KATSEYE’s Megan Skiendiel is opening up about a deeply personal side of her life that fans rarely see — her ongoing mental-health journey, the pressure of growing up in the spotlight and how the people around her helped her feel safe enough to be herself.
The 20-year-old singer shared her experience in an interview with PEOPLE tied to KATSEYE’s new documentary, KATSEYE: WILD HEARTS. Megan said she has struggled with mental health for years and credited both therapy and the support of her bandmates with helping her navigate those challenges.
‘I’ve always struggled with mental health’
Megan said she has dealt with mental-health struggles for much of her life, but one of the biggest lessons she has learned is the importance of surrounding herself with people who make her feel accepted rather than judged.
For Megan, that support has come in large part from her KATSEYE bandmates.
She explained that although she is naturally outgoing, she has sometimes worried that other people might see her personality as “too much.” Within KATSEYE, however, she said she does not feel pressured to tone herself down.
That sense of acceptance, she said, has helped her become more comfortable with who she is.
Therapy became part of her journey
Megan also spoke positively about therapy, saying that being able to talk through her feelings instead of keeping everything inside has been an important part of her growth.
She described therapy as something that can benefit people even if they are not dealing with a specific mental-health condition — particularly because having a place to process emotions can make it easier to understand what they are feeling.
Her comments arrive as mental health has become an increasingly visible issue within KATSEYE itself.
KATSEYE has faced its own difficult moments
Megan’s remarks come at a particularly significant moment for the group.
Manon Bannerman began a temporary hiatus in February 2026 to focus on her health and well-being. Then, on Aug. 7, Sophia Laforteza announced that she would temporarily step away from promotional activities to prioritize her mental health and wellness following consultations with medical professionals. HYBE and Geffen said Sophia’s condition would be reassessed in September.
The two absences have left Daniela Avanzini, Lara Raj, Megan Skiendiel and Yoonchae Jeung continuing KATSEYE’s promotional activities.
The group has publicly expressed support for both Sophia and Manon, emphasizing the importance of prioritizing their well-being. Recent coverage also reported that the remaining members continue to stay in contact with their bandmates and support their decisions to take time away.
Megan knows what it feels like to step away
Megan can also relate to the experience of temporarily being unable to perform with the group.
In KATSEYE: WILD HEARTS, she recalled taking a break in 2024 because of a back injury. She said it was difficult watching the other members continue performing while she could not be there with them.
Importantly, that previous hiatus was related to her back injury — not a reported mental-health leave.
Her experience may nevertheless help explain why she has spoken so openly about giving people the space to rest and recover.
Fame can come with a hidden mental-health cost
The new documentary gives fans a more intimate look at what life is like behind KATSEYE’s highly polished performances.
Harper’s Bazaar noted that WILD HEARTS addresses the pressures of fame, online criticism and mental health while documenting the group’s rapid rise. Megan specifically reflected on entering the entertainment industry at a young age and how public scrutiny can affect mental well-being.
Megan also acknowledged an important reality of being a young celebrity: she is not “KATSEYE Megan” every moment of every day.
Sometimes, she needs a break.
And that, she emphasized, is normal.
From criticism to a new era
KATSEYE’s emotional challenges come alongside an extraordinary rise in popularity.
The group, formed through HYBE and Geffen Records’ The Debut: Dream Academy, has become one of the most prominent new global pop acts, blending K-pop’s highly disciplined training system with Western pop influences. Its breakout songs include “Touch,” “Gnarly” and “Gabriela,” with “Gnarly” becoming the group’s first song to enter the Billboard Hot 100.
The group’s latest documentary, KATSEYE: WILD HEARTS, explores that journey from another angle — showing not only the performances and achievements, but also the criticism, pressure and vulnerability behind them.
The documentary arrived shortly before KATSEYE’s third EP, WILD, released Aug. 14.
The bigger message behind Megan’s story
Megan’s revelations are not simply about celebrity life.
At the heart of her message is something much more relatable: the importance of having people around you who allow you to be yourself, and having a safe place to talk about emotions rather than keeping everything bottled up.
For a young artist navigating international fame, constant public attention and the expectations that come with being part of a rapidly rising group, that support system can matter just as much as what happens on stage.
And as KATSEYE enters its next chapter, Megan’s candidness offers fans a rare glimpse behind the glamour — where even global pop stars sometimes need to step back, talk things through and simply be themselves.
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