Born from the trauma of World War II, this bow-wearing cartoon icon became a powerful tool for diplomacy, reinvention, and ...

but none with the lasting power of Hello Kitty. Forget the understated wabi-sabi aesthetic historically associated with Japan. A chameleon-like cat-girl who reflects unabashed kitsch is the ...

"Hello Kitty is not a cat. She's actually a little girl ... and really opened up that new design aesthetic," Cook added. Related: RuPaul's Drag Race recap: Hello, Kitty Girls!