Katseye’s Sophia Laforteza wears her Filipino identity with pride
Sophia Laforteza | Photo from Teen Vogue/Instagram
For Filipino American global idol Sophia Laforteza, Nicole Scherzinger and Vanessa Hudgens – and more recently, Olivia Rodrigo – were more than just household names. These Filipino American icons weren’t just stars on her screen as they were reminders that someone like her could take up space on the global stage.
Now, at 22, Sophia’s becoming that very beacon for the next generation as the Filipina member and leader of global girl group Katseye.
In her recent Teen Vogue cover feature, Sophia reflects on how her Filipino heritage is a driving force for her craft.
“I want to be somebody who will never hide the fact that I’m Filipino,” she told Teen Vogue. “I want to be loud about it … It means a lot when somebody embraces their culture, especially their Philippine culture and their heritage.”
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Sophia’s pride isn’t performative as she shares that it lives in the smallest details of her daily life. All her choices are rooted in her upbringing like the kind of traditional tea she drinks or the familiar scent of baby cologne she prefers over perfume.
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Even in the way she carries herself as a leader, that same cultural grounding is evident.
As told by Teen Vogue, the inspiration closest to her heart, however, isn’t from Hollywood or the music charts, though she holds them in high regard. It’s her mom who happens to be veteran theater actress Carla Guevara-Laforteza, who first introduced Sophia to the world of performing arts.
She would often tag along during rehearsals, quietly absorbing the discipline and passion of the stage. That behind-the-scenes exposure helped shape the poised, driven artist she is today.
“I would just sit there and observe. She trained me to a visual learner,” she further added.
Speaking of Rodrigo, Katseye had an unforgettable encounter with the Filipino American pop sensation during a backstage moment at her “GUTS” show in August of 2024.
