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Born on November 3, 2005, in Connecticut, Lara already had quite the performing résumé before she was scouted for Dream Academy through her singing videos on social media.

“I began vocal lessons, acting training and dance classes in Dallas, Texas, where I spent my early childhood,” she told Voyage LA magazine in 2020. “I spent years performing with the Septien Entertainment Group there at venues like the House of Blues, Hard Rock Cafe, American Airlines Center, Six Flags and various music festivals.”

She moved to New York City as a teen to study at Professional Performing Arts School and Fiorello H. LaGuardia High School, which boasts an alumni list including Jennifer Aniston and Timothée Chalamet. Between classes, she auditioned for various performing and modeling gigs before landing an appearance on a 2018 episode of The Blacklist.

As seen in Pop Star Academy, Lara was introduced after producers believe they needed “a vocalist that will sell out stadiums.”

She made it into KATSEYE—spelled with a “K” under her suggestion—with a second place score of 82.67.