Sophia Laforteza emerged as one of the selected 20 contestants in the much-anticipated audition program The Debut: Dream Academy.
Sophia, the daughter of acclaimed theater actress Carla Guevara Laforteza, is seeking to land a seat in the future international girl group sensation.
The Debut: Dream Academy is a collaboration between Geffen Records and HYBE, the force behind the global phenomenon BTS. The competition aims to unearth the next big talents that can be molded into a girl group primed for international stardom.
According to a report by The Hollywood Reporter, the top 20 aspirants were announced after the program sorted through a staggering 120,000 submissions. The 20-year-old Sophia Laforteza from the Philippines stood out from among the mass of applicants.
The formation of this dynamic girl group will be chronicled in a forthcoming documentary series to be broadcast on Netflix next year, directed by Emmy-nominated filmmaker Nadia Hallgren.
Beginning 1 September, viewers will be able to watch The Debut: Dream Academy on YouTube and the Japanese streaming platform Abema.
The big finale on 17 November will not only reveal the final members of the much-anticipated female group but will also reveal the group name that best captures their collective personality and identity.