Manon Bannerman
Swiss singer and model (born 2002)
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Meret Manon Sarpong Bannerman (born June 26, 2002), also known mononymously as Manon[1][2][3] is a Swiss singer and model. 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 2023 competition reality show Dream Academy.
June 26, 2002
- Singer
- model
Early life
Bannerman was born on June 26, 2002, in Lucerne, Switzerland to a Swiss-Italian mother and Ghanaian father.[4][5] She was raised in Zurich, where she spent most of her childhood. She has one older sister.[6] She speaks English, Swiss German and German.[7]
Since she was four years old, Bannerman knew she wanted to be on stage.[8] 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.[4]
Her full name is Meret Manon Sarpong Bannerman.[9][10] While spending a year as an exchange student in Los Angeles, she began going by her middle name, "Manon", due to her classmates pronouncing her given name, "Meret", strangely.[8] "Sarpong" is her Ghanaian name.[10]
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."[4] She has described being brought up on stage at German musician Cro's concert as an important moment that made her she realize what she wanted to do.[11]
Career
2020–2023: Social media, modeling career, and Dream Academy
In 2020, Bannerman began posting on Instagram and TikTok as an influencer.[7] She also began acting in music videos, appearing in works for artists such as Swiss pop musician Benjamin Amaru and German rapper Badchieff.[8] She collaborated and worked with several brands, including Laura Mercier and Charles & Keith.[7]
In 2022, Bannerman was scouted through social media by Hybe casting manager Michelle Kim.[12][13] She was invited to participate in a global casting competition organized by Hybe and Geffen Records, in plans to form a "global" girl group. Bannerman originally dismissed the offer as a scam, but after verifying its authenticity, she accepted the invitation and then auditioned.[13]
In 2023, Bannerman became one of 20 finalists entering as a participant on the talent competition reality show Dream Academy. She joined the training program despite having no prior experience in dancing or professional singing.[14] Bannerman placed among the final six contestants, marking her debut with Katseye. In the Dream Academy docuseries Pop Star Academy: Katseye, Bannerman 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."[15]
2024–present: Katseye and hiatus
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On June 28, 2024, Bannerman debuted with Katseye through their single "Debut".[16] As a member of Katseye, Bannerman became the first Black artist to sign with Hybe.[17] In 2025, Swiss media noted Bannerman for being the first Swiss woman to win an MTV Video Music Award, when Katseye won the Push Performance of the Year award for "Touch".[18][19] They again commended her for being the first Swiss artist to be nominated for a Grammy General Field award and also perform at the ceremony when Katseye performed at the 68th Annual Grammy Awards.[20][21] In January 2026, Bannerman starred in Not Bad, a short film directed by her friend Sophie Hall-Mochkatel, which was shared on January 27.[22]
On February 20, Katseye announced that Bannerman would be taking a temporary hiatus from the group to "focus on her health and wellbeing".[23] The announcement received substantial coverage in entertainment media, and spurred considerable speculation on social media.[24][25][26] Some media outlets discussed the hiatus in the context of Bannerman's position as the only Black member of Katseye.[27][28] Other artists, including SZA, Chloe Bailey and Leigh-Anne Pinnock, expressed support for her, with the BBC noting Pinnock's comments in light of her own experience as the only Black member of Little Mix.[29][24]
In April, Bannerman said that she and Hybe x Geffen were having "positive conversations" and that she felt supported.[30] Around the same time, media outlets noted that she had removed "Katseye" from her Instagram bio, which renewed speculation about the future of her hiatus.[31] Her absence remained a focus of coverage during Katseye's next activities; she did not appear in the group's April single "Pinky Up" or its music video.[32][33] Hybe later confirmed that she would not participate in Katseye's Coachella debut, though media noted she was present at the festival.[34][35] In interviews surrounding the performance, Katseye's members expressed their support for Bannerman during her hiatus.[33]
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, 2023, and released to streaming platforms on August 21, 2024.[36]
| Title | Year | Album |
|---|---|---|
| "Dirty Water" (as part of The Debut: Dream Academy) |
2024 | The Debut: Dream Academy - Live Finale |
| "All The Same" (as part of The Debut: Dream Academy) |
Videography
Filmography
Television programs
| Year | Title | Role | Ref. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 | Dream Academy | Contestant | [37] |
| 2024 | Pop Star Academy: Katseye | Self | [36] |
Films
| Year | Title | Notes | Ref. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | Not Bad | Short film | [22] |
