Sophia Elizabeth Guevara Laforteza (born December 31, 2002) is a Filipino and American singer. In 2024, she made her debut as the leader of the girl group Katseye, formed through the 2023 reality show Dream Academy created by Hybe and Geffen Records.
Sophia Elizabeth Guevara Laforteza[1] was born on December 31, 2002, in New York City,[2] and grew up in Manila, Philippines.[3] Her mother, Carla Guevara Laforteza, is a musical theater actress and singer,[4][5] while her father, Godfrey Laforteza, is an executive chef at Newport World Resorts.[6][7] She has an older brother and a younger sibling.[8] Laforteza is fluent in Tagalog and English.[9]
Laforteza has been singing since she was three years old. At age five, she took several classes in ballet, jazz, musical theater, hip hop, and tap dancing.[9] She graduated with the highest academic honors from Multiple Intelligence International School in Quezon City in June 2021.[10]
Career
Beginnings
At the age of five, Laforteza appeared on the Philippine talk show She Said, She Said with her mother. The two sang together on the program.[10] In May 2022, she competed on the Philippine game show Family Feud.[11] Before debuting with Katseye, she collaborated with Filipino singer Angia Laurel on a cover of Audrey Mika's "Y U Gotta Be Like That", which was uploaded on YouTube.[12][13]
2023–present: Dream Academy, Katseye debut
From August 19 to November 17, 2023, Laforteza represented the Philippines on the American survival reality television show Dream Academy,[14] created in collaboration with Hybe and Geffen Records to determine the members of a described "global" girl group.[15] Laforteza was selected from over 120,000 applicants worldwide to be one of the twenty finalists on the show.[16] Throughout the competition, Laforteza consistently earned high ranks in the fan voting missions.[17] At the live finale on November 17, 2023, she was announced as the first member of the group (later named Katseye) and was also designated as the group's leader.[18][19]
As a member of Katseye, Laforteza became the first Filipino artist to sign with a Hybe label. She received public support in the Philippines and expressed gratitude, thanking them for helping make her "dream come true."[20][21]
As a contestant of Dream Academy, Laforteza participated in the promotional release of the contestants' shared songs for competition. It was performed on November 17, 2024, and released to streaming platforms on August 21, 2024.[22]
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Laforteza has been lauded for representing Filipinos internationally and embracing her identity. She has been described as a "beacon" and someone who shares pride in her heritage.[23][17] She is also noted to share many close friendships and online collaborations with fellow Filipino artists.[24] Her makeup and styling of her lips has received positive attention within the cosmetics sphere, sparking curiosity and coverage on how to replicate them.[25]
Laforteza's bond with her family has also gained media attention. On May 14, 2025, the Filipino magazine Mega published an article interviewing the mothers of the Philippines' "most influential" women, including Laforteza, Kathryn Bernardo, and Michelle Dee.[26] In September, Nylon Manila's Rafael Bautista called Laforteza's relationship with her parents "goals".[27] In October, Laforteza's mother, theater actress Carla Guevara Laforteza told The Philippine Star's Dolly Anne Cavajal, "I don't mind being called 'the mom of Sophia Laforteza.'" She added that she introduces herself simply as Sophia Laforteza's mother in some interviews.[28]
Advocacy
Laforteza has expressed support for the 2025 Philippine anti-corruption protests. The solidarity was described as Laforteza using her global spotlight to help amplify the movement.[29]
As a contestant of Dream Academy, Laforteza participated in the promotional release of the contestants' shared songs for competition. They were performed on November 17, 2024, and released to streaming platforms on August 21, 2024.[22]
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