‘That didn’t work out for me’: Adéla’s emotional shout-out to KATSEYE’s Lara and Megan, Emily brings back Dream Academy memories

Slovak pop star Adéla Jergova is celebrating a new chapter in her music career, taking her solo ambitions forward following the release of her debut studio album PRIMA. During her Red Bottoms Tour, her concerts at the Fonda Theatre in Los Angeles on October 8 and 9, 2026, have drawn attention beyond her performances, as fans spotted familiar faces in the audience on the first night, October 8.

Her friends, Lara Raj and Megan Skiendiel of KATSEYE, along with their friend Emily, were seen at the show, with a video capturing their emotional reactions as Adéla performed on stage. The moment has brought back memories of The Debut: Dream Academy, the competition that brought them all together as they worked towards the same dream.

Adéla, 22, had two scheduled shows at the Fonda Theatre in Los Angeles on October 8 and 9, 2026, as part of her Red Bottoms Tour. On October 8, KATSEYE members Lara Raj and Megan Skiendiel, along with one of their close friends, Emily, were seen in the audience. They appeared emotional as they watched Adéla perform on stage.

During the show, Adéla was also seen giving them a heartfelt shout-out, stating:

We would train just down the street every day for two years to try to become pop stars together. And guess what? That didn’t work out for me, but it did for them!

It was a full-circle moment that took them back to their shared Dream Academy training days, as Adéla recalled how they had trained together for two years while hoping to become pop stars. She reportedly also joked that their shared dream had not worked out for her in the same way, but had for Lara and Megan.

The moment brought their Dream Academy days back into the limelight. Although Adéla did not make the final KATSEYE lineup, the presence of her friends at her concert offered a glimpse of the bond they have maintained as they pursue their respective musical careers.

Adéla and Lara’s friendship has continued beyond their time on The Debut: Dream Academy, with the two remaining close friends. Their friendship has also extended to a professional collaboration on Adéla’s fourth track, Boys, from her debut album PRIMA, which was released on September 4, 2026. Rather than a conventional vocal collaboration, Lara contributed spoken dialogue to a playful interlude that captures a conversation between friends reacting to a guy behaving inappropriately around them.

Adéla further clarified that she brought Lara into the track because their conversations are naturally funny. The collaboration offers a glimpse into their offstage dynamic.

Before KATSEYE made its debut and Adéla started building her solo career, Lara Raj, Megan Skiendiel, Emily and Adéla shared an intense training experience through The Debut: Dream Academy. They spent long days working towards the same ambition, which brought them closer and created a friendship that extended beyond the competition.

Adéla has spoken about how their shared experiences shaped that bond, explaining that the group understands what they went through in a way others cannot. She also described Lara and Megan as her real ones, emphasising their friendship, which existed before any of them found wider success.

Although Adéla did not make the final KATSEYE lineup while Lara and Megan did, their different career paths did not end their connection. From Lara contributing to Adéla’s PRIMA track Boys to Lara and Megan attending her LA concert with Emily, their continued support for one another has given fans a glimpse of the friendship that began during training and has lasted beyond it.

Emily Ann Kelavos is an American dancer, singer and performer. She is the main dancer in the global girl group SAINT SATINE and competed in The Debut: Dream Academy alongside her friends. She managed to reach the live finale but finished ninth, missing out on the final KATSEYE lineup. Just like Adéla, Emily’s journey through the competition brought her into the same close-knit circle as Lara and Megan.

Her connection with Adéla also extends to their professional and creative work. Emily choreographed the dance performance for Homewrecked, Adéla’s debut solo single, which was released in 2024. She was also seen in the dance video, making the project an early example of the two working together beyond their shared training experience at The Debut: Dream Academy.

The collaboration reflects how their friendship developed into a partnership. While Adéla pursued music as a solo artist, Emily contributed her choreography skills to help bring the song’s visual performance to life. Their continued closeness, alongside Emily’s friendship with Lara and Megan, helps explain why fans see her as an important part of the group’s enduring sisterhood.

Adéla’s debut studio album PRIMA has marked a major milestone in her solo career. The album debuted at No. 4 on the Billboard 200.

For Lara, Megan and Emily, watching Adéla reach this point makes their appearance at her Los Angeles concert all the more emotional. They knew her before the chart success, viral trends and sold-out shows. Their reunion was a reminder that even as their careers took different directions, the friendship they built during Dream Academy will always be a part of their story.