Super fan profile: Lee Li Ming – “Bento Monsters”

This week, we got a chance to speak with Lee Li Ming. Ming is also known as Bento Monsters on social media: a mum who loves creating food in the form of her favourite characters for her family. She is a fan of Sanrio and often makes uses Hello Kitty, My Melody and Gudetama in her work. She shared her love for Hello Kitty and Sanrio with us!

Can you remember what the first Hello Kitty product you ever bought was?

It was some Hello Kitty stickers, which I bought for myself at a nearby stationery shop. Over the years, I’ve bought Hello Kitty items like bags, lunch boxes, chopsticks, aprons, etc. I also remember queuing for the Hello Kitty plush series every week at McDonalds.

What is your favourite Hello Kitty food creation?

I wouldn’t say that I have a favourite Hello Kitty creation, but there’s one that I spent a long time creating and which left an impression on me. It’s the “Hello Kitty living room”, it was in 3D, it took me quite a long time and I was happy that it turned out the way I imagined.

What collaboration would you like to see in the future?

I’ve seen lots of very creative Hello Kitty collaborations, like Hello Kitty with Elmo, Hello Kitty with Doraemon, and she also dresses up as lots of different characters. My boys are huge Star Wars and Harry Potter fans, so I would love to see a collaboration of her with these two, I think it would be fun!
 

How would you describe your relationship with Hello Kitty and what do you love the most about her?

I love how kawaii she is. She is a part of my life. I think I will continue to love and include her in my everyday life for a long time. For example, having her in my food creations, on the accessories I wear, on my clothes, my utensils, etc. I don’t think I will ever outgrow her as no one is ever too old for Hello Kitty.

Check out Ming’s amazing creations on her Instagram page: https://www.instagram.com/bentomonsters/