Who Are Saint Satine — The New Girl Group From HYBE x Geffen

Saint Satine is a four-member multinational group formed under the HYBE x Geffen Records joint venture, which was established in 2021 with the stated goal of creating acts that, in the company’s own words, “transcend national, cultural, and artistic boundaries.” The group brings together Emily (20, USA), Lexie (21, Sweden), Samara (20, Brazil), and Sakura (16, Japan). Three of the four members — Emily, Lexie, and Samara — were first introduced to global audiences through reality show The Debut: Dream Academy (later immortalized in the Netflix docuseries Pop Star Academy) which documented the creation of HYBE x Geffen’s first group and drew 120,000 applicants from around the world.

The show resulted in the formation of the wildly successful albeit currently embattled KATSEYE.

Saint Satine’s Members: Who Is Each Member

Emily Kelavos, from the United States, began her professional performance career at 14 and is best known for her technical dance ability. She previously reached the finals of The Debut: Dream Academy, the competition that created KATSEYE, where she became known for her stage presence and technical dancing. Kelavos is also known for her public friendship with KATSEYE members and former Dream Academy co-stars Lara and Megan.

Samara Siqueira from Brazil built a following during her time on Dream Academy for what Allkpop described as soulful yet delicate vocals, finishing seventh in that competition's final.

Lexie Levin, from Sweden, is known for her songwriting and music production abilities, a skillset that has led fans and industry observers to speculate she will take a significant creative role in the group’s musical output.

Tobi Sakura was selected from over 14,000 Japanese applicants who applied for the final spot through World Scout: The Final Piece, which aired exclusively on Japanese streaming platform ABEMA from February 24 to May 12, 2026.

How Saint Satine Was Formed — The World Scout Reality Show Explained

The path to Saint Satine began in August 2025 when HYBE and Geffen announced the World Scout: The Final Piece project, revealing Emily, Samara, and Lexie as three confirmed members across three consecutive days.

The fourth spot was left open for a Japanese member to be determined through the survival show, which drew its fixed studio judging cast from high-profile figures in the Japanese entertainment industry including LE SSERAFIM members Sakura and Kazuha, ILLIT’s Moka and Iroha, and television personality Sashihara Rino.

The finale was held live in Los Angeles on May 12, where Sakura competed against fellow finalist Ayana.

What Saint Satine Means — The Name Explained

The group’s official name was announced alongside the finale reveal and drew an immediate mixed reaction online, with many fans having assumed the group would debut under the show’s working title, Prelude. According to the official description published by FEMMUSIC, "Saint" symbolises outstanding musicality and charisma, while "Satine" expresses a soft, elegant, and sophisticated image.

Saint Satine’s First Performance And Backlash

Saint Satine performed their debut single "PARTY b4 the PARTY" live for the first time during the finale broadcast, with all four members on stage together, per Koreaboo. The track, alongside a second song called “WE RIDE”, was released on all streaming platforms on May 12 as part of the World Scout: The Final Piece – Finale digital single album.

The performance drew immediate and mixed reactions online. Criticism of Sakura centred on her age; at 16, she is notably younger than the other three members, who are all 20 or 21, and some fans expressed discomfort at a minor being placed in a group with adults.

Although unsettling to many, this is not necessarily a new phenomenon, even as recetnly as predecessor group KATSEYE where Yoonchae was also 16 when they debuted, and even younger on Dream Academy.

Saint Satine And KATSEYE: How The Two Groups Compare

Saint Satine follows a template that HYBE and Geffen refined with KATSEYE, their first joint group, which debuted in 2024 following the Dream Academy process.

KATSEYE received two Grammy Award nominations and three American Music Award nominations, and their second EP Beautiful Chaos debuted at number four on the Billboard 200, per FEMMUSIC. The addition of a Japanese member and the use of a Japanese streaming platform as the home for the selection show reflects HYBE’s strategic expansion into the Japanese market, which has historically been one of the most consistently lucrative for K-pop adjacent acts globally.

Even as HYBE and Geffen move to establish their second act, their current crown jewel KATSEYE has been undergoing a period of uncertainty ever since member Manon Bannerman announced her ongoing hiatus. Teasers showed Bannerman is set to appear on Germany’s Next Top Model in a guest capacity. No official statement has been made on her status in the group.