Meet Sophia Laforteza, the Filipina Who Made it to HYBE’s “The Debut: Dream Academy”

She is the country’s only contestant in the girl group search series!

Janelle Roa Cabrera-Paraiso

<div><br/></div><p>South Korean entertainment giant <strong>HYBE</strong> and American record label <strong>Geffen Records</strong> are collaborating to create a global girl group through a competition series called <strong><em>The Debut: Dream Academy</em></strong>. </p><div><br/></div><p>The talent contest has considered aspiring performers from all over the world—<strong>Argentina</strong>, <strong>Australia</strong>, <strong>Belarus</strong>, <strong>Brazil</strong>, <strong><a href="https://metro.style/travel/destinations/japan-new-attractions/34697" target="_blank">Japan</a></strong>, <strong>Philippines</strong>, <strong>Slovakia</strong>, <strong><a href="https://metro.style/food/food-tours/metro-travels-5-cool-cafes-to-visit-in-south-korea/34807" target="_blank">South Korea</a></strong>, <strong><a href="https://metro.style/people/inspiring-stories/sweden-princess-sofia-hospital-healthcare-worker/24634" target="_blank">Sweden</a></strong>, <strong>Switzerland</strong>, <strong><a href="https://metro.style/beauty/makeup/affordable-thai-beauty-products/35791" target="_blank">Thailand</a></strong>, and <strong>USA</strong>. Out of over <strong>120,000</strong> dreamers, only <strong>20</strong> auditionees advanced and secured their spots. </p><div style="text-align:center"><br/></div><div><br/></div><div style="text-align:center"><blockquote class="instagram-media" data-instgrm-permalink="https://www.instagram.com/p/CwoxmnRO-C5/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_campaign=loading" data-instgrm-version="14" style="background:#FFF;border:0;border-radius:3px;box-shadow:0 0 1px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.5),0 1px 10px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.15);margin:1px;max-width:540px;min-width:326px;padding:0;width:calc(100% - 2px)"><div style="padding:16px"> <a href="https://www.instagram.com/p/CwoxmnRO-C5/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_campaign=loading" style="background:#FFFFFF;line-height:0;padding:0 0;text-align:center;text-decoration:none;width:100%" target="_blank"> <div style="display:flex;flex-direction:row;align-items:center"> <div style="background-color:#F4F4F4;border-radius:50%;flex-grow:0;height:40px;margin-right:14px;width:40px"><br/></div> <div style="display:flex;flex-direction:column;flex-grow:1;justify-content:center"> <div style="background-color:#F4F4F4;border-radius:4px;flex-grow:0;height:14px;margin-bottom:6px;width:100px"><br/></div> <div style="background-color:#F4F4F4;border-radius:4px;flex-grow:0;height:14px;width:60px"><br/></div></div></div><div style="padding:19% 0"><br/></div> <div style="display:block;height:50px;margin:0 auto 12px;width:50px"><svg width="50px" height="50px" viewBox="0 0 60 60" version="1.1" xmlns="https://www.w3.org/2000/svg" xmlns:xlink="https://www.w3.org/1999/xlink"><g stroke="none" stroke-width="1" fill="none" fill-rule="evenodd"><g transform="translate(-511.000000, -20.000000)" fill="#000000"><g><path d="M556.869,30.41 C554.814,30.41 553.148,32.076 553.148,34.131 C553.148,36.186 554.814,37.852 556.869,37.852 C558.924,37.852 560.59,36.186 560.59,34.131 C560.59,32.076 558.924,30.41 556.869,30.41 M541,60.657 C535.114,60.657 530.342,55.887 530.342,50 C530.342,44.114 535.114,39.342 541,39.342 C546.887,39.342 551.658,44.114 551.658,50 C551.658,55.887 546.887,60.657 541,60.657 M541,33.886 C532.1,33.886 524.886,41.1 524.886,50 C524.886,58.899 532.1,66.113 541,66.113 C549.9,66.113 557.115,58.899 557.115,50 C557.115,41.1 549.9,33.886 541,33.886 M565.378,62.101 C565.244,65.022 564.756,66.606 564.346,67.663 C563.803,69.06 563.154,70.057 562.106,71.106 C561.058,72.155 560.06,72.803 558.662,73.347 C557.607,73.757 556.021,74.244 553.102,74.378 C549.944,74.521 548.997,74.552 541,74.552 C533.003,74.552 532.056,74.521 528.898,74.378 C525.979,74.244 524.393,73.757 523.338,73.347 C521.94,72.803 520.942,72.155 519.894,71.106 C518.846,70.057 518.197,69.06 517.654,67.663 C517.244,66.606 516.755,65.022 516.623,62.101 C516.479,58.943 516.448,57.996 516.448,50 C516.448,42.003 516.479,41.056 516.623,37.899 C516.755,34.978 517.244,33.391 517.654,32.338 C518.197,30.938 518.846,29.942 519.894,28.894 C520.942,27.846 521.94,27.196 523.338,26.654 C524.393,26.244 525.979,25.756 528.898,25.623 C532.057,25.479 533.004,25.448 541,25.448 C548.997,25.448 549.943,25.479 553.102,25.623 C556.021,25.756 557.607,26.244 558.662,26.654 C560.06,27.196 561.058,27.846 562.106,28.894 C563.154,29.942 563.803,30.938 564.346,32.338 C564.756,33.391 565.244,34.978 565.378,37.899 C565.522,41.056 565.552,42.003 565.552,50 C565.552,57.996 565.522,58.943 565.378,62.101 M570.82,37.631 C570.674,34.438 570.167,32.258 569.425,30.349 C568.659,28.377 567.633,26.702 565.965,25.035 C564.297,23.368 562.623,22.342 560.652,21.575 C558.743,20.834 