MNL48 is a Filipino girl group formed in 2018 as a sister group of the Japanese idol group AKB48. The 1st generation members have been selected through live auditions in a noontime show It's Showtime. On May 2, 2018, they formed the current 3 teams (Team MII, Team NIV, and Team L). As of May 2021, The group consists of 45 members. Among these members are the Kenkyuusei (Japanese: 研究生) or Research Students.
Members leaving the group are considered "graduates" and are sometimes given a special graduation show or graduation concert. There are also cases where a member resigns, is dismissed, or gets terminated.
Jemimah Caldejon is the current overall captain of MNL48, after replacing Shekinah Arzaga on June 8, 2024.