Manon of KATSEYE, also known as Manon Bannerman, is a Swiss singer and model who rose to fame through the global girl group KATSEYE. While her full name and background have been widely reported, her temporary hiatus from the group in early 2026 has become a topic of intense fan speculation.
Born Meret Manon Sarpong Bannerman in Lucerne, Switzerland, she grew up in Zurich and later moved to Los Angeles to pursue music. She is best known by her stage name Manon, a shortened version of her middle name, which she adopted as a trainee and later as a member of the HYBE x Geffen group KATSEYE.
As of this writing, Manon’s future with KATSEYE remains officially unconfirmed. Her agency announced a temporary break in February 2026, but subsequent developments have led fans to question whether she will return.
Who is Manon from KATSEYE?
Manon is a Swiss singer and model of Swiss-Italian and Ghanaian descent. She became a member of KATSEYE after competing in the 2023 reality show The Debut: Dream Academy. She is widely recognized as the first Black artist signed to a HYBE label, a milestone that has drawn attention to her career.
- Real name: Meret Manon Sarpong Bannerman
- Born: 26 June 2002 in Lucerne, Switzerland
- Nationality: Swiss (mother Swiss-Italian, father Ghanaian)
- KATSEYE role: Member, joined after Dream Academy
Key insights
- Manon’s full legal name appears as Meret Manon Sarpong Bannerman across Wikipedia and major biography sources.
- She began using “Manon” because classmates struggled to pronounce “Meret” while she was an exchange student in Los Angeles.
- Her mother is Swiss-Italian and her father is Ghanaian; her middle name “Sarpong” is of Ghanaian origin.
- The hiatus was described as “temporary” in February 2026 for health and wellbeing reasons.
- No official return date has been set, and later reports describe her status as unconfirmed.
- Her Instagram handle is reported as @meretmanon, with over 7 million followers.
| Fact | Detail |
|---|---|
| Full name | Meret Manon Sarpong Bannerman |
| Stage name | Manon |
| Birth date | 26 June 2002 |
| Birthplace | Lucerne, Switzerland |
| Raised in | Zurich, Switzerland |
| Parents | Swiss-Italian mother; Ghanaian father |
| Notable legacy | First Black artist signed to a HYBE label |
| Group | KATSEYE (HYBE x Geffen) |
| Debut path | The Debut: Dream Academy (2023) |
| @meretmanon (reported) | |
| Hiatus announced | February 2026 |
| Return status | Unconfirmed |
Why is Manon from KATSEYE on hiatus?
What did the official announcement say?
In February 2026, HYBE and Geffen Records announced that Manon would take a temporary hiatus from KATSEYE to focus on her health and wellbeing. The statement did not disclose specific medical or personal details, and no exact timeframe was provided.
The announcement was carried by multiple outlets, including BBC News and CNA Lifestyle, both of which repeated the “temporary hiatus” framing.
The hiatus was described as “temporary,” but as of the latest reports no definite return date has been set. HYBE/Geffen have not provided further updates.
What happened after the announcement?
Following the initial notice, Manon stopped appearing in some KATSEYE content and removed references to KATSEYE from her Instagram bio. Fans began interpreting these changes as signs that her absence might be permanent.
Rumours circulated across social media, including a Reddit thread discussing the possibility that Manon would not return. However, none of these claims were confirmed by official sources.
Is Manon coming back to KATSEYE?
What are the rumours about Manon’s return?
Fan speculation intensified when Manon removed band references from her bio and missed scheduled appearances. A recurring rumour, appearing in places like Ground News coverage, suggested that management had a specific image in mind and that Manon might not fit that vision. This theory remains unverified.
Other fans point to her modelling background and suggest her future could be in fashion rather than music. But no reliable source has confirmed any of these narratives.
There is no official confirmation that Manon has left KATSEYE permanently. The information currently available is limited to the February 2026 hiatus notice and subsequent fan observations.
What has KATSEYE’s agency said?
As of the latest reports, HYBE/Geffen have not issued a formal statement about Manon’s return. The original announcement remains the only official communication, and it did not include a timeline.
Elle and TUKO both note that the label has not responded to the increased public interest, leaving the question of her return open.
Since official updates are scarce, fans are monitoring Manon’s social media activity and KATSEYE’s official accounts to detect any change in her status.
What is Manon’s real name and Instagram?
The story behind the name
Manon’s full name, Meret Manon Sarpong Bannerman, appears in her English Wikipedia article and in the Simple Wikipedia version. The name “Sarpong” is Ghanaian, reflecting her father’s heritage.
