Manon Bannerman

Manon Bannerman
Bannerman in 2024
Born
Meret Manon Sarpong Bannerman

(2002-06-26) June 26, 2002 (age 24)
Lucerne, Switzerland
OccupationSocial Media Personality
Musical career
GenresPop
InstrumentsVocals
Years active2024 – present
Labels
Signature

Meret Manon Sarpong Bannerman (born June 26, 2002), professionally as Manon, is a Swiss singer, dancer and model. She first became known through her social media accounts on Instagram and TikTok. She is a member of the global girl group Katseye, formed through the reality show Dream Academy. She is also known as the first musical artist of biracial black and white descent to be signed to a HYBE label.

Early life

Bannerman was born in Lucerne, Switzerland, to a Swiss-Italian mother and an Akan Fante Ghanaian father. She grew up in Zurich and has an older sister named Lena Lou.

From a young age, Bannerman wanted to perform onstage. When she was 15, she learned to play the piano and the ukulele, and started writing her own songs. Her father compared her to Beyoncé because of her dream to become a singer. While she studied in Los Angeles as an exchange student, she began to go by just "Manon" because people had trouble pronouncing "Meret".

"I’m so blessed to have been growing up in a household where there’s so many different cultures. My dad is Ghanaian, so I’m really connected to my West African heritage. My mom is Swiss and Italian. I learned a lot about those cultures because we spent almost every summer in Italy. I feel like it broadens me and I have a bigger understanding of the world."

—Manon.

Bannerman studied at Atelierschule in Zurich, where students focus on creative arts. She said her goal was to be "as famous as Beyoncé". Her interest in performing started when she was invited on stage at a concert by German singer Cro.

Bannerman speaks Swiss German as her first language and English as her second. She also revealed in a live that she used to do artistic cycling.

Career

2020–2022: Social media and modeling

Bannerman began posting on Instagram and TikTok in 2020.[source?] She also appeared in music videos for artists such as Swiss singer Benjamin Amaru and German rapper Badchieff.

By 2022, she had worked with several brands, such as Dermalogica, PacSun, Charles & Keith, Gymshark, and Hugo Boss.

In 2025, a TikTok trend started where fans copied Bannerman’s eyebrow style. She said that the look was inspired by a friend.

2022–present: Dream Academy and Katseye

In 2022, Bannerman was found on social media by Hybe casting manager Michelle Kim. She was asked to join a global audition to form a new girl group with HYBE and Geffen Records. At first, Bannerman thought the message was fake, but later she confirmed it was real and accepted the invitation.

She joined the show Dream Academy in 2023. She finished 6th place and was chosen as one of six members for the final group, Katseye.

As part of Katseye, she became the first Black artist signed to a HYBE label. The group released their first song, "Debut", on June 28, 2024, followed by their first EP SIS (Soft Is Strong).

In 2025, Bannerman and her group won the award for “Push Performance of the Year” at the MTV Video Music Awards. This made her the first woman from Switzerland to win an MTV Video Music Award.

Since joining Katseye, Bannerman, alongside the rest of the group, has partnered with several brands, such as Gap, Jollibee, Pandora, Glossier, Laneige, Lush, Monster High, and Fendi.

In January 2026, Manon shared a short film titled "Not Bad" on her Instagram account, co-created with her close friends Violet and Sophie.

Hiatus

On February 20, 2026, it was announced that Manon would be on a temporary hiatus from all Katseye activities to focus on her health.

Discography

Videography

Music video appearances

YearSongArtistRef.
2020"September Skies"Benjamin Amaru
2021"Chandelier"Cobee
2021"Parkhaus"Badchieff
2022"Baby Blizzard"Baby B3ns

Filmography

Television

YearTitleRoleNetworkRef.
2023Dream AcademyContestantYouTube
2024Pop Star Academy: KatseyeSelfNetflix
2026 Katseye: Wild Hearts Self Cinema