556.562,20.326 553.369,20.18 C550.169,20.033 549.148,20 541,20 C532.853,20 531.831,20.033 528.631,20.18 C525.438,20.326 523.257,20.834 521.349,21.575 C519.376,22.342 517.703,23.368 516.035,25.035 C514.368,26.702 513.342,28.377 512.574,30.349 C511.834,32.258 511.326,34.438 511.181,37.631 C511.035,40.831 511,41.851 511,50 C511,58.147 511.035,59.17 511.181,62.369 C511.326,65.562 511.834,67.743 512.574,69.651 C513.342,71.625 514.368,73.296 516.035,74.965 C517.703,76.634 519.376,77.658 521.349,78.425 C523.257,79.167 525.438,79.673 528.631,79.82 C531.831,79.965 532.853,80.001 541,80.001 C549.148,80.001 550.169,79.965 553.369,79.82 C556.562,79.673 558.743,79.167 560.652,78.425 C562.623,77.658 564.297,76.634 565.965,74.965 C567.633,73.296 568.659,71.625 569.425,69.651 C570.167,67.743 570.674,65.562 570.82,62.369 C570.966,59.17 571,58.147 571,50 C571,41.851 570.966,40.831 570.82,37.631"></path></g></g></g></svg></div><div style="padding-top:8px"> <div style="color:#3897f0;font-family:Arial,sans-serif;font-size:14px;font-style:normal;font-weight:550;line-height:18px">View this post on Instagram</div></div><div style="padding:12.5% 0"><br/></div> <div style="display:flex;flex-direction:row;margin-bottom:14px;align-items:center"><div> <div style="background-color:#F4F4F4;border-radius:50%;height:12.5px;width:12.5px;transform:translateX(0px) translateY(7px)"><br/></div> <div style="background-color:#F4F4F4;height:12.5px;transform:rotate(-45deg) translateX(3px) translateY(1px);width:12.5px;flex-grow:0;margin-right:14px;margin-left:2px"><br/></div> <div style="background-color:#F4F4F4;border-radius:50%;height:12.5px;width:12.5px;transform:translateX(9px) translateY(-18px)"><br/></div></div><div style="margin-left:8px"> <div style="background-color:#F4F4F4;border-radius:50%;flex-grow:0;height:20px;width:20px"><br/></div> <div style="width:0;height:0;border-top:2px solid transparent;border-left:6px solid #f4f4f4;border-bottom:2px solid transparent;transform:translateX(16px) translateY(-4px) rotate(30deg)"><br/></div></div><div style="margin-left:auto"> <div style="width:0px;border-top:8px solid #F4F4F4;border-right:8px solid transparent;transform:translateY(16px)"><br/></div> <div style="background-color:#F4F4F4;flex-grow:0;height:12px;width:16px;transform:translateY(-4px)"><br/></div> <div style="width:0;height:0;border-top:8px solid #F4F4F4;border-left:8px solid transparent;transform:translateY(-4px) translateX(8px)"><br/></div></div></div> <div style="display:flex;flex-direction:column;flex-grow:1;justify-content:center;margin-bottom:24px"> <div style="background-color:#F4F4F4;border-radius:4px;flex-grow:0;height:14px;margin-bottom:6px;width:224px"><br/></div> <div style="background-color:#F4F4F4;border-radius:4px;flex-grow:0;height:14px;width:144px"><br/></div></div></a><div style="color:#c9c8cd;font-family:Arial,sans-serif;font-size:14px;line-height:17px;margin-bottom:0;margin-top:8px;overflow:hidden;padding:8px 0 7px;text-align:center;text-overflow:ellipsis;white-space:nowrap"><a href="https://www.instagram.com/p/CwoxmnRO-C5/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_campaign=loading" style="color:#c9c8cd;font-family:Arial,sans-serif;font-size:14px;font-style:normal;font-weight:normal;line-height:17px;text-decoration:none" target="_blank">A post shared by 𝚂𝚘𝚙𝚑𝚒𝚊 𝙻𝚊𝚏𝚘𝚛𝚝𝚎𝚣𝚊 👑 (@sophia_laforteza)</a></div></div></blockquote> </div><div><br/></div><br/><div><br/></div><p><strong>Sophia Laforteza</strong>, aged <strong>20</strong>, is among the audition program’s participants who will compete in the show for a chance to be an international idol. Based in the Philippines, Sophia shone as the sole contender from her home country. </p><div class="article-content" itemProp="articleBody"><div class="media-content"><div class="slider-for"><div><img loading="lazy" src="https://assets-metrostyle.abs-cbn.com/prod/metrostyle/attachments/6de61b79-ba33-4b23-b74f-91d39efd9e09_sophia laforteza landscape.png" alt="" class="fr-fic fr-dii"/></div><div><img loading="lazy" src="https://assets-metrostyle.abs-cbn.com/prod/metrostyle/attachments/455d7691-eca9-4292-81bc-3a50ccde70d3_sophia 1.jpg" alt="Meet Sophia Laforteza, the Filipina Who Made it to HYBE’s “The Debut: Dream Academy”" class="fr-fic fr-dii"/></div><div><img loading="lazy" src="https://assets-metrostyle.abs-cbn.com/prod/metrostyle/attachments/66c37273-adf6-40ae-a1d1-eaada72ba0fe_sophia 2.jpg" alt="Meet Sophia Laforteza, the Filipina Who Made it to HYBE’s “The Debut: Dream Academy”" class="fr-fic fr-dii"/></div><div><img loading="lazy" src="https://assets-metrostyle.abs-cbn.com/prod/metrostyle/attachments/d22b9584-b9c2-47f2-bc1d-21c9262cae81_sophia 3.jpg" alt="Meet Sophia Laforteza, the Filipina Who Made it to HYBE’s “The Debut: Dream Academy”" class="fr-fic fr-dii"/></div><div><img loading="lazy" src="https://assets-metrostyle.abs-cbn.com/prod/metrostyle/attachments/c415daf9-43c5-493c-b07a-5c782d4f12af_sophia 10.jpg" alt="Meet Sophia Laforteza, the