K3 (group)

K3 is a Belgian-Dutch girl group with a Dutch-language pop repertoire, consisting of Hanne Verbruggen, Marthe De Pillecyn and Julia Boschman. In addition to music, they are also central to many films, television series and musicals. The signature style and iconicity of K3 rely on all three girls mostly wearing the same outfit, and they are traditionally a redhead, a brunette, and a blonde. Throughout its career, K3 has built a space within Dutch and Belgian pop culture, becoming one of the most successful groups of the Benelux. The group's name is derived from the first letters of the three first members from 1998: Karen Damen, Kristel Verbeke, and Kathleen Aerts. Aerts stepped out of the formation in March 2009. She was replaced by Josje Huisman later that year after winning the audition reality show K2 Zoekt K3. On 6 November 2015 Damen, Verbeke and Huisman were succeeded by Hanne Verbruggen, Klaasje Meijer and Marthe De Pillecyn after they became the winners of K3 Zoekt K3. In February 2021 Meijer announced her departure from K3 and another audition reality show was held in the same year to find a new member. Of more than 22,000 participants, Julia Boschman won the contest and became part of the group.