LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA – APRIL 29: (LR) Emily Kelavos, Lexi Levine and Samara Siqueira of PRELUDE attend Billboard Women In Music 2026 at the Hollywood Palladium on April 29, 2026 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Rodina Eckenroth/FilmMagic)
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And then there were three of them. Today, HYBE x Geffen confirmed in an official statement on Weverse that SAINT SATINE member Lexi Levine has parted ways with the group.
“After extensive and thoughtful discussions with Lexi regarding the future activities of the group, both parties have agreed to separate ways,” the statement read. “Although Lexi will no longer be a member of SAINT SATINE or HxG, we sincerely wish her the best in her future endeavors.” HxG confirmed that they will continue to support the group on their path to debut.
Lexi later posted a story on her Instagram, writing, “Hi Lexi here! When I joined SAINT SATINE, I truly believed this was the right place for me. I was excited about the vision presented and the future plans we were going to work on together.”
She thanked HYBE x Geffen for the opportunity and training, saying they will always hold a special place in her heart.
“Even though my heart is heavy, I have found peace in the fact that some things in life are not meant to be. I have nothing but respect and appreciation for the team, but we have different ways of working and that’s okay!” the statement continues before asking fans to continue to support SAINT SATINE and the “eternal sisters” Emily, Samara and Sakura.
“Now I’m on my next adventure! My debut and future may look different than you expected, but stay tuned! I’m not done yet.”
Who is Lexi Levine, former member of SAINT SATINE?
Lexi Levin, 21, is Swedish and was among the original three members of the next girl group HxG after the viral success of KATSEYE. She was featured last August alongside Emily Kelavos and Samara Siqueira – all three of whom were fan favorites in the 2023 Survivor competition. Debut: Dream Academywhich previously also produced KATSEYE.
In fact, Lexi quit Dream Academy during her run, and the show said that she realized that her interests lay more “behind the scenes” in music production. In the subsequent Netflix documentary Popstar Academy: KATSEYE, it was revealed that Lexi had decided to leave on her own terms.
Her inclusion in SAINT SATINE’s main lineup was seen by many fans as a second chance in the group she left. Today’s announcement marks her second time leaving the HYBE x Geffen project before it was completed.
A Brief History of PRELUDE AND SAINT-SATINE
The group that would become SAINT SATINE began to take shape in August 2025 when HYBE and Geffen announced a new global girl group project, revealing Emily, Lexi and Samara over three consecutive days. The trio operated under the working title PRELUDE, with HYBE and Geffen hosting a second survival competition. World Scout: The Last Parta twelve-episode series that aired exclusively on Japanese streaming platform ABEMA to find the fourth and final contestant.
The jury included Sakura and Kazuha from LE SSERAFIM, Moka and Iroha from ILLIT, and TV host Sashihara Rino. The final took place live in Los Angeles in May of this year. Sixteen-year-old Tobi Sakura from Toyama, Japan was announced as the fourth member, and at the same time the official name of the group, SAINT SATINE, was announced.
The four members performed their debut pre-debut single “PARTY b4 the PARTY” live for the first time on the final stage, and also recorded another pre-debut track called “We Ride” with World Scout finalist Ayana.
Lexi’s departure comes at an uncertain time for the HYBE x Geffen lineup as a whole. KATSEYE, the label’s first global girl group, has been going through a long period of instability since member Manon Bannerman announced she would be taking an indefinite hiatus. At the time of publication, Manon is on hiatus. HYBE x Geffen did not clarify the nature of the hiatus beyond the initial announcement, and the timing of her return has not been confirmed.
SAINT SATINE will now have to proceed with their debut as Emily, Samara and Sakura, although it is unclear whether they will add a fourth member to replace Lexi or continue as a trio. I’ve reached out to HYBE for comment and will update if they respond.
Note. An earlier version of this article stated: “SAINT SATINE will currently continue her debut in 2026 as Emily, Samara and Sakura.” This was based on previous promotional materials, and while it could still happen, a 2026 debut has yet to be officially confirmed by HYBE x Geffen following Lexi’s departure.