Filipina Who Made it to HYBE’s “The Debut: Dream Academy”" class="fr-fic fr-dii"/></div><div><img loading="lazy" src="https://assets-metrostyle.abs-cbn.com/prod/metrostyle/attachments/84dceb19-f07c-4d56-9fa2-7e296137012d_sophia 5.jpg" alt="Meet Sophia Laforteza, the Filipina Who Made it to HYBE’s “The Debut: Dream Academy”" class="fr-fic fr-dii"/></div><div><img loading="lazy" src="https://assets-metrostyle.abs-cbn.com/prod/metrostyle/attachments/c8a638b6-b5a2-433c-a074-466a8718fc87_sophia 6.jpg" alt="Meet Sophia Laforteza, the Filipina Who Made it to HYBE’s “The Debut: Dream Academy”" class="fr-fic fr-dii"/></div><div><img loading="lazy" src="https://assets-metrostyle.abs-cbn.com/prod/metrostyle/attachments/b3952518-5b77-4a2d-ba35-d41fb45fdfcb_sophia 7.jpg" alt="Meet Sophia Laforteza, the Filipina Who Made it to HYBE’s “The Debut: Dream Academy”" class="fr-fic fr-dii"/></div><div><img loading="lazy" src="https://assets-metrostyle.abs-cbn.com/prod/metrostyle/attachments/1a273700-2a56-4cd2-885b-77fc6e908c68_sophia 8.jpg" alt="Meet Sophia Laforteza, the Filipina Who Made it to HYBE’s “The Debut: Dream Academy”" class="fr-fic fr-dii"/></div><div><img loading="lazy" src="https://assets-metrostyle.abs-cbn.com/prod/metrostyle/attachments/0db953e8-dd6c-4df9-a0b8-32cee8ede5cf_sophia 9.jpg" alt="Meet Sophia Laforteza, the Filipina Who Made it to HYBE’s “The Debut: Dream Academy”" class="fr-fic fr-dii"/></div><div><img loading="lazy" src="https://assets-metrostyle.abs-cbn.com/prod/metrostyle/attachments/5f29bc70-620f-466d-bf51-a9f85039552b_sophia 4.jpg" alt="Meet Sophia Laforteza, the Filipina Who Made it to HYBE’s “The Debut: Dream Academy”" class="fr-fic fr-dii"/></div></div><div class="media-content slider-desc"><div class="item-desc"><div></div></div><div class="item-desc"><p>1. Sophia’s mother is a theater maven. - It seems that showbiz runs in Sophia’s blood as the rising star’s mother, Carla Guevara, is a seasoned theater and television talent in the Philippines. <cite>@jc2700 via @carlaguevaraofficial</cite></p></div><div class="item-desc"><p>2. She is a gifted girl. - Besides being a performer, Sophia was also a performing student at the Multiple Intelligence International School in Quezon City. In fact, she finished in 2021 with several academic awards. <cite>@sophia_laforteza</cite></p></div><div class="item-desc"><p>3. She is a paw parent. - A certified feline and canine paw parent, Sophia’s TikTok feed often features her chow chow Charlie and cat Wonie. <cite>@lex.lumina via @sophia_laforteza</cite></p></div><div class="item-desc"><p>4. She is a content creator. - Prior to her K-pop aspirations, Sophia has been active on Instagram as a micro-influencer with more than 16,000 followers and a few collaborations with big brands and companies. <cite>@jc2700 via @sophia_laforteza</cite></p></div><div class="item-desc"><p>5. She is close with some celebrities. - Sophia is friends with a few showbiz royalties such as Dennis Padilla and Marjorie Barretto’s son Leon Barretto and Ruffa Gutierrez’s daughter Lorin Bektaş.<cite>@sophia_laforteza</cite></p></div><div class="item-desc"><p>6. She is fond of K-pop and is a fan of several Korean supergroups. - From boy bands to girl groups, there is no shortage of new talents and seasoned K-pop superstars that Sophia adores. If you take a look at her socials, it’s obvious—she sure is in love with BTS, LE SSERAFIM, TXT, and many more!<cite>@sophia_laforteza</cite></p></div><div class="item-desc"><p>7. She is one of the oldest participants of the audition program. - The candidates of HYBE’s contest are mostly in their teens, and while Sophia may look like she also is, she is actually one of the oldest.<cite>@sophia_laforteza</cite></p></div><div class="item-desc"><p>8. She is a globetrotter and is always on the go. - If there is something that Sophia has always been, it’s being an all-time traveler. She loves going to great landmarks abroad. She has visited amazing sights and scenes in Asia, Europe, and North America.<cite>@sophia_laforteza</cite></p></div><div class="item-desc"><p>9. She is a beach baby. - If you stumble upon Sophia’s social pages like IG, you’ll probably cop some of her cool beach babe poses seaside- or poolside-style!<cite>@sophia_laforteza</cite></p></div><div class="item-desc"><p>10. Sophia has an active TikTok account. - To witness this talented woman and her daily dose of cute clips, visit her TikTok page! Her videos range from random to doing dance challenges, cuddling her pets, and of course, performing!<cite>@jc2700 via @sophia_laforteza</cite></p></div></div></div></div><div><br/></div><p>Lead photos from <strong>@dreamacademyhq</strong></p><div><strong>Related Story: </strong><a href="/people/celebrities/k-pop-idols-who-performed-sb19-s-gento/36172" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">K-Pop Idols Who Performed SB19’s “Gento” TikTok Challenge</a></div><script async="" src="//www.instagram.com/embed.js"></script>

