MNL48 is a Filipino girl group formed in 2018 as a sister group of the Japanese idol group AKB48. The first-generation members were chosen through live auditions on the noontime show It's Showtime. On May 2, 2018, they established the current three teams: Team MII, Team NIV, and Team L. As of May 2021, the group has 45 members. Among these members are the Kenkyuusei, also known as Research Students.