Last Member Drive of 2025!

Your year-end tax-deductible gift powers our local newsroom. Help raise $1 million in essential funding for LAist by December 31.
$683,005 of $1,000,000 goal
A row of graphics payment types: Visa, MasterCard, Apple Pay and PayPal, and  below a lock with Secure Payment text to the right
Audience-funded nonprofit news
radio tower icon laist logo
Next Up:
0:00
0:00
Subscribe
  • Listen Now Playing Listen

This is an archival story that predates current editorial management.

This archival content was written, edited, and published prior to LAist's acquisition by its current owner, Southern California Public Radio ("SCPR"). Content, such as language choice and subject matter, in archival articles therefore may not align with SCPR's current editorial standards. To learn more about those standards and why we make this distinction, please click here.

Arts & Entertainment

Photos: The Fabulous Fans Of The World's First Hello Kitty Convention

Truth matters. Community matters. Your support makes both possible. LAist is one of the few places where news remains independent and free from political and corporate influence. Stand up for truth and for LAist. Make your year-end tax-deductible gift now.

The world's first Hello Kitty Convention in Little Tokyo that kicked off today featured more Hello Kitty swag and panels and even tattoos than you could shake one of those cool but useless bendy pencils they used to sell at Sanrio. But the real stars of the convention were the fans. There were cute little babies, young ladies who wouldn't have been out of place at the Electric Daisy Carnival and, hey, even some men dressed in their Sanrio best.

The first place winner of the costume contest was Maritsa Rivera, who dressed up in a yellow dress with a pink fro like the disco diva Hello Kitty doll she bought in New York City in 2010. She made quite a journey to the convention: "I came with my girlfriend all the way from Florida for this event so it's a big deal for us."

LAist writer Jean Trinh contributed to this post from the field

Related:
Photos: Devoted Hello Kitty Fans Show Us Their Tattoos (And Get New Ink)
Photos: A Look Inside The World's Largest Hello Kitty Retrospective
Sanrio's Shocking Reveal: Hello Kitty Is NOT A Cat
Photos: Inside The Super Kawaii Hello Kitty Hotel Rooms At The Line
Photos: Los Angeles' Hello Kitty Food Scavenger Hunt Is Now In Full Swing

You come to LAist because you want independent reporting and trustworthy local information. Our newsroom doesn’t answer to shareholders looking to turn a profit. Instead, we answer to you and our connected community. We are free to tell the full truth, to hold power to account without fear or favor, and to follow facts wherever they lead. Our only loyalty is to our audiences and our mission: to inform, engage, and strengthen our community.

Right now, LAist has lost $1.7M in annual funding due to Congress clawing back money already approved. The support we receive before year-end will determine how fully our newsroom can continue informing, serving, and strengthening Southern California.

If this story helped you today, please become a monthly member today to help sustain this mission. It just takes 1 minute to donate below.

Your tax-deductible donation keeps LAist independent and accessible to everyone.
Senior Vice President News, Editor in Chief

Make your tax-deductible year-end gift today

A row of graphics payment types: Visa, MasterCard, Apple Pay and PayPal, and  below a lock with Secure Payment text to the right