Who Is Lara Raj? The Indian-Origin 'Pop Baddie' In The Girl Group Katseye

Lara Raj, a 19-year-old singer-producer, has become a music sensation representing Queer and South Asian cultures worldwide, with a whopping 3.7 million followers on her Instagram handle. She is one of the members of the Gen Z-favourite international girl group Katseye, creating a distinctive path in the music industry. Flaunting her bindis, nose ring, and gold jewellery, she proudly represents her Indian, specifically Tamil, identity.

Born in Connecticut and raised in New York, she and her sister Rhea Raj were immersed in art from a young age, thanks to their mother, who taught Indian classical music and dance. Rhea is also a renowned singer-songwriter. Growing up, they co-produced songs together in their home studio.

Her Musical Journey

At age 17, Lara received an invitation from Hybe (the label that manages K-pop sensation BTS) in her Instagram DMs, leading her to a global talent quest where she competed with 20 other contestants for a spot in Katseye. "The label saw my song covers and suddenly, I was on a plane to LA," Lara told Vogue India, calling the opportunity her 'destiny'.

Lara and fellow members, Manon Bannerman, Sophia Laforteza, Megan Skiendiel, Yoonchae Jeung and Daniela Avanzini, are a diverse mix of performers from around the world. Their songs, like Gnarly and Gabriela, have made it to almost every global hits playlist. Recently, they also turned heads with an ad campaign for GAP denim.

Apart from this, Lara Raj had a starring role in Michelle Obama's Global Girls Alliance launch campaign video, where she advocated for women's basic right to education. She was also a contestant in the Netflix show The Debut: Dream Academy.She has since been an icon for her ‘Eyekons’ (Katseye fandom). 

During her spring tour, “At a show in Dallas, someone held up a sign saying, ‘Brown girls for Katseye. I broke down. I couldn’t believe it was real," she told Vogue.

On March 24, 2025, Lara declared herself as a queer in a live on Weverse, a platform widely used by K-pop stars to connect and interact with their audience. She said, “I knew I was half a fruitcake when I was like eight, so I really was wanting everybody!” Her bold approach to her identity and work has been truly an inspiration.