Meet Katelyn, a 17-year-old Filipina joining the upcoming K-pop girl group AtHeart.
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Something must be in the water because Filipinos in K-pop are having a moment as of late. While there have always been Filipino or Filipino-blooded K-pop idols (albeit few and far between), we have been seeing their numbers grow in the past year as they feature more prominently in groups. And that trend continues as another Filipina enters the chat with the soon-to-be official debut of a new Filipina K-pop idol.
THE NEWEST FILIPINA K-POP IDOL IN TOWN
ICYDK, Nikki Semin Han, who you may know as the former CEO of SM Entertainment, formed a new US-based K-pop company along with some of his former colleagues at SME and other luminaries in the industry called Titan Content in 2023. The music company aims to be a staging ground and platform to launch K-pop acts in the US, including an ambitious plan to debut several groups and artists over the next few years. Their first signed act is a girl group called AtHeart which is set to debut in the first half of 2025. And among the group’s members is 17-year-old Filipina, Katelyn.
Scouted during the company’s Manila leg of their global audition, Katelyn brings fresh energy and a unique pov to the group. “Being an AtHeart member is such an amazing opportunity—not only because I’m working toward becoming an idol, but because the other members have been so supportive since day one,” Katelyn tells NYLON Manila in an exclusive chat. “They’ve helped me so much, and I’m super grateful for them and everyone working behind the scenes. Honestly, I wouldn’t be here without them, and there wouldn’t be a future for me or the group without all their hard work.”
AtHeart member Katelyn
Being the only Filipina in a K-pop group is notable in itself, but the fact that she’s also under a company whose founders have worked with and helped shape many of your faves means Katelyn has some big shoes to fill. But it’s a Filipina idol we’re talking about, so Katelyn is more than ready for the moment. “It’s such an honor to represent the Philippines, though I do feel a bit of pressure because people have high expectations. The Philippines is known for producing incredible singers, so I know I have big shoes to fill. But overall, I’m beyond excited to represent my home country.”
According to Katie Kang, Titan Content’s CEO, Katelyn stood out for all the right reasons during her audition. “Katelyn was cast at the Manila global audition and has vibrant energy and a bright smile that brings joy to those around her, along with her singing and rapping abilities,” she shared in a statement.
PROUD PINOY MOMENT
As Katelyn is set to begin her idol career in 2025 along with the rest of the AtHeart members, she promises to be a proud champion of her Filipino roots. “I can’t wait to share more about the Philippines with my members, K-pop fans, and the world—our culture, food, stunning islands, and rich history. It’s something I’m proud of, and I hope people will be excited to learn about it.”
Reflecting on her favorite quote, “She believed she could, so she did,” the young idol is excited to get going and about where this path takes her. “I truly believe that, no matter how tough the journey gets, following your dreams and never giving up is the key. I’ll keep working hard and moving forward step by step, so [I] hope you stay tuned!”
Katelyn with two of her members, Seohyeon and Aurora
Joining Katelyn in AtHeart are Seohyeon (16) from Korea, Aurora (15) from Japan, both of whom were revealed alongside her, Sorin (17) from Korea, and Michi (17) from Hawaii, who were revealed earlier this year. The rest of the members of AtHeart will be announced in the coming months with a full debut set for 2025. If you’d like to follow the members, including Katelyn, on their individual Instagram and TikTok accounts (yes, they already have their own accounts), you can check them out here.
As Pinoy talent continues to make its presence known on the global stage, it’s an exciting time for Filipinos in K-pop. We can’t wait to see what AtHeart brings to the table as one of the exciting new K-pop girl groups to watch out for next year.
Photos courtesy of Titan Content
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