**Joan Anderson, the woman who coined the name "hula hoop," has died at 101, remembered for her significant yet overlooked contribution to one of the most iconic toys in history.**
**Hula Hoop Pioneer Joan Anderson Passes Away at 101**
**Hula Hoop Pioneer Joan Anderson Passes Away at 101**
**The trailblazer who popularized the hula hoop leaves behind a legacy of creativity and resilience.**
Joan Anderson, a former model and the woman credited with naming the hula hoop, has passed away at the age of 101. She died on July 14 at a nursing home in Carlsbad, California, during a visit to her native Australia. Anderson’s fascination with the playful wooden hoops began when she stumbled upon groups of people joyfully swinging them around their waists. Captivated by this burgeoning Australian trend, she shipped one of the whimsical toys back to the United States.
The story of Anderson's crucial role in the hula hoop's explosion into pop culture was brought to light in the 2018 documentary "Hula Girl." It recounts how she and her husband first introduced the item to a toy company, coining its now-famous name based on the Hawaiian hula dance. After a meeting with the boss of Wham-O in the early 1960s, she recalled, "We told him, 'we've called it the hula hoop.' He thought it had merit, and a "gentleman's handshake" secured the instrument's rise in sales.
Despite the initial success, Anderson and her husband faced struggles for recognition and appropriate credit from the company. After being continuously brushed off by Wham-O's executives, they were forced to file a lawsuit, resulting in a modest financial settlement but still no acknowledgment of their innovative contribution. Anderson expressed her frustration at the misattribution of the invention in later accounts, which casually referred to her as merely an “Australian friend.” She famously declared, "I was not a 'friend' but a creative force behind its success."
Born Joan Constance Manning in Sydney on December 28, 1923, Anderson led an exciting life, working as a swimsuit model before marrying Wayne Anderson, a US Army pilot, at Bondi Beach. In reflecting on Anderson’s remarkable journey, the filmmaker credited with telling her story highlighted the importance of finally giving her the recognition she deserved in her later years.
Joan Anderson is survived by her children and grandchildren, leaving behind a legacy intertwined with creativity and resilience in the face of hardship. Her life's work continues to inspire generations of play and innovation.
The story of Anderson's crucial role in the hula hoop's explosion into pop culture was brought to light in the 2018 documentary "Hula Girl." It recounts how she and her husband first introduced the item to a toy company, coining its now-famous name based on the Hawaiian hula dance. After a meeting with the boss of Wham-O in the early 1960s, she recalled, "We told him, 'we've called it the hula hoop.' He thought it had merit, and a "gentleman's handshake" secured the instrument's rise in sales.
Despite the initial success, Anderson and her husband faced struggles for recognition and appropriate credit from the company. After being continuously brushed off by Wham-O's executives, they were forced to file a lawsuit, resulting in a modest financial settlement but still no acknowledgment of their innovative contribution. Anderson expressed her frustration at the misattribution of the invention in later accounts, which casually referred to her as merely an “Australian friend.” She famously declared, "I was not a 'friend' but a creative force behind its success."
Born Joan Constance Manning in Sydney on December 28, 1923, Anderson led an exciting life, working as a swimsuit model before marrying Wayne Anderson, a US Army pilot, at Bondi Beach. In reflecting on Anderson’s remarkable journey, the filmmaker credited with telling her story highlighted the importance of finally giving her the recognition she deserved in her later years.
Joan Anderson is survived by her children and grandchildren, leaving behind a legacy intertwined with creativity and resilience in the face of hardship. Her life's work continues to inspire generations of play and innovation.
