Kuromi wins Sanrio's popularity contest; Hello Kitty follows

The 2025 Sanrio character popularity contest results are in, with Kuromi taking the top spot, followed by Hello Kitty. My Melody, despite being in the top ten, faced controversy due to a collaboration with McDonald's. The contest, analyzed by KEYPO Big Data Engine, revealed Kuromi's continued rise in popularity, celebrating her 20th anniversary with numerous brand collaborations. Hello Kitty, a global icon, secured second place, while My Melody ranked third. Other characters in the top ten include Pompompurin, Cinnamoroll, PC dog, and Gudetama. The analysis considered online discussions from May 8, 2024, to May 7, 2025, across various social media platforms.