Manon
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| Manon | |
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 Manon 240913.jpg Bannerman in 2024 | |
| Born | Meret Manon Sarpong Bannerman[1] June 26, 2002 Lucerne, Switzerland[2] |
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Meret Manon Sarpong Bannerman[1] (born June 26, 2002), also known mononymously as Manon, is a Swiss singer and model. Under the moniker Meret Manon, she began her career through her social media presence on Instagram and TikTok. As a singer, she became the first Black artist to sign with a Hybe label, debuting as a member of the girl group Katseye in 2024, formed through the global competition reality show Dream Academy in 2023.
Early life
Bannerman was born on June 26, 2002, in Lucerne, Switzerland to a Swiss-Italian mother and Ghanaian father.[2][3] She was raised in Zurich, where she spent most of her childhood in. She has one older sister.[4]
At age 15, she taught herself piano, songwriting, and composing on the ukulele as a "personal outlet". Her father would refer to her as "Beyoncé", comparing her aspiration of becoming an artist to the American singer.[2]
Bannerman attended the Atelierschule in Zurich, with an "artistically" oriented teaching style. She put a focus in music and arts throughout her teenage years, stating her goal of becoming "as famous as Beyoncé", her "biggest idol."[2]
English is Bannerman's second language with her native language being Swiss German.
Career
2020–2022: Social media, modeling career
In 2020, Bannerman began posting on Instagram and TikTok as an influencer. She also began acting in music videos, with her first appearance in the music video for "September Skies" by Swiss singer Benjamin Amaru.[5]
In 2021, Bannerman began modeling for several artists, photographers, and brands. In February 2021, she was featured in her first notable photoshoot with Swiss-based fashion designer Jeanne Milani.[6]
By 2022, she had collaborated and worked with several brands, including Dermalogica, PacSun, Charles & Keith, Gymshark and Hugo Boss.
Bannerman has been the subject of multiple TikTok beauty trends. In 2023, she was the source of a popular beauty filter known as "BABE by aramkk5", with over 40 million videos using the filter as of October 2025.[7][8] In 2025, there was a viral trend on the platform for recreating the styling of her eyebrows. Bannerman credited the style's inspiration to a friend.[9]
2022–present: Dream Academy and Katseye debut
In 2022, Bannerman was scouted through social media by Hybe casting manager Michelle Kim.[10][11] She was invited through a direct message on Instagram to participate in a global casting competition organized by Hybe and Geffen Records, in plans to form a "global" girl group. Initially skeptical, Manon dismissed the offer as a scam, but after verifying its authenticity, she accepted the invitation and then auditioned.[11]
In the docuseries about the formation of the group, "Pop Star Academy: Katseye", Manon was praised for her "star power", a term used by Hybe and Geffen executives to describe her potential as a pop star. Casting manager Kim described her as "an aura that was calming yet vibrant," adding, "It's not something you can quantify with science or math—it's a feeling, an undeniable presence."[12] Manon joined the training program despite having no prior experience in dancing or professional singing.[13]
In 2023, she became one of 20 finalists entering as a participant on the talent competition reality show Dream Academy. She eventually placed as part of the final 6 members, making her debut with Katseye.
As a member of Katseye, Manon became the first Black artist to sign with Hybe.[14] She received wide public support. Katseye's debut single, "Debut", was released on June 28, 2024, and was subsequently included in their first extended play (EP), SIS (Soft Is Strong).
She attended the 2025 MTV VMA's with her group KATSEYE and won the Push Performance of the Year.[15]
Discography
As a contestant of Dream Academy, Bannerman participated in the promotional release of the contestants' shared songs for competition. It was performed on November 17, 2024, and released to streaming platforms on August 21, 2024.[16]
| As (artist) | Title | Released | Track | Type |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| The Debut: Dream Academy | The Debut: Dream Academy - Live Finale | August 21, 2024 | "Dirty Water" | Promotional release |
| "All The Same" |
Videography
Music video appearances
| Year | Song title | Artist | Ref. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2020 | "September Skies" | Benjamin Amaru | [5] |
| 2021 | "Chandelier" | Cobee | [17] |
| "Parkhaus" | Badchieff | [18] | |
| 2022 | "Baby Blizzard" | Baby B3ns | [19] |
Filmography
Television programs
| Year | Title | Role | Network | Ref. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 | Dream Academy | Contestant | YouTube | [20] |
| 2024 | "Pop Star Academy: Katseye" | Self | Netflix | [16] |
References
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 Katseye (December 13, 2024). live with peanutbutterlover02 (live stream). Weverse, Hybe.
