Thank You, Joan Anderson – The Unsung Hero of the Hula Hoop

Today, we pause to honour a woman whose quiet creativity changed the world in ways she never fully received credit for — Joan Anderson, the woman who gave the hula hoop its name and helped launch it into global stardom, has passed away at the age of 101.

To anyone who’s ever spun a hoop around their waist, laughed with friends in the garden, or found healing through hooping — we owe a heartfelt thank you to Joan.

Back in the 1950s, while visiting her native Australia, Joan noticed locals twirling wooden hoops around their waists. Instantly captivated, she had one sent to her home to the U.S., where she and her husband, Wayne, introduced it to a toy company executive. Joan was the one who coined the term hula hoop, inspired by the sway of Hawaiian dance.

The hula hoop went on to become one of the most iconic toys of all time, igniting joy, movement, and creativity in millions of lives. Yet for decades, Joan and her husband remained in the shadows of its origin story. Their idea — and even Joan’s name — were almost lost to history, buried under vague references to an “Australian friend.”

But Joan never gave up on telling her truth. And thanks to the beautiful 2018 documentary Hula Girl, she finally received the recognition she deserved. Her story is one of vision, resilience, and grace — and a powerful reminder that even the quietest contributions can leave the most joyful mark on the world.

I still cannot believe what a wonderful world we live in — that my health and whole life changed as a Hungarian hard-working student living in the UK over 17 years ago because there was this lady, originally from Australia, and she picked up a toy! As an adult, she was open-minded enough to play — and my life would be so different if she hadn’t!!!!!

The ripples of that playful moment reached across oceans and decades. It helped me reconnect with my body, rebuild my confidence, and find joy in movement. I am just one of countless people whose lives have been reshaped by that one decision Joan made to not dismiss joy. What a gift.

Joan Anderson lived a long, vibrant life filled with love, family, and fierce creativity. She passed away on July 14th at the age of 101 in California, surrounded by the family she adored. She is survived by two sons, a daughter, and six grandchildren.

To Joan — thank you for the gift of the hula hoop. Thank you for seeing the beauty in simple movement and believing it could bring people joy. Your legacy spins on in every hoop dancer, every child playing in the sunshine, every grown-up rediscovering play and flow.

Rest in peace, beautiful soul — and thank you from the bottom of our hearts 💕