Movies

Year Title Role Network Ref.
2026 Not Bad Housewife Instagram

References

  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 Ghanaian middle name, Sarpong.
  2. ↑ 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.
  3. 1 2 3 Krause-Blouin, Jacqueline (December 2, 2023). "Meret Manon Bannerman - International pop idol from Zurich". schweizer-illustrierte.ch (in German). Archived from the original on December 25, 2024. Retrieved December 25, 2024.
  4. ↑ Akwaba (September 25, 2025). "Manon Bannerman". Ethnicity of Celebs | EthniCelebs.com. Retrieved January 9, 2026.
  5. ↑ 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.
  6. 1 2 3 Fischer, Martin (November 15, 2023). ""Ich durfte ein Jahr lang niemandem davon erzählen"". tagesanzeiger.ch (in German). Retrieved October 20, 2025.
  7. ↑ "Manon Bannerman - Ethnicity of Celebs". ethnicelebs.com. 25 September 2025. Retrieved 3 February 2026.
  8. ↑ Biedermann, Melanie (November 12, 2023). "Since Manon went on stage with Cro, she wanted to be a pop star". 20min.ch. Retrieved November 10, 2025.
  9. ↑ "KATSEYE's Manon Bannerman Is Ready For The World To Know Her Life's Destiny". Girls United. November 13, 2024. Retrieved November 12, 2025.
  10. ↑ Momenian, Donya (May 29, 2025). "KATSEYE's Manon Bannerman Reveals the Inspiration Behind Her Viral Eyebrows". Teen Vogue. Retrieved October 11, 2025.
  11. ↑ NY, Gee (August 29, 2024). "Meet Manon: The Rising Star Breaking Barriers in the Global Music Scene". Shine My Crown. Retrieved December 25, 2024.
  12. ↑ "KATSEYE On Their Dream Collaborations, Life After Their Debut, and Paranormal Encounters". YouTube. 102.7KIISFM. September 30, 2024.
  13. ↑ Alex, Laughlin (September 9, 2024). "Talent Has Never Been Enough". Defector Media. Retrieved January 5, 2025.
  14. ↑ 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.
  15. ↑ "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. ↑ Fischer, Martin (September 10, 2025). "Manon von Katseye ist jetzt der grösste Schweizer Popstar – oder?". tagesanzeiger.ch. Retrieved November 10, 2025.
  17. ↑ "Gap Unveils Fall Denim Campaign Starring Global Girl Group KATSEYE | Gap". Gap Inc. Retrieved January 30, 2026.
  18. ↑ "Jollibee partners with girl group Katseye on Korean barbecue chicken products | The National Provisioner". www.provisioneronline.com. Retrieved January 30, 2026.
  19. ↑ "Katseye's Newest Collaboration Celebrates the Love in Sisterhood". Harper's BAZAAR. January 8, 2026. Retrieved January 30, 2026.
  20. ↑ "Glossier's Latest Launch: The Brand's First-Ever Lip Oil in Collaboration With the Members of Katseye". Cosmopolitan. May 20, 2025. Retrieved January 30, 2026.
  21. ↑ LANEIGE. "LANEIGE Unveils KATSEYE as Global Partner and Faces of New JuicePop Box Lip Tint Campaign". www.prnewswire.com (Press release). Retrieved January 30, 2026.
  22. ↑ Marketing, Body Care. "Lush taps pop group Katseye for limited edition range inspired by Beautiful Chaos album". cosmeticsbusiness.com. Retrieved January 30, 2026.
  23. ↑ Ayoud, Amina (July 21, 2025). "Shop These Frightful & Fashionable Dolls Inspired by KATSEYE's Latest Collab With Monster High". Billboard. Retrieved January 30, 2026.
  24. ↑ Katos, Arielle (April 7, 2025). "Fendi taps Nara Aziza Smith and KATSEYE". Harper's Bazaar Australia. Retrieved January 30, 2026.
  25. 1 2 InMusic (January 27, 2026). "KATSEYE's Manon Drops Short Film "NOT BAD": Watch". InMusic. Retrieved January 27, 2026.
  26. ↑ InMusic (February 21, 2026). "KATSEYE's Manon Announces Temporary Hiatus to Focus on Health". InMusic. Retrieved March 24, 2026.
  27. ↑ "Benjamin Amaru - September Skies". YouTube. November 27, 2020.
  28. ↑ "COBEE - Chandelier". YouTube. May 21, 2021.
  29. ↑ "Badchieff - PARKHAUS". YouTube. October 14, 2022.
  30. ↑ "Baby B3ns - Baby Blizzard". YouTube. October 20, 2022.
  31. ↑ "Meet the 20 Finalists for HYBE x Geffen 'Dream Academy'". Billboard. August 28, 2023.
  32. ↑ "Netflix's Pop Star Academy: Katseye Reveals What it Takes to Make a Global Girl Group". Time. August 23, 2024. Archived from the original on October 3, 2024. Retrieved November 12, 2025.