Global Girl Group Saint Satine Unveils Final Lineup: Sakura Joins Former ‘Dream Academy’ Contestants
In a highly anticipated announcement, Hybe x Geffen, the powerful joint venture between entertainment giants Hybe and Geffen Records, has officially unveiled the name and complete lineup for its much-awaited second global girl group, Saint Satine.
The four-member girl group, Saint Satine, was officially introduced during the thrilling finale of “World Scout: The Final Piece,” a 12-episode audition program that captivated audiences and aired on Wednesday via the Japanese streaming platform ABEMA. The lineup features familiar faces: former “The Debut: Dream Academy” contestants Emily, Lexie, and Samara, who are now joined by Sakura, the talented final member selected through the rigorous competition.
Saint Satine marks the second groundbreaking global act to emerge from the Hybe x Geffen partnership, following the successful formation of Katseye in 2023. Katseye debuted through Netflix’s pioneering girl group audition program, “The Debut: Dream Academy.” Building on this success, the joint venture had previously announced plans last August to launch a second multinational girl group, revealing that the final member would be discovered through a brand-new audition series commencing in February.
The journey to forming Saint Satine involved an extensive global search. Preliminary auditions were conducted across Japan, identifying promising talent who then traveled to the US between October and December 2025. There, these selected trainees underwent intensive training utilizing Hybe’s renowned K-pop training and development system. Out of approximately 14,000 aspiring applicants, four exceptional finalists — Hiori, Ayana, Sakura, and Aoi — were ultimately chosen in the sixth episode of the series. The competition intensified as Sakura and Ayana advanced to the climactic final round, with Sakura ultimately achieving victory in Wednesday’s grand finale, securing her spot in Saint Satine.
Elaborating on the group’s unique identity, Son Sung-deuk, Executive Creator at Hybe America and the performance director for this ambitious audition project, shared insights into their name. “‘Saint’ represents a powerful charisma and a commanding musical presence,” he explained, “while ‘Satine’ symbolizes a softer, more elegant, and sophisticated image. Together, they embody the multifaceted charm of Saint Satine.”
Fans worldwide can eagerly anticipate the official debut of Saint Satine, which is slated for the second half of this year, promising to be a significant entry into the global K-pop and pop music scene.
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