Lara Raj
Lara Raj | |
|---|---|
.jpg) Raj in 2025 | |
| Born | Lara Rajagopalan November 3, 2005 Stamford, Connecticut, U.S. |
| Occupations |
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| Parents |
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| Relatives | Rhea Raj (sister) |
| Musical career | |
| Genres | Pop |
| Instruments | Vocals |
| Years active | 2018–present |
| Labels |
|
| Member of | Katseye |
Lara Rajagopalan (born November 3, 2005), known professionally as Lara Raj, is an American singer, dancer, and actress. She is a member of the global girl group Katseye, made through the reality show The Debut: Dream Academy.
Early life
Lara Raj was born in Stamford, Connecticut, U.S., to Tamil parents from India and Sri Lanka.[1] She has an older sister, Rhea Raj, who is a singer-songwriter.[2] Lara started singing, dancing, and acting since she was young. She grew up in Dallas, Texas. Later, she moved to Princeton, New Jersey, then New York City, where she went to the Professional Performing Arts School and LaGuardia High School.[3]
Career
2018
In 2018, Lara appeared in an advertisement for the Obama Foundation's Global Girls Alliance alongside Michelle Obama.[4]
2023–2024: Dream Academy and Katseye
Lara competed in the 2023 global audition program The Debut: Dream Academy. She placed second and became a member of the six-member group Katseye. She officially debuted as the main vocalist of Katseye on June 28, 2024, with the EP SIS (Soft Is Strong).[5]
2025–present
In June 2025, Katseye released their second extended play, Beautiful Chaos. The EP achieved commercial success, reaching the top ten in several countries, including the United States, South Korea, and Belgium. Raj has received recognition for her vocal ability, stage presence, and her incorporation of South Asian cultural elements into her performances.[6]
Personal life
In March 2025, Raj announced that she is queer on the messaging app Weverse.[7]
Discography
- As a Dream Academy contestant, she participated in shared songs released on August 21, 2024, including "Dirty Water" and "All the Same".
Filmography
- 2016 – Emoting Emojis as Piper (short movie)
- 2018 – The Blacklist as Sara (episode: "Sutton Ross")
- 2023 – Dream Academy – contestant
- 2024 – Pop Star Academy: Katseye – herself (Netflix)
References
- ↑ Naik, Sihaam (June 17, 2025). "Lara Raj may just be the desi pop baddie you've been waiting for". Vogue India. Retrieved October 27, 2025.
- ↑ "The "2 AM" singer Rhea Raj is Indian by birth". Tellyexpress. June 1, 2019. Retrieved October 27, 2025.
- ↑ "Meet Lara Raj - Voyage LA Magazine | LA City Guide". Archived from the original on March 8, 2024. Retrieved October 27, 2025.
- ↑ Obama Foundation (October 11, 2018), Welcome to the Global Girls Alliance, retrieved October 27, 2025
- ↑ Aniftos, Rania (August 29, 2023). "Meet the 20 Finalists for HYBE x Geffen 'Dream Academy' Global Girl Group Contest". Billboard. Retrieved October 27, 2025.
- ↑ "Lara Rajagopalan: Meet HYBE's first Indian-origin K-pop idol, set to debut in KATSEYE". Hindustan Times. November 19, 2023. Retrieved October 27, 2025.
- ↑ McNamara, Brittney (March 24, 2025). "KATSEYE's Lara Raj Came Out as Queer". teenvogue.com. Retrieved February 3, 2026.
Other websites
