeted fans on Instagram.
“Hey, I’m Sophia,” she wrote, adding that she's a 20-year-old from the Philippines, and that she's "hysterical, caring, diligent."
Her nicknames include Sophie, Fifi, and Sopheezy.
“The Debut: Dream Academy” contestants will take part in the K-Pop idol training system before debuting. The show will air on YouTube and the Japanese streaming platform ABEMA starting on September 1. Fans also have a say throughout the competition, as they will take part in fan voting on Weverse and TikTok. The final members and their group name will be revealed at the finale in November.
The whole process of creating the girl group will also be documented for a Netflix series directed by Nadia Hallgren which will premiere in 2024.
HYBE is the agency that manages global artists like BTS, TOMORROW X TOGETHER, SEVENTEEN, ENHYPEN, NewJeans, and many more.
Geffen Records, owned by Universal Music Group, currently manages Olivia Rodrigo, Alesso, Kali Uchis, and Marshmello, among others.
