Hello Kitty’s world

One would think that Hello Kitty is a cat, but she’s not. 

With her whiskers and pointy ears, no one would guess that the popular character created by the Japanese company Sanrio in 1974 is a little girl born in England who “weighs three apples,” said Sanrio senior vice president of marketing and brand management Jill Koch to Today.

This year, Kitty turns 51 and her impact as an icon remains unchanged. 

Her image goes beyond kawaii. From clothes, shoes, food, cosmetics, films, video games, technology and even collaborations with designer houses, Hello Kitty became a lifestyle for millions worldwide.

Even celebrities love Hello Kitty, too.

Socialite and heiress Paris Hilton was seen carrying a diamond-studded Hello Kitty handbag. Popstar Katy Perry wore a Hello Kitty corset to an awards night. Lady Gaga once donned a gown made of Hello Kitty plushies. Kim Kardashian had nail art inspired by the character.

During the state visit of The Emperor and Empress of Japan to the United Kingdom last October, King Charles III even wished the “CEO of supercute” a happy birthday.

According to The Economist, Sanrio makes almost $4B (£3.1B) in Hello Kitty sales annually. It is estimated Hello Kitty has earned her creators $80bn (about $62B) over her lifetime as a cultural icon.

Consumers have taken Hello Kitty, as well as other Sanrio characters like Bad Badtz-Maru, Kuromi, Kerropi, My Melody, Little Twin Stars, Pompompurin, Pochacco, Hello Kitty’s sister Mimmy, Gudetama, Kirimichan, Pekkle and Dear Daniel, into their lives as eternal symbols of childhood.

Since its founding in 1960, Sanrio has always aimed to be in the business of sharing and communicating love. At the cornerstone of everything it does is the Japanese philosophy of Minna Nakayoku (Getting along together), and they do it so by spreading happiness even further afield.

Hello Kitty and friends have grown to be retail and entertainment behemoths and, from the looks of it, will continue to do so in the coming years.