Apparently, you don’t need to win votes to become a pop star—not in their books, anyway. KATSEYE might have won the heart of the public, but these women are proving that not making the final lineup doesn’t mean the dream ends there.
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Their Own Spotlight
One of the most promising artists is Adéla, whose viral hit “Ain’t in LA” is making waves across the globe. Last year, she went on tour with Demi Lovato as a special guest across North America, and now has her own Red Bottoms Tour, taking her across America and Europe.
Also pursuing their solo artist dreams are Abby Saltzman, one of the first girls eliminated from the competition, and Brooklyn Van Zandt. Both have been releasing music since the survival show, proving that elimination didn’t stop their ambitions.
Iliya Ria from Belarus, Karlee Kishi-Jeeson Tanaka—now known as KARLEE GIRL—and Marquise Auramornrat have also begun releasing music since Pop Star Academy premiered.
Girl Group Dreams
For some, however, the goal was never to go it alone. Their post-Dream Academy journeys simply led them to a different group.
Formed through another HYBE survival show, Emily Kelavos, one of Dream Academy’s standout dancers, and Brazil’s Samara Siqueira were reported to have joined the three-member girl group SAINT SATINE.
As for Japanese trainee Mei Terada, she joined the eight-member multinational girl group Say My Name, where she performs alongside former IZ*ONE member Hitomi.
Change of Career
Perhaps Dream Academy was a turning point for some, making them realize that the idol life wasn’t necessarily the path they wanted to pursue.
Naisha Dos Santos can now be seen working as a professional dancer. With a strong hip-hop background, continuing in dance feels like a natural progression—especially as she recently worked with three-member group FLO on their Access All Areas Tour.
Japanese contestant Shimada Ua isn’t particularly active on social media, but she was spotted performing with Japanese heels dance crew La La on the World of Dance stage.
Living The Quiet Life
And then there are those who chose to move on. Whether they eventually release music or pursue entirely different careers, their next chapters remain largely their own. But that doesn’t necessarily mean they’ve disappeared—it simply means they’re living outside the trainee spotlight.
Swedish contestant Lexie Levin joined HYBE’s newest survival show and earned a place in SAINT SATINE, but ultimately decided to leave the group—much like her departure from Dream Academy, after realizing that the idol path wasn’t for her.
For Nayoung Lee, leaving Dream Academy wasn’t the end of her survival-show journey. She later joined the idol survival show Girls on Fire and earned a spot in its winning girl group. However, the group’s debut was eventually cancelled.
There are also those who chose to lead more private lives away from the spotlight—including youngest Japanese trainee Hinari Rinchan, Indian contestant Ezrela Abraham, and Argentinian contestant Celeste Diaz.
If there’s anything the girls of Dream Academy have proven, it’s that “making it” can look completely different. KATSEYE may have emerged as the show’s winning group, but the other contestants didn’t simply disappear after the final lineup was announced. They’ve continued in their own ways—releasing music, joining new groups, pursuing dance, or choosing lives away from the spotlight.
Perhaps that’s the real story after Dream Academy—debuting may have been the dream, but finding your own way to live it is an achievement in itself.
Featured Image and Photos: ADELA, ABBY SALTZMAN, CELESTE DIAZ, HINARI RINCHAN, ILIYA RIA, KARLEE, LEXIE LEVIN, MARQUISE, NAISHA DOS SANTOS, NAYOUNG LEE, SAINT SATINE, MEI TERADA (via Instagram)
Frequently Asked Questions
Many continued pursuing music or performing careers: some went solo (Adéla, Abby Saltzman, Brooklyn Van Zandt), others joined new girl groups like SAINT SATINE and Say My Name, and some shifted into dance or stepped away from the spotlight entirely.
Adéla is a Dream Academy contestant whose viral hit “Ain’t in LA” gained global attention. She toured with Demi Lovato as a special guest across North America and now headlines her own Red Bottoms Tour across America and Europe.
SAINT SATINE is a three-member girl group formed through another HYBE survival show. Dream Academy standout dancer Emily Kelavos and Brazil’s Samara Siqueira were reported to have joined the group alongside Sakura.
Yes. Naisha Dos Santos became a professional dancer, working with the group FLO, while Shimada Ua has performed with Japanese dance crew La La, showing that some contestants pursued careers outside idol life altogether.
Lexie Levin later joined SAINT SATINE through another survival show but ultimately left the group. Nayoung Lee joined the survival show Girls on Fire and won a spot in its winning girl group, though that group’s debut was later cancelled.
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