Hello Kitty’s full name is Kitty White, and over the years she’s become a global icon of kawaii culture. The truth is, her story is quite unusual and that’s what makes her so fascinating. She was “born” in Japan in 1974, thanks to designer Yuko Shimizu and the company Sanrio. Yet despite her worldwide fame, there’s one fact that still surprises many people: she isn’t actually a cat. Sanrio has clarified that she’s a British girl, Mimmy’s twin sister, and that she lives in London. This does feel a bit strange, because her design looks completely like a little kitten.
Another striking detail is that Hello Kitty doesn’t have a mouth. She was created that way so people could project their own emotions onto her. The idea is simple but powerful: if you’re happy, she looks happy; if you’re sad, she looks sad too. It’s a subtle but very empathetic way of connecting with whoever sees her. And of course, her bow on the left ear has become her unmistakable trademark.
