Hello Kitty For President! Pop Icon Launches Her Bid with the Friendship Party

Hello Kitty is throwing her bow into the ring again, as she announces her 2016 bid for President of the United States. The global pop icon kicks off her Hello Kitty for President campaign this month, leading the "Friendship Party" with a message celebrating friendship, fun and happiness. Fan favorite, Chococat, has been appointed her running mate.

As the Hello Kitty for President campaign kicks off, so will the capsule collection of supercute merchandise designed for fans of all ages. The Hello Kitty for President collection includes unisex t-shirts featuring colorful campaign slogans, as well as a Hello Kitty for President 4-piece button set, canvas tote bag, beverage koozie, and trucker hat, and will be available at select Sanrio stores as well as Sanrio.com. A campaign bumper sticker will be given free with any Sanrio purchase through Election Day (while supplies last). Fans making a purchase of $40 or more from the Hello Kitty for President collection at participating Sanrio stores will receive a special presidential rosette featuring Hello Kitty and Chococat.

Hello Kitty will hit the campaign trail, visiting select "Friendship Party Headquarters" (Sanrio stores), where fans are invited to take photos with the candidate and pose with election-themed props. Appearances include:

10/02/16 - Queens, NY at Skyview Flushing
10/15/16 - Sunrise, FL at Sawgrass Mills
10/22/16 - Arcadia, CA at Westfield Santa Anita
10/23/16 - Costa Mesa, CA at South Coast Plaza

The Hello Kitty Cafe Truck will support the pop icon's candidacy with a specially designed Hello Kitty for President cookie available through Election Day. The super limited edition frosted cookie will be limited to only 50 per stop. Guests who purchase the special cookie will receive a free bumper sticker at these select locations:

10/1/16 - Atlanta, GA at Atlantic Station
10/8/16 - Tampa Bay, FL at International Plaza
10/15/16 - Boca Raton, FL at Town Center at Boca Raton
10/22/16 - Miami, FL at Dadeland Mall
10/29/16 - Orlando, FL at Florida Mall
11/5/16 - Houston, TX at Woodlands Mall

The Hello Kitty for President cookie will also be sold at the Hello Kitty Cafe Pop-Up Container at Irvine Spectrum while supplies last.

For more information, please visit sanrio.com/hellokittyforpresident and follow along on Facebook @hellokitty @sanrio; Twitter @hellokitty @sanrio; Instagram @hellokitty @sanrio and Snapchat @hellokitty.

#HelloKittyforPresident
#FriendshipParty

About Sanrio
Sanrio is the global lifestyle brand best known for pop icon Hello Kitty, who is celebrating her 40th Anniversary this year. Home to many endearing characters including Chococat, My Melody, Badtz-Maru and Keroppi, Sanrio was founded on the 'small gift, big smile' philosophy - that a small gift can bring happiness and friendship to people of all ages. Since 1960, this philosophy has served as the inspiration for the broad spectrum of unique products and experiences. Today, more than 50,000 Sanrio-branded items are available in over 70 countries and upwards of 15,000 U.S. retail locations including department, specialty, national chain stores and over 80 Sanrio boutiques. For more information please visit www.sanrio.com and www.facebook.com/hellokitty.

Media requests: Orsi Public Relations
Dyann Hawkins/Racine Diaz (323)874-4073
dyann@orsipr.com/racine@orsipr.com