Sophia Laforteza

Sophia Elizabeth Guevara Laforteza (born December 31, 2002) is a Filipina 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.

Early life and education Sophia Elizabeth Guevara Laforteza was born on December 31, 2002, at the Jamaica Hospital Medical Center in the Jamaica neighborhood in Queens, New York, and grew up in Manila. Her mother, Carla Guevara Laforteza, is a musical theater actress and singer, while her father, Godfrey Laforteza, is an executive chef at Newport World Resorts. She has an older brother and a younger sibling. Laforteza is fluent in Tagalog and English.

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.

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. 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.

2023–present: Dream Academy and debut with Katseye

From August 19 to November 17, 2023, Laforteza represented the Philippines on the American reality television show Dream Academy, created in collaboration with Hybe and Geffen Records to determine the members of a described "global" girl group. Throughout the competition, Laforteza consistently ranked high in the fan voting missions. 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.

As a member of Katseye, Laforteza became the first Filipino artist to sign with a Hybe label. She received public support from Filipino fans and expressed gratitude, thanking them for helping make her "dream come true".

On June 19, 2026, it was announced that Laforteza had joined the soundtrack for the upcoming DreamWorks Animation film, Forgotten Island.

On August 7, 2026, it was announced that Laforteza was set to go on a temporary hiatus for her "personal health and wellness", writing to fans that "Making this decision wasn't easy, but I'm learning that health has to come first." Her label confirmed that she would sit out the European leg of Katseye's Wildworld tour, set to take place between September 1 and 17, 2026.

Media image 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. In 2025, she expressed support for anti-corruption protests in the Philippines. The solidarity was described as Laforteza using her global spotlight to help amplify the movement.

Her makeup and beauty routines, particularly the styling of her lips, have received positive attention within the cosmetics sphere, sparking curiosity and coverage on how to replicate them.

Laforteza's bond with her family has also gained media attention. In 2025, the Filipino magazine Mega published an article interviewing the mothers of the Philippines' "most influential" women, including the mothers of Laforteza, Kathryn Bernardo, and Michelle Dee. In September, Nylon Manila 's Rafael Bautista called Laforteza's relationship with her parents "goals". In October, Laforteza's mother, theater actress Carla Guevara Laforteza, told The Philippine Star 's Dolly Anne Carvajal, "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.

Personal life Laforteza is clinically diagnosed with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder. She receives psychiatric help and therapy for the condition.

Discography

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, 2023, and released to streaming platforms on August 21, 2024.

As lead artist Title Year Album "Dirty Water" 2024 The Debut: Dream Academy - Live Finale "All The Same"

Filmography

Film