My first name is Meret, my ... middle name is Manon ... I also have a second middle name, Sarpong, which is my Ghanaian name.
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 Krause-Blouin, Jacqueline. "Meret Manon Bannerman - Internationales Pop-Idol aus Zürich". schweizer-illustrierte.ch (in Deutsch). Schweizer Illustrierte. Retrieved December 25, 2024.
- ↑ William, Malik (November 13, 2024). "Manon Bannerman Is Ready For The World To Know Her Life's Destiny". Girls United. Essence. Retrieved December 24, 2024.
- ↑ Wickes, Hanna (August 22, 2024). "Who Is Manon Bannerman? Meet the Viral KATSEYE Member From Switzerland". j-14.com. J-14. Archived from the original on February 13, 2025. Retrieved January 5, 2025.
- ↑ 5.0 5.1 "Benjamin Amaru - September Skies" (video). youtube.com. November 27, 2020.
- ↑ Mettler, Ella (February 22, 2021). "Jeanne Milani". Retrieved January 5, 2025.[permanent dead link]
- ↑ aramkk5 (February 27, 2023). happy to present my new filter, BABE by #aramkk5. Retrieved October 11, 2025 – via TikTok.
- ↑ "BABE by aramkk5". TikTok. Retrieved October 11, 2025.
- ↑ Momenian, Donya (May 29, 2025). "KATSEYE's Manon Bannerman Reveals the Inspiration Behind Her Viral Eyebrows". Teen Vogue. Retrieved October 11, 2025.
- ↑ NY, Gee (August 29, 2024). "Meet Manon: The Rising Star Breaking Barriers in the Global Music Scene". Shine My Crown. Retrieved December 25, 2024.
- ↑ 11.0 11.1 "KATSEYE On Their Dream Collaborations, Life After Their Debut, and Paranormal Encounters" (video). YouTube. 102.7KIISFM. September 30, 2024.
- ↑ Alex, Laughlin (September 9, 2024). "Talent Has Never Been Enough". Defector Media. Retrieved January 5, 2025.
- ↑ Sinha, Shivangi (August 24, 2024). "Manon Bannerman: Where is the KATSEYE Member Now?". TheCinemaholic. Retrieved December 24, 2024.
- ↑ George, Tom (December 1, 2023). "Katseye are ready to be the next world-dominating girl band". i-D. Archived from the original on December 2, 2023. Retrieved December 1, 2023. Unknown parameter
|url-status=ignored (help) - ↑ "KATSEYE Takes Home Their First-Ever VMA for Push Performance of The Year". Yahoo Entertainment. September 8, 2025. Retrieved September 8, 2025.[permanent dead link]
- ↑ 16.0 16.1 Burt, Kayti (August 23, 2024). "Netflix's Pop Star Academy: Katseye Reveals What it Takes to Make a Global Girl Group". Time. Archived from the original on October 3, 2024. Retrieved November 22, 2024. Unknown parameter
|url-status=ignored (help) - ↑ "COBEE - Chandelier (@cobee313)". YouTube. May 21, 2021.
- ↑ "Badchieff - PARKHAUS (Prod. By Alexis Troy)". YouTube. October 14, 2022.
- ↑ "Baby B3ns - Baby Blizzard (Prod. By Replay Okay)". YouTube. October 20, 2022.
- ↑ Aniftos, Rania (August 28, 2023). "Meet the 20 Finalists for HYBE x Geffen 'Dream Academy' Global Girl Group Contest". Billboard. Archived from the original on November 8, 2023. Retrieved September 5, 2024. Unknown parameter
|url-status=ignored (help)
External links
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