On Nov. 1, 1974, Hello Kitty was born. The Japanese gift company Sanrio first introduced the character on a coin purse, and she quickly attained the status of pop culture icon not only in Japan but throughout the world.
Though it's difficult to sustain a successful career and a fan base for four decades, Hello Kitty seems to be as beloved as ever. An estimated 25,000 fans will have flocked to the first-ever Hello Kitty Con in Los Angeles' Little Tokyo neighborhood by the end of the weekend to show their love, passion and devotion to the expressionless feline character.
The sold-out event kicked off on Oct. 30 and runs through Nov. 2. At the Con, fans can shop, pose with a life-sized Hello Kitty and even get her likeness permanently tattooed on their bodies. Fans can even see the first coin purse to feature the character on display "with all the pomp of the Hope diamond," according to The Associated Press.
