Joan Anderson, Hula Hoop Pioneer, Dies Aged 101

Joan Anderson, an Australian-born former model who played a pivotal but uncredited role in popularizing the hula hoop in the United States, has died at age 101. During a 1956 visit to Australia, she noticed a growing craze of people swiveling wooden hoops around their waists and had one sent to her home in California, where she dubbed it the 'hula hoop' after its resemblance to Hawaiian dance movements. She and her husband introduced the toy to Wham-O, the American toy company that went on to patent and mass-produce the plastic version, selling millions rapidly, but the Andersons were sidelined and received no formal recognition. Despite sealing a deal with a 'gentleman's handshake,' Wham-O's owner later cut off contact, leading the couple to file a lawsuit that resulted only in a modest financial settlement without acknowledgment. