{"id":2150247,"date":"2025-11-12T00:44:58","date_gmt":"2025-11-12T00:44:58","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/celebrity.land\/en\/?p=2150247"},"modified":"2025-11-12T00:44:58","modified_gmt":"2025-11-12T00:44:58","slug":"girlset-talks-katseye-k-pop-training-redebut-little-miss-more","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/celebrity.land\/en\/girlset-talks-katseye-k-pop-training-redebut-little-miss-more\/","title":{"rendered":"GIRLSET Talks KATSEYE, K-Pop Training, Redebut, ‘Little Miss’ & More"},"content":{"rendered":"

<\/p>\n

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\n\tGIRLSET wants\u00a0you to know that \u00adnothing\u2019s over until they say it is.<\/p>\n

\n\tTen months ago, news broke of the group\u2019s shake-up: a lawsuit against its label, South Korea\u2019s JYP Entertainment, from a former member, KG, followed by the exit of another, Kaylee, due to health concerns seven months later. But by the end of August, the now four-\u00admember girl group had already redebuted with new music and a new name.<\/p>\n

\n\tFormerly known as VCHA, GIRLSET is a K-pop rarity: a group that didn\u2019t crumble under pressure but rebuilt itself from within. It\u2019s a story of optimism \u2014 and what follows a breaking point in the often unforgiving world of K-pop. GIRLSET\u2019s hiatus would\u2019ve been a death sentence for most groups. Instead, the resilient quartet returned with a renewed love for its craft.<\/p>\n

\n\tIn a plush, dimly lit Hollywood club on a recent Wednesday afternoon, GIRLSET\u2019s members \u2014 Kendall, Lexi, Camila and Savanna \u2014 are bubbly and noticeably excited to chat about their latest era. There\u2019s a light, airy energy among them.<\/p>\n

\n\t\u201cI had to keep reminding myself, \u2018You\u2019re doing this for you,\u2019\u201d Lexi, 19, says of her experience within the rigid K-pop training system. \u201cWhatever happens, happens. I love what I do and that\u2019s what kept me going.\u201d<\/p>\n

\n\tVCHA formed in 2023 through the competition show A2K<\/em> (or America2\u00adKorea<\/em>), a joint project by JYP Enter\u00adtainment and Republic Records that followed American contestants through multiple rounds of evaluations in Los Angeles and Seoul that summer. Thousands of young girls auditioned, but only 11 trainees made it to the show\u2019s final rounds. JYP Entertainment founder and CEO J.Y.\u00a0Park envisioned a multicultural girl group that could represent the Western market while undergoing the famously rigorous training of the K-pop system. Having already secured his place among South Korea\u2019s \u201cBig Four\u201d entertainment giants, Park, who this fall was named co-chairman of the Korean government\u2019s presidential committee focused on cultural exchange, wanted to bridge the two pop worlds.<\/p>\n

\n\tJYP wasn\u2019t the only K-pop company with this goal. As A2K<\/em> was holding auditions, HYBE and Geffen Records jointly launched The Debut: Dream Academy<\/em>, another reality show with similar objectives to A2K<\/em>. The competition yielded a new group, KATSEYE, whose formation was documented in the 2024 series Pop Star Academy: KATSEYE<\/em>. Now, KATSEYE is dominating the pop world: The group received a Grammy nod for best new artist in early November, as well as a best pop duo\/group performance nomination for its single \u201cGabriela,\u201d released in June, which hits a new No.\u00a033 high on the Billboard Hot\u00a0100<\/a> dated Nov.\u00a015.<\/p>\n

\n\tGIRLSET\u2019s Camila, a 20-year-old Cuban Canadian, embraced the opportunity to get involved in the K-pop system. \u201cFor me, I always wanted to be a singer,\u201d she says of her motivation to audition for A2K<\/em>. \u201cI loved K-pop and pop groups, but it felt like a faraway dream. So when the opportunity came, I told myself, \u2018I\u2019m getting it. I\u2019m going to be in a girl group.\u2019\u00a0\u201d<\/p>\n

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\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/p><\/div><\/div>

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\t\t\t\t\tCamila<\/span><\/p>\n

\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tMunachi Osegbu<\/cite><\/p>\n<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n

\n\tKendall, a 19-year-old Vietnamese American who hails from Texas, says auditioning was more about blending her passions than choosing just one. \u201cBack then, I was figuring out my future \u2014 college, career \u2014 and I loved both singing and dancing,\u201d she says. \u201cBut I thought the only place I could do both was Broadway, and that wasn\u2019t what I wanted. So I assumed I\u2019d have to pick one, maybe go into production. Then A2K<\/em> came along \u2014 it was perfect.\u201d<\/p>\n

\n\tAs Kendall, who describes herself as \u201ccalm and collected,\u201d explains, \u201cWe always say, \u2018Everything happens for a reason.\u2019 That\u2019s something we all repeat a lot.\u201d<\/p>\n

\n\tThe four members say they found strength in camaraderie when things got tough during training. Savanna, a 19-year-old Venezuelan Trinbagonian from Florida, recalls that the hardest part of the A2K<\/em> audition process was \u201ctaking it day by day. Growth doesn\u2019t happen overnight. Seeing everyone beside me working hard helped, too. We were all pushing each other.\u201d<\/p>\n

\n\tVCHA\u2019s initial run was promising. The original six-member act debuted in January 2024 with the single \u201cGirls of the Year,\u201d reached No.\u00a05 on Billboard<\/em>\u2019s since-discontinued X-based Hot Trending Songs chart with \u201cY.O.Universe,\u201d opened for JYP powerhouse girl group TWICE on select tour dates and quickly built an international following. However, following a canceled Lollapalooza 2024 debut due to unforeseen circumstances and the imminent departure of two members, things quickly turned \u2014 and left fans wondering if the act would continue. But GIRLSET\u2019s drive, and the discipline forged through its members\u2019 auditions and training, became a foundation as the quartet\u2019s world threatened to fall apart.<\/p>\n

\n\tOn Dec. 7, 2024, a lawsuit was filed in Los Angeles County Superior Court by the guardian of then-17-year-old member KG\u00a0Crown, alleging child neglect, labor exploitation and unfair business practices by JYP\u00a0USA staff. Two days later, on Dec.\u00a09, JYP\u00a0USA issued a statement calling the claims \u201cfalse and exaggerated\u201d \u2014 but also suspended VCHA\u2019s activities. The case ignited widespread debate among K-pop fans about the treatment of young artists within the idol system, a topic that continues to dominate social media as the once-niche genre expands globally.<\/p>\n

\n\tMonths later, the group suffered another blow. In July, JYP\u00a0USA announced that 15-year-old member Kaylee had \u201cmutually agreed to part ways\u201d with the company. Now only four of VCHA\u2019s original six members \u2014 Lexi, Camila, Savanna and Kendall \u2014 remained.<\/p>\n

\n\tMany VCHA fans have wondered: Had the girls foreseen the hard times on the horizon? \u201cSome things were unexpected; others weren\u2019t new to us,\u201d Kendall reflects. \u201cWe had a lot of intertwined feelings about everything: our journey, our relationships, the past members. But we had each other to rely on.\u201d<\/p>\n

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\t\t\t\t\t\t\"Kendall<\/p><\/div><\/div>

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\t\t\t\t\tKendall<\/span><\/p>\n

\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tMunachi Osegbu<\/cite><\/p>\n<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n

\n\tAll four say they talked through the toughest moments and felt supported by their team at JYP\u00a0USA and Republic. But they\u2019re still processing the changes to VCHA and the turmoil that followed. \u201cIt\u2019s impossible to sit down and explain everything,\u201d Camila says softly before Savanna brightly adds, \u201cBut then we found a group in us. It felt right \u2014 like this was the moment to truly put ourselves out there as GIRLSET.\u201d<\/p>\n

\n\tLess than 30 days after Kaylee\u2019s departure, on Aug.\u00a07, VCHA redebuted as GIRLSET under JYP\u00a0USA and Republic. Its first release as a rebranded act, \u201cCommas,\u201d<\/a> signaled a confident reset. The fun, stand-alone pop single highlights where the group is heading next, with a girl-crush concept that says, \u201cWe\u2019ve been here the whole time. Pay attention.\u201d<\/p>\n

\n\tWhile the highly publicized departure of two members might\u2019ve rattled another group\u2019s confidence \u2014 and its label\u2019s faith in its future \u2014 GIRLSET is digging its heels in.<\/p>\n

\n\t\u201cWhen we\u2019re in dance practice, I always have these moments,\u201d says Sheboygan, Wis., native Lexi, her eyes bright. \u201cI\u2019ll stop, look in the mirror and think, \u2018Wow \u2014 This. Is. Us.<\/em>\u2019 We\u2019ve come so far. Hearing the sound, seeing how much we\u2019ve evolved \u2014 it\u2019s crazy. Every time I look in the mirror, I lock in for 10 seconds and say it out loud: \u2018Guys, this is us.\u2019\u00a0\u201d<\/p>\n

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\t\t\t\t\t\t\"Lexi<\/p><\/div><\/div>

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\t\t\t\t\tLexi<\/span><\/p>\n

\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tMunachi Osegbu<\/cite><\/p>\n<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n

\n\tThe rest of the girls smile as she speaks, for these optimistic, supportive moments have become Lexi\u2019s calling card within the group. \u201cIt\u2019s easy to forget change when it\u2019s gradual,\u201d Kendall adds. \u201cBut when we look back, we see how much we\u2019ve grown.\u201d<\/p>\n

\n\tJYP Entertainment is confident about GIRLSET\u2019s future as well. \u201cThey\u2019ve walked a path no artist has taken before, and we hope this original journey leads them to a new level of success that no artist has achieved before,\u201d the company says.<\/p>\n

\n\tAnd in a 2025 pop world where global girl groups \u2014 and especially those hailing from the K-pop training system \u2014 are hot commodities, GIRLSET may have reemerged at the perfect time. The term \u201cmulticultural girl group\u201d has recently become a fixture in industry conversations. Traditionally, K-pop groups comprised East Asian members. The newer multicultural model, however, seeks trainees from diverse national, ethnic and cultural backgrounds. It\u2019s a concept that Park pioneered through A2K<\/em> \u2014 and GIRLSET embodies the promise of that experiment. It knows that \u201cmulticultural girl group\u201d has become something of a buzzword, but for the members, it\u2019s a lived reality. They\u2019re deeply proud of representing their own cultures within K-pop.<\/p>\n

\n\t\u201cI always feel so happy being the representation for Latinas,\u201d Camila says, glowing. \u201cGrowing up, seeing Fifth Harmony with Cuban members made me feel like maybe I could also make it. I know there are girls and boys seeing us now and seeing themselves in us. That\u2019s really special.\u201d<\/p>\n

\n\tLexi, who is Hmong American, adds, \u201cBeing able to bring different communities together is such a great feeling. Everyone loving the same thing \u2014 that\u2019s the best part.\u201d As Camila explains, \u201cWe want people to see themselves in us. That\u2019s the whole point.\u201d<\/p>\n

\n\tGIRLSET isn\u2019t alone in that mission \u2014 but does the group feel any rivalry with its fellow L.A.-based K-pop-trained peers in KATSEYE? \u201cWe\u2019re all just doing our own thing,\u201d Kendall says matter-of-factly. The act is aware of the constant online comparisons between it and KATSEYE but isn\u2019t phased by them. \u201cIt shouldn\u2019t be about competition,\u201d Camila says with a smile. \u201cLet\u2019s just slay together.<\/p>\n

\n\t\u201cIt\u2019s amazing seeing so many talented girls from different cultures coming together and making something great,\u201d she adds. \u201cI think what they\u2019re doing is amazing \u2014 and they\u2019re super sweet. It\u2019s more about appreciating both [groups]. I think we\u2019re both special in our own ways.\u201d<\/p>\n

\n\tWhen it comes to GIRLSET\u2019s place within the larger multicultural group movement, JYP Entertainment says, \u201cThe members were born and raised in North America, but they were trained under JYP\u2019s signature training that highlights discipline and artistry. The combination of their cultural diversity and K-pop artistry makes them truly distinctive. For us, GIRLSET isn\u2019t just joining the movement; they\u2019re helping to shape the next era of U.S. pop.<\/p>\n

\n\t\u201cThe goal isn\u2019t just success,\u201d the label adds. \u201cIt\u2019s endurance and legacy.\u201d<\/p>\n

\n\tGIRLSET feels a shared responsibility to represent authenticity in a world that prizes perfection. \u201cWe always want to be a group that speaks about real things and be raw and realistic,\u201d Savanna says. \u201cWe\u2019re just people with emotions, and I think that\u2019s what we want to be remembered for.\u201d<\/p>\n

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\t\t\t\t\t\t\"Savanna<\/p><\/div><\/div>

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\t\t\t\t\tSavanna<\/span><\/p>\n

\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tMunachi Osegbu<\/cite><\/p>\n<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n

\n\tOf course, being a K-pop act based in L.A. rather than Seoul presents logistical challenges. In Korea, JYP groups have access to fellow idols who can share tips and tricks of the trade, as well as state-of-the-art training facilities, built-in TikTok content buddies and consistent opportunities to sharpen their skills on Korean music shows. K-pop fans have come to love seeing their faves collaborate with other groups, and crossover TikTok dance challenges have become common.<\/p>\n

\n\t\u201cL.A. is different,\u201d Kendall notes. \u201cThere aren\u2019t weekly music shows where idols naturally meet. It\u2019s less accessible, but if it happens, it happens.\u201d<\/p>\n

\n\tThey\u2019ve still found community within the JYP universe. GIRLSET\u2019s members reflect on opening for TWICE in early 2024 with admiration. \u201cSeeing TWICE\u2019s show was inspiring,\u201d Camila recalls. \u201cLily from NMIXX is really sweet. She\u2019s given advice about this lifestyle and overcoming things.\u201d Kendall adds, \u201cWe\u2019ve also talked with [NiziU members] Nina and Rima. Speaking English makes it easier to connect. They\u2019ve been supportive.\u201d<\/p>\n

\n\tAs for their L.A. peers? \u201cMaybe one day,\u201d Kendall says of connecting with KATSEYE. \u201cThey\u2019re super talented and sweet; the essence of their group is similar to us \u2014 global, representing your culture, bringing something new.\u201d<\/p>\n

\n\tFor GIRLSET, just the opportunity to start fresh means everything. When asked what they want fans to remember most about this new era, the answers come quickly: survival, growth, empowerment.<\/p>\n

\n\t\u201cWe\u2019ve all pushed ourselves individually and become so much stronger as a group,\u201d Savanna says. \u201cOur versatility now \u2014 it feels like a power. Seeing our artistry come to life in sessions and performances, it hit me: We\u2019re really transforming now. We\u2019re becoming the artists we were meant to be.\u201d<\/p>\n

\n\tThey\u2019re proud of how far they\u2019ve come \u2014 and ready to show it. \u201cThis new music era feels a lot like, really, the core of us. The vibe of this comeback is very much our vibe,\u201d Kendall teases. \u201cIt\u2019s bold, confident and full of personality. Definitely a new chapter.\u201d<\/p>\n

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\t\t\t\t\t\t\"From<\/p><\/div><\/div>

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\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tMunachi Osegbu<\/cite><\/p>\n<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n

\n\tThe group\u2019s latest single, \u201cLittle Miss,\u201d represents that new chapter. Due Nov. 14, the Y2K-flavored pop track with hip-hop edges and GIRLSET\u2019s signature vocal prowess is the act\u2019s second release since its redebut, and it cements its image as four young artists embracing their power. \u201cThe song feels like the core of us,\u201d Kendall says. \u201cIt\u2019s really our essence.\u201d<\/p>\n

\n\t\u201cI think I really value that during this era, we just get to be truly who we are moving forward,\u201d Savanna reflects confidently. \u201cI think that\u2019s something that I appreciate the most about being GIRLSET now.\u201d<\/p>\n

\n\tAnd when things get heavy, they lean on each other. \u201cNo one else could ever understand us like we do,\u201d Camila says. \u201cWe\u2019re living it together.\u201d<\/p>\n

\n\tThis story appears in the Nov. 15, 2025, issue of <\/em>Billboard.<\/p>\n


\"Billboard
<\/a><\/p>\n<\/div>\n

\u2018 The preceding article may include information circulated by third parties \u2019 <\/em><\/p>\n

\u2018 Some details of this article were extracted from the following source www.billboard.com \u2019 <\/em><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

GIRLSET wants\u00a0you to know that \u00adnothing\u2019s over until they say it is. Ten months ago, news broke of the group\u2019s shake-up: a lawsuit against its label, South Korea\u2019s JYP Entertainment, from a former member, KG, followed by the exit of another, Kaylee, due to health concerns seven months later. But by the end of August, […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":2150248,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"om_disable_all_campaigns":false,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"jnews-multi-image_gallery":[],"jnews_single_post":[],"jnews_primary_category":[],"jnews_social_meta":[],"footnotes":""},"categories":[25172],"tags":[350578,309165,22008],"class_list":["post-2150247","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-entertainment","tag-genre-kpop","tag-genre-pop","tag-magazine"],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/celebrity.land\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/GIRLSET-Talks-KATSEYE-K-Pop-Training-Redebut-Little-Miss-More.jpg","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/celebrity.land\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2150247","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/celebrity.land\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/celebrity.land\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/celebrity.land\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/celebrity.land\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2150247"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/celebrity.land\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2150247\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":2150249,"href":"https:\/\/celebrity.land\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2150247\/revisions\/2150249"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/celebrity.land\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/2150248"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/celebrity.land\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2150247"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/celebrity.land\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2150247"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/celebrity.land\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2150247"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}