When you hear the name Meret Manon, you are hearing the story of a young woman who turned a childhood dream into a global reality one TikTok video, one competition stage, and one historic debut at a time. Born in Lucerne, Switzerland, and raised in Zurich, Meret Manon Sarpong Bannerman has gone from a social media creator posting lip-sync videos in her bedroom to one of the most talked-about names in pop music today. Her journey is not just remarkable it is genuinely unprecedented.
Who Is Meret Manon? A Quick Introduction
Meret Manon’s full name is Meret Manon Sarpong Bannerman She was born on June 26, 2002, to a Ghanaian father and a Swiss-Italian mother a multicultural background that shaped her identity, her artistry, and her sense of self from the very beginning. She grew up in Zurich, Switzerland, and attended the Atelierschule, a school with an artistically oriented teaching philosophy where she focused heavily on music and the performing arts.
She goes by Manon professionally. The name switch happened organically during a year she spent as an exchange student in Los Angeles, where her classmates struggled to correctly pronounce “Meret.” The middle name stuck, and the world came to know her by it.
Her father called her “Beyoncé” not as a compliment exactly, but as a recognition of her unwavering drive to perform. Since the age of four, Manon knew she wanted to be on a stage. By the time she was 15, she had taught herself to play the piano and the ukulele and had begun writing her own songs. A pivotal early moment came when she was brought onstage at a concert by German musician Cro an experience she has described as the moment she truly understood what she was meant to do with her life.
From TikTok to the Global Stage: Meret Manon’s Rise
In December 2020, Meret Manon made her TikTok debut with a simple lip-sync video captioned “HI TIKTOK.” It was an unassuming beginning. But by May 2021, one of her performances had gone viral, accumulating over three million combined views. That was just the start.
She built her following steadily through a mix of beauty content, modeling videos, fashion posts, and personality-driven clips. Today, her account @meretmanon has over 8 million followers and more than 16 million likes on TikTok alone. On Instagram, she has amassed another sizable following under the same handle. Her career as a social media influencer brought her into contact with major brands including Laura Mercier and Charles & Keith, and she appeared in music videos for Swiss pop musician Benjamin Amaru and German rapper Badchieff.
What set Meret Manon apart from the beginning was not just her looks or her charisma it was a visible hunger to do more. She was not content being an influencer. She wanted to be an artist.
The Debut: Dream Academy and the Birth of KATSEYE
In 2023, Meret Manon’s life changed entirely when she was cast into one of the most ambitious pop music experiments in recent history. HYBE the South Korean entertainment powerhouse behind BTS and LE SSERAFIM and Geffen Records (part of Universal Music Group, home to Billie Eilish and Olivia Rodrigo) joined forces to create a truly global girl group. To find the members, they opened a competition called The Debut: Dream Academy, which drew more than 120,000 applicants from around the world.
Manon was cast after a HYBE casting manager spotted her on TikTok and Instagram, reportedly impressed by her visuals and natural star quality. She began training in Los Angeles in late 2022, entering a rigorous Korean idol-style training system something entirely foreign to her at the time. She has spoken openly about having no formal training in dance or singing before becoming a trainee, and about the deep personal growth the experience forced upon her.
The competition was broadcast and followed closely by fans worldwide. On November 18, 2023, during the live finale, Manon placed 6th which meant she secured the final spot in the debut group. She had made it.
KATSEYE’s Debut and the Historic Milestones
On June 28, 2024, KATSEYE debuted with their single “Debut,” and Meret Manon stepped onto the global pop stage for the first time as an official recording artist. With that debut came a piece of history: Manon became the first Black artist ever to sign with a HYBE label a milestone acknowledged widely across entertainment media.
On August 16, 2024, the group released their first extended play, SIS (Soft Is Strong), featuring the breakout single “Touch.” The song took on a life of its own when its choreography became a viral dance challenge on TikTok in September 2024, introducing KATSEYE to millions of new listeners worldwide. The EP debuted at number 119 on the Billboard 200, and the group landed at the top of Billboard’s Emerging Artists chart.
KATSEYE followed up their debut EP with “Gnarly” in April 2025 the lead single from their second EP Beautiful Chaos. It became their first entry on the Billboard Hot 100, peaking at number 82. High-energy and choreography-heavy, it earned the group a Grammy nomination for Best Pop Duo/Group Performance.
In 2025, Swiss media noted that Manon had become the first Swiss woman to win an MTV Video Music Award, when KATSEYE took home the Push Performance of the Year award for “Touch.” She was further celebrated as the first Swiss artist to be nominated for a Grammy General Field award and to perform at the Grammy ceremony itself, when KATSEYE took the stage at the 68th Annual Grammy Awards.
Meret Manon Beyond Music: Fashion, Film, and Personal Presence
From the moment KATSEYE stepped into the public eye, her presence caught the attention of the fashion world. The group made their New York Fashion Week debut in September 2024, attending Coach’s Spring/Summer 2025 sho kicking off a series of brand partnerships that followed the members across industries.
In January 2026, Manon starred in a short film titled “Not Bad”, directed by her friend Sophie Hall-Mochkatel. Critics praised Manon’s performance for its emotional restraint and her ability to convey her character’s physical and mental weight without words a striking debut for someone stepping into acting for the first time.
Facing Challenges with Openness: The 2026 Hiatus
On February 20, 2026, KATSEYE and their management announced that Manon would be taking a temporary hiatus from all group activities to focus on her health and wellbeing. The announcement generated significant coverage across entertainment media, and an outpouring of support followed from fans and fellow artists alike including SZA, Chloe Bailey, and Leigh-Anne Pinnock, who commented publicly in solidarity.
In April 2026, Manon communicated with fans directly via Weverse, sharing that conversations with HYBE x Geffen were moving in a positive direction and that she felt supported.
Her willingness to step back and prioritize her health at the height of her career has only deepened the respect her fanbase holds for her. For many fans, Manon represents not just a performer, but a person committed to living honestly.
Why Meret Manon Matters
In an industry built on manufactured personas, Meret Manon stands out because she is, above all else, a genuine person chasing a genuine dream. She did not grow up with professional training. Earned her place in one of the most competitive selection processes in modern pop music history, and then proceeded to break records and set precedents at virtually every turn.
