Image: [katseyeworld] via instagram
Katseye, a groundbreaking global girl group with members from six countries, claimed their first MTV Video Music Award in 2025. They won Push Performance of the Year for their seductive single ‘Touch’, and it absolutely reshaped the pop scene.
Lara brings her Asian heritage into every performance. From bindis that shine on stage to nose rings in videos and her constant Om pendant, her style carries meaning. In a world that pushes sameness, Lara chooses pride and culture, making her presence unforgettable worldwide.
In an interview with Vogue India, Lara said, “It’s always been my dream to have Indian, especially South Indian representation…I want our community to feel uplifted, powerful, and confident.”
Music filled the Raj home. Lara and her sister Rhea spent hours in their bedroom studio, trying out production software and building sounds. By her teens, Lara was layering vocals at night and learning songwriting on her own. Rhea was already chasing pop dreams, and she became her first partner. They recorded covers of Destiny’s Child’s Emotion and Rihanna’s Love on the Brain and shared them online. Those early uploads caught the attention of HYBE and Geffen, opening the door to Katseye and Lara’s global journey.
🖤 @vmas pic.twitter.com/yM2l9RAtTW
— KATSEYE (@katseyeworld) September 9, 2025
In 2023, Lara got a life-changing DM. HYBE and Geffen saw her covers and invited her to audition for The Debut: Dream Academy. At just 17, she flew to Los Angeles, endured the intense survival show, and earned her place. Lara trained with 20 girls in vocals, dance, and stage skills. Two months before the final lineup, her grandmother passed in Chennai. She stayed strong and achieved her dream, joining Katseye as a final member. Remembering this time, the singer said, “She (grandmother) gave me a cat’s eye crystal before she died…when the group name was revealed as Katseye, it felt like destiny.”
Lara debuted with Katseye in late 2023 alongside Manon Bannerman, Sophia Laforteza, Megan Skiendziel, Yoonchae Jeong, and Daniela Avanzini. Their mix of Swiss-Ghanaian, Filipino, Chinese-Singaporean, Korean, Venezuelan-Cuban, and Indian-American members was unprecedented. Their debut EP was Soft Is Strong, and it featured pastel vibes and soft harmonies. Beautiful Chaos showed their bold side with tracks like ‘Gnarly’ and ‘Touch’. The latter became a hit across Asia, Europe, and the U.S., and its VMA-winning performance cemented Katseye as a global pop force.
pat yourself on the back, EYEKONS!! 🥹 THANK YOU!! 🖤 #VMAs pic.twitter.com/ajb72otq8B
— KATSEYE (@katseyeworld) September 8, 2025
Lara has always spoken her truth. On a Weverse Live, she called herself “half a fruitcake,” reclaiming a homophobic slur. The reaction was massive. Headlines praised her as a queer South Asian star in a K-pop-linked group, and fans celebrated her courage. Lara had been out since 14, so it was not new to her. But for many fans, it was life-changing. Messages poured in from people inspired to come out. For queer South Asian youth, Lara offers representation long missing in global pop. Her MTV VMA win was another milestone for her and her community. Lara views her career as a mission. In 2018, she sang Freedom with Michelle Obama for the Global Girls Alliance. Now, she uses her rising fame to champion brown and queer representation in pop worldwide.
Lara is growing Katseye’s global reach while hinting at solo music. With a second world tour and possible collaborations, her future looks bright. Yet she stays grounded, focused on her mission to inspire and uplift others.
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