On Wednesday, Hello Kitty fans were rocked by the news that the Sanrio character isn’t actually a cat.
The Japanese company revealed Hello Kitty is a third grade girl from Britain named Kitty White who enjoys dressing up as a feline and eating apple pie. It is unclear how this shocking announcement will affect Hello Kitty’s global appeal, but is hard to see Sanrio mania stopping anytime soon.
For 40 years, Hello Kitty’s bewhiskered face has been popping up on products worldwide. The phenomenon started with Hello Kitty pencil cases and coin purses, but has grown into something much more impressive over the decades. While we all try to sort out our feelings on Kitty White – the girl behind the famous cat – check out the surprising places you can find Sanrio’s most famous face.
Fans and humidifiers are just beginning. From toasters to electric guitars, coolers to toilet seats, almost every household object has a Hello Kitty iteration somewhere in the world.
This maternity hospital in Chunghua, Taiwan, believes in the soothing powers of Sanrio’s superstar. A giant Hello Kitty statue dressed as a doctor greets Hau Sheng patients at the door and the furry face can also be found decorating the hospital’s waiting rooms and nurseries.
Taiwanese airline, EVA Air, unveiled their Hello Kitty-centric Boeing 777 – complete with themed food, toilet paper and safety cards – in September 2013.
Diners don’t seem to mind getting a little fur in their food as long as Hello Kitty’s involved. Numerous restaurants based on the character’s cute looks and love for pink have opened up across Asia over the past five years.
In 2012, Mercedes-Benz created a special edition Hello Kitty Smart Car for Auto Beijing 2012 to delight gear heads and Sanrio fans alike.
Don’t just dine like Hello Kitty, live like her too. Several hotel rooms around the world have been refurbished to turn an overnight stay into a feline frenzy. The United States even joined in on the fun, opening the Hello Kitty Beauty Hotel Suite at Maison 140 Beverly Hills.
Hello Kitty doesn’t let her fake paws hold her back from her DJ desires. The character can occasionally be found behind the turntables, dropping sick beats at Sanrio events.
In 2007, Jamie Ng and Horlick Ng of Hong Kong topped Hello Kitty fans everywhere by winning the “Hello Kitty Dream Wedding.” The bride, groom, flowers and venue were all adorned with Hello Kitty. If that wasn’t enough, the newlyweds were walked down the aisle by Hello Kitty herself and her male counterpart Dear Daniel.
Infamous owner of the Kermit coat, Lady Gaga, gave Hello Kitty the same treatment. The “Bad Romance” singer donned her stuffed animal covered garment during a photo shoot in honor of the Hello Kitty’s 35th birthday.
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