Manon Profile: Age, Height, Career, Facts & More
As KATSEYE’s rapper and one of the first Black artists ever signed under a HYBE label, Manon Bannerman brought a distinctive voice and a genuinely groundbreaking presence to the group from its very earliest days.
Since February 2026, she’s been on an officially announced temporary hiatus to focus on her health and wellbeing, a decision that’s been treated with care by both her label and the group’s devoted fanbase.
This complete profile breaks down everything fans want to know about Manon — her age, height, career, personality, and the fun facts that keep circulating through the fandom.
Quick Facts About Manon
- Real Name: Manon Bannerman
- Stage Name: Manon
- Position: Rapper, Vocalist
- Height: Approximately 166 cm (5’5″)
- Nationality: Swiss-Ghanaian
- Agency: HYBE UMG / Geffen Records
- Group: KATSEYE
Early Life and Background
Manon was born in Switzerland to a family with Ghanaian heritage, giving her a genuinely distinctive background within KATSEYE’s already multicultural lineup. Before joining the group, she pursued performance training that would eventually lead her to audition for Dream Academy alongside thousands of hopefuls from around the world.
Career Highlights
Dream Academy and KATSEYE’s Formation Manon competed on Dream Academy, the 2023 reality competition series created by HYBE and Geffen Records to form a new global girl group from a pool of 120,000 applicants worldwide, whittled down to just six.
The process was chronicled in the Netflix docuseries Pop Star Academy: KATSEYE, and Manon emerged as one of the six confirmed members. Her selection made her one of the first Black artists ever signed to a label under HYBE, a genuinely historic milestone within the company’s roster.
Debut and Breakthrough KATSEYE officially debuted in June 2024 with the single “Debut,” followed by their breakthrough single “Touch” and their first EP, SIS (Soft Is Strong).
As rapper, Manon’s distinctive tone and confident delivery quickly became a signature part of KATSEYE’s sound, contributing to the group’s rapid string of releases, including “Gnarly” in 2025, which became the group’s first entry on both the Billboard Hot 100 (peaking at Number 82) and the UK Singles Chart, and “Gabriela,” which climbed to Number 29 on the Billboard Global 200.
She performed throughout the group’s first tour, the Beautiful Chaos Tour, which began in November 2025, and appeared on the group’s standalone single “Internet Girl,” released January 2, 2026 — her final single with the group before her hiatus was announced.
A Temporary Hiatus On February 20, 2026, HYBE and Geffen Records posted an official statement confirming that Manon would be taking a temporary hiatus from group activities to focus on her health and wellbeing, with the label expressing full support for the decision and confirming that KATSEYE would continue its scheduled activities during her time away.
Manon posted her own statement the same day, confirming she was healthy and taking time to care for herself. As a result, KATSEYE made their April 2026 Coachella debut as a quintet without her, performing “Gnarly,” “Gabriela,” “Touch,” and “Pinky Up.”
Ahead of the festival, Manon shared an update on Weverse expressing that she felt supported and was doing well, and HYBE confirmed to the Korea Herald that she remained on hiatus for the performance.
As of the group’s Wild EP release and their Wildworld Tour, announced for September through November 2026, Manon has not participated in the tour, though no departure statement has been issued by HYBE, Geffen Records, or Manon herself.
Personality and Public Image
In an interview with The Cut published shortly before her hiatus was announced, Manon spoke candidly about the experience of being KATSEYE’s only Black member and addressed criticism of her work ethic that had followed her since her earliest days on Dream Academy, when she’d missed rehearsals due to illness.
She also expressed a wish that fans not experience the kind of difficulty that followed the breakup of groups like One Direction, reflecting a thoughtful awareness of how deeply invested fans become in the groups they follow.
Throughout her hiatus, she’s continued to communicate with fans periodically through Weverse, consistently affirming that she’s healthy and appreciative of their continued support.
Fun Facts and Trivia
- Manon is one of the first Black artists ever signed to a label under HYBE.
- She was selected from a pool of 120,000 global applicants during Dream Academy.
- She’s of Swiss-Ghanaian heritage.
- “Internet Girl,” released January 2, 2026, was her final single with the group before her hiatus.
- Her hiatus was officially announced on February 20, 2026, to focus on her health and wellbeing.
- She’s continued communicating with fans through Weverse throughout her time away.
- She spoke candidly to The Cut about her experience as KATSEYE’s only Black member shortly before her hiatus began.
Social Media and Where to Follow
Manon remains connected to fans primarily through Weverse, where she’s periodically shared updates on her health and wellbeing since her hiatus began in February 2026.
She remains listed among KATSEYE’s official members across the group’s platforms, including Instagram, X (formerly Twitter), TikTok, and YouTube, even as her participation in current promotional activities remains paused.
As KATSEYE continues its activities following Wild and the Wildworld Tour, fans following Manon’s story closely continue to express support for her recovery, with no official statement from HYBE, Geffen Records, or Manon herself indicating a permanent departure from the group.
Conclusion
From a Swiss-Ghanaian trainee hopeful to one of the first Black artists ever signed under HYBE and a defining voice within KATSEYE’s early discography, Manon’s career reflects both genuine historic significance and a candid, human story about prioritizing health.
Whether fans are drawn in by her confident rap delivery, her groundbreaking place within HYBE’s roster, her thoughtful openness about the pressures of group life, or the outpouring of support she’s received during her hiatus, Manon continues to prove why she’s regarded as one of the most significant members of her generation.
As her story continues to unfold, fans remain hopeful for her continued health and an eventual return to the stage with her groupmates.
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