Lara Rajagopalan
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Lara Raj | |
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| Born | Lara Rajagopalan November 3, 2005 Stamford, Connecticut, U.S. |
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| Relatives | Rhea Raj (sister) |
| Musical career | |
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| Genres | Pop |
| Instruments | Vocals |
| Years active | 2024–present |
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Lara Rajagopalan (born November 3, 2005), known professionally as Lara Raj and mononymously as Lara, is an American singer and dancer based in Los Angeles, California. She is best known as a member of the global girl group Katseye, formed through the 2023 survival show The Debut: Dream Academy organized by Hybe and Geffen Records.
Early life and education
Lara Rajagopalan was born on November 3, 2005, in Stamford, Connecticut, to an Indian mother and a Sri Lankan father, and is of Tamil descent. From a young age, Lara trained in singing, acting, and dancing, beginning her career at age four. She is fluent in both English and Tamil.
Her older sister, Rhea Raj, is a singer-songwriter and Pop artist.
Pre-debut
Before joining KATSEYE, Lara appeared in commercials for Macy’s and participated in advocacy campaigns, including a 2018 video for former First Lady Michelle Obama’s Global Girls Alliance. She was also involved in public speaking and modeling, having hosted segments for the American Heart Association’s "Go Red for Women" campaign.
Career
2023: The Debut: Dream Academy
In 2023, Lara joined the global audition program The Debut: Dream Academy, competing among 20 contestants.[1] She gained immunity in several missions and ultimately finished second, securing her place in the final six-member lineup of KATSEYE.[2][3][4]
2024–present: KATSEYE debut and success
Lara officially debuted as the main vocalist of KATSEYE on June 28, 2024, with the EP SIS (Soft Is Strong). The release marked the group’s entry into the global pop scene under HYBE and Geffen Records.[5]
The group followed up with their second EP, Beautiful Chaos, released in June 2025. The album achieved significant success, propelling the group to new heights. Singles such as "Gnarly" and "Gabriela" contributed to its strong commercial performance. Beautiful Chaos debuted on several international charts, reaching the top ten in Belgium, South Korea, and the United States, earning KATSEYE their first entry on the Billboard 200.
Lara is noted for her powerful vocals, stage charisma, and incorporation of South Asian cultural elements in her style and performances.
As a member of KATSEYE, Lara became the first Indian artist to sign with a Hybe label.[6]
Artistry
Lara cites Rihanna, M.I.A., BTS's Jimin, and ENHYPEN’s Ni-ki as her musical inspirations. Her interests include songwriting, styling, crystals, and coffee. She has eight tattoos, each symbolizing personal milestones.
Personal life
In March 2025, Lara came out as queer via a public message on Weverse. She has expressed pride in her multisexual identity and advocates for LGBTQ+ visibility in the entertainment industry.
Controversies
In early 2025, Lara was falsely reported to U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement by an anonymous tip claiming she was undocumented. The accusation was dismissed, and she publicly reaffirmed her U.S. citizenship. Fans and civil rights advocates viewed the incident as racially motivated harassment and rallied in support of her.
Discography
As a contestant of Dream Academy, Raj 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.[7]
| As (artist) | Title | Released | Track | Type |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| The Debut: Dream Academy | The Debut: Dream Academy - Live Finale | August 21, 2024 | "Dirty Water" | Promotional release |
| "All The Same" |
Filmography
Reality shows
| Year | Title | Role | Network | Ref. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 | Dream Academy | Contestant | YouTube | [1] |
| 2024 | "Pop Star Academy: Katseye" | Herself | Netflix | [7] |
Films
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2016 | Emoting Emojis | Piper | Short film |
Television
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2018 | The Blacklist | Sara | Episode: "Sutton Ross" |
References
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 Aniftos, Rania (August 28, 2023). "Meet the 20 Finalists for HYBE x Geffen 'Dream Academy' Global Girl Group Contest". Billboard. Archived from the original on November 8, 2023. Retrieved September 5, 2024.
- ↑ Zee, Michaela (November 18, 2023). "Hybe, Geffen Records Unveil New Girl Group Katseye". Variety. Archived from the original on December 2, 2023. Retrieved September 26, 2024.
- ↑ Wickes, Hanna (November 21, 2023). "Who Are KATSEYE? Meet the Global Girl Group Formed Through 'The Dream Academy': Members Guide". J-14. Archived from the original on November 28, 2023. Retrieved September 27, 2024.
- ↑ Olson, Samantha (August 19, 2024). "Time to Meet Global Girl Group KATSEYE's 6 Members". Cosmopolitian. Archived from the original on August 19, 2024. Retrieved September 27, 2024.
- ↑ Saulog, Gabriel (16 August 2024). "Katseye Roar with Empowering Debut EP 'SIS (Soft Is Strong)'". Billboard Philippines. Archived from the original on 15 June 2025. Retrieved 15 June 2025.
- ↑ George, Tom (December 9, 2023). "KATSEYE are ready to be the next world-dominating girl band". i-D.
- ↑ 7.0 7.1 Burt, Kayti (August 23, 2024). "Netflix's Pop Star Academy: Katseye Reveals What it Takes to Make a Global Girl Group". Time. Archived from the original on October 3, 2024. Retrieved November 22, 2024.
External links
This article "Lara Rajagopalan" is from Wikipedia. The list of its authors can be seen in its historical. Articles taken from Draft Namespace on Wikipedia could be accessed on Wikipedia's Draft Namespace.