They can teach you, but they have to charge.

In an ad released on August 19, global girl group Katseye takes center stage alongside dancers of all shapes, sizes, and backgrounds, each rocking denim in their own way. What might look like just a fashion ad instead feels like a statement; one that celebrates diversity at a time when representation is often under fire. Simple yet bold styling transforms jeans, jackets, and skirts from everyday staples into statements of individuality; a snapshot of identity, belonging, and the many faces of America.

Katseye, for those unfamiliar, is not just another pop act. The group, which debuted in June 28, 2024, was created with intentional diversity in mind, with members representing a range of nationalities, ethnicities, and cultural experiences. Their skyrocketing fame proves that global audiences are ready—and eager—for this kind of representation. In many ways, their collaboration with Gap feels inevitable; both the group and the brand are symbols of accessibility and universality.

Their intentional diversity resonated deeply worldwide, especially to me. As someone who is fully Filipino, Katseye’s representation immediately clicked with me. It is rare to see Filipinos celebrated on the global stage, let alone those from the motherland. That’s why I’ll never forget watching Katseye’s leader, Sophia Laforteza, proudly introduce herself in Tagalog during Dream Academy, the survival show that launched the group. “Magandang araw. Ako po ay si Sophia, mula sa Pilipinas. Mabuhay sa inyong lahat.” (Hello! I’m Sophia, from the Philippines. Long life to all.)

Just recently on September 7, 2025 during the VMAs 2025 where Katseye won the Push Performance of the Year, Sophia thanked her fans in English and Tagalog. “Thank you to our Eyekons. We are here because of you. We love you so, so much. Thank you for believing in us. Maraming, maraming salamat.” (Thank you so, so much.)

In those moments, I felt seen. To witness Sophia not only standing at the forefront of an international group but also embracing her culture without hesitation in an international stage made me realize how powerful it is to be recognized in spaces that often overlook us.

If recognition can feel this powerful to one person, imagine the quiet revolutions it sparks across communities who rarely see themselves represented. That’s the ripple effect campaigns like this create, whether or not the corporations behind them intend it.

The campaign’s social impact lies in its vision of a world where everyone has a place. Watching a lineup of young women, each different yet celebrated equally, feels heartwarming; it taps into a simple truth that diversity is beautiful. Denim has always been America’s fabric: worn by miners, rebels, and runway models alike. In Gap’s hands, it becomes a symbol of inclusivity, a reminder that belonging doesn’t have just one look.

Of course, there is another layer. Campaigns like these have a risk of falling under performative inclusivity; that is, the practice of companies leveraging diversity for commercial gain. Inclusivity, when filtered through a corporate lens, can risk feeling less like genuine progress and more like a strategy to sell jeans. This reality is important to acknowledge.

Does it matter if it’s performative if it still normalizes visibility?

Absolutely! Even with its imperfections, Gap’s campaign lands at a time when many nations, including the United States, are seeing a sharp turn toward conservatism. In a cultural climate where school boards debate the erasure of diverse stories and executive orders that push back against diversity, equity, and inclusion, seeing a mainstream American brand lean into multiculturalism feels almost rebellious. Denim may be neutral, but in this context, it becomes political. Against that backdrop, a mainstream celebration of multiculturalism and difference feels refreshing, even necessary.

Katseye’s Gap campaign is not a revolution, but it is a reminder that representation in media matters; who we see in ads, magazines, and billboards shapes who we imagine belongs in society. By placing a diverse global girl group at the center of an American denim campaign, Gap is reflecting not only where we are but where we might go; a world where, truly, things are better when everyone is included.

If denim can stretch to fit everyone, maybe America can too—though it will take more than just marketing campaigns to get us there. Still, normalization matters. Every billboard, every music video, every campaign plants seeds about who belongs. And sometimes, that’s how cultural change begins: in small, ordinary places, like a pair of new jeans.