Meet Sophia Laforteza, the Filipina Who Made it to HYBE’s “The Debut: Dream Academy” | ABS-CBN

Halalan 2025

Entertainment

News

Metro.Style

Sports

More

Traffic

Horoscope

Lifestyle

Meet Sophia Laforteza, the Filipina Who Made it to HYBE’s “The Debut: Dream Academy”

Meet Sophia Laforteza, the Filipina Who Made it to HYBE’s “The Debut: Dream Academy”

Janelle Roa Cabrera-Paraiso

Published Sep 01, 2023 02:51 PM PHT

|

Updated Sep 01, 2023 08:27 PM PHT

Read More:

people

celebrities

sophia laforteza

HYBE

dream academy

fast facts

all about

get to know

filipinas

ABS-CBN is the leading media and entertainment company in the Philippines, offering quality content across TV, radio, digital, and film. Committed to public service and promoting Filipino values, ABS-CBN continues to inspire and connect audiences worldwide.

Corporate

Investors

Governance

International Distribution

Corporate

Governance

Investors

International Distribution

NPC Seal of Registration

Privacy Policy

AI Policy

Terms of Service

Advertise with Us

© 2025 ABS-CBN Corporation. All Rights Reserved.

NPC Seal of Registration

Privacy Policy

Terms of Service

AI Policy

Advertise with Us

© 2025 ABS-CBN Corporation. All Rights Reserved.

NPC Seal of Registration

Privacy Policy

Terms of Service

AI Policy

Advertise with Us

© 2025 ABS-CBN Corporation. All Rights Reserved.