Groomer London brings you the hottest stories across fashion, lifestyle, and pop culture each month. Discover the real reasons behind Manon’s temporary departure from Katseye and what it means for her career.
After conducting our own research from past occurrences in the industry, we aim to showcase some of the challenges that Manon could be facing right now from a cultural perspective. The trials. The frustration. All this noise that is pulling us away from what is really happening.
As always keep in mind that Groomer London draws from a wide range of sources — both ancient and modern — to help us better articulate the topic in question. We aim to be transparent in all the content we put out, and to avoid sparking any contradictions or confusion.
Fame & The Culture of Work
Nothing is so mortifying as to be obliged to expose our distress to the view of the public, and to feel, that though our situation is open to the eyes of all mankind, no mortal conceives for us the half of what we suffer — Adam Smith
In an interview with the The Cut, Manon talks about the cultural differences she experienced in America as someone raised in Switzerland:
“America has a very different culture when it comes to work-life balance. You guys are all about grind and hustle. In Switzerland, if you’re sick, you take a day off. No one is going to expect you to work”
She was talking about skipping group activities ahead of shows and editorials. Compared to Switzerland, the US has little to no safety net when it comes to taking absence from work which ties back to the mindset most Americans have about work.
In the US it has become the norm for people to put their health on the back burner just to make more money or append to their boss, which creates repercussions in how Manon handles her situation with the public. And although we still don’t have the full story to why she’s going on a hiatus, this is not the first time that she has taken a step back from group activities to focus on her health.
Of course, we know that Manon is taking care of herself — she has the same passion and commitment as all the other girls in the group. But society can often leaves us unprepared in navigating this kind of pressure. Not only are we forced to deal with it, but to take pride in figuring out on our own.
During such challenges, most Americas burn out and get sunk by the external pressure, especially among those living in immigrant households. There is always a constant need to prove your worth and to make the sacrifice worth it for your parents and lovers. But the truth always lies in your hands, the choices that you make and how those choices reflect the way you want to live.
There are two key talking points that we can pull from Manon’s whole situation based on what we found.
Clashing ideals within the group
1) The first reason was that Manon has been growing to become her own figure outside of the group.
Despite the fact that she was hand-picked by HYBE at the Dream Academy series, she has a talent for mixing high fashion with pop culture, something that we have seen with some of the most successful celebrities. And now with this departure is becoming clear how differently aligned Manon is from the rest of the group.
We also believe that the Dream Academy series was introduced to create a platform for the formation of Katseye, with a big emphasis on how Manon’s influence sparked conflict between the group. Many of the girls that participated in the series have worked their entire lives to reach this point while looking down on Manon as “lazy” and “ungrateful” just because she was taking time off from group activities. So it’s reasonable to say that the other girls using their time in Katseye to leverage their platform and build the foundation for the next stage in their careers.
When it comes to carving your name in the international scene most people overlook the importance of creative direction and being in control of the production side of things. It is possible that Manon was thinking about those things when deciding to step away from the group, especially with all the label mistreatment that has taken place in K-Pop.
Being in control with the creative elements of your work will allow you to protect your image and overall aesthetic of your brand, which is something that we believe aligns perfectly with Manon and her personality.
Promoting brand image for profit
2) The second reason was that Manon’s label HYBE prioritised image in ways that undermined her values.
When we take into account all the partnerships, events, and editorials that HYBE has done for Katseye, it became even clearer for us that the whole group is a performative act. The only thing that they think about when planning their next score is “how much can we profit from these girls dreams — and bodies”.
The collabs. The on-stage dances. The outfits and makeups. It all feels too exaggerated.
Manon understands that we live in a generation that crave authenticity and connection. It is arguably why a lot of brands are gravitating towards her. Compared to the rest of the girls — who come from a more traditional entertainment background — Manon seems to be well tuned into the whole influencer culture game. The way she carries herself on the camera. The way she speaks about herself. The way she pairs up with other celebrities. She has everything going for her.
In the end Manon will be motivated to stay in Katseye, but not under conditions that are unacceptable to her and doesn’t feel supported by the higher ups.
And we stand by that.