Friends and fans call her Manon, a name she chose because it was easier for international classmates to pronounce. Her Swedish-language biography on Manon of KATSEYE biography and research explains this naming decision.
Her Instagram presence
Manon’s personal Instagram, reported as @meretmanon, has over 7 million followers. The account features personal posts, behind-the-scenes content, and occasional KATSEYE updates, though her recent posts have focused more on modelling and solo activities.
Wikipedia and Instagram serve as the primary authoritative sources for her official identity, but neither fully addresses the hiatus controversy.
When did the key events in Manon’s KATSEYE career happen?
- – Manon is born in Lucerne, Switzerland.
- – She participates in The Debut: Dream Academy, the HYBE x Geffen reality show.
- – She is chosen as a member of KATSEYE, making history as the first Black artist signed to a HYBE label.
- – HYBE/Geffen announce a temporary hiatus for Manon, citing health and wellbeing.
- – Manon removes KATSEYE references from her Instagram bio, sparking speculation.
- – No official update on return; fan theories continue.
What do we know for certain about Manon’s situation?
Some details about Manon are well documented, while others remain unclear. The table below separates verified facts from points that are still uncertain.
| Established | Unclear |
|---|---|
| Full name: Meret Manon Sarpong Bannerman | Exact reason for hiatus (health details not disclosed) |
| Date of birth: 26 June 2002 | Whether she will return to KATSEYE |
| Birthplace: Lucerne, Switzerland | Whether the hiatus has become permanent |
| Parental background: Swiss-Italian mother, Ghanaian father | Parents’ names and occupations |
| Stage name “Manon” adopted for pronunciation reasons | Whether she is officially the first Black HYBE artist (recognised informally) |
| Joined KATSEYE after 2023 Dream Academy competition | Any future solo projects |
Why does Manon’s role in KATSEYE matter?
Manon’s position as a Black, Swiss, multiracial artist in a Korean entertainment group carries cultural significance. Her presence was widely seen as a step toward greater diversity in the K-pop adjacent industry, which has historically lacked Black representation.
Her unique position as the first Black artist signed to a major Korean entertainment label (HYBE) adds social and cultural weight to any career move. The lack of transparent communication from management has created an information vacuum filled by fan theories and unofficial leaks.
While the hiatus is a personal matter, the public response highlights how much representation matters to fans. The continued attention also reflects the growing globalisation of K-pop and its adjacent industries.
Where can you find reliable information about Manon?
For verified facts about her life and career, the most reliable sources are her Wikipedia page and the official KATSEYE announcements. The BBC and CNA Lifestyle provided balanced reporting on the hiatus, and Kprofiles maintains a detailed Manon profile for fans.
HYBE/Geffen announced that Manon would take a “temporary hiatus” to focus on her health and wellbeing.
BBC News, February 2026
For a more detailed look at her background, the Manon Bannerman profile and facts page on this site compiles biographical details and research notes. Wikipedia also covers her early life and her path to KATSEYE, though it does not address the latest hiatus developments in detail.
A note on user-generated content
Fans active on Reddit and Twitter have made many claims about Manon’s future, but these are not supported by official documentation. Treat them as speculation.
Manon Katseye: what the facts say
Manon is a Swiss-Italian-Ghanaian singer and model known as a member of KATSEYE, born Meret Manon Sarpong Bannerman. She took a temporary hiatus in February 2026 for health reasons, and no official return date has been announced. While rumours about her departure continue, no definitive statement from her agency confirms her exit. The most credible information remains the original announcement and her own social media, which she has since edited.
Commonly asked questions about Manon of KATSEYE
What is Manon’s real name?
Her full name is Meret Manon Sarpong Bannerman.
Why did Manon leave KATSEYE?
She did not officially leave; she is on a temporary hiatus announced in February 2026 due to health and wellbeing.
Will Manon come back to KATSEYE?
No official confirmation exists. The hiatus was described as temporary, but no return date has been set.
What is Manon’s ethnic background?
Her mother is Swiss-Italian and her father is Ghanaian.
Is Manon the first Black artist at HYBE?
She is recognised informally as the first Black artist signed to a HYBE label, but this claim has not been officially confirmed by HYBE.
What is Manon’s Instagram handle?
Her Instagram is reported as @meretmanon.
When was Manon born?
She was born on 26 June 2002.
Why did Manon change her name to “Manon”?
She began using “Manon” because classmates had trouble pronouncing “Meret” while she was an exchange student in Los Angeles.
Rebecca Haines is Managing Editor at DailyCity.co.uk, running the daily news list and covering UK and world stories with a city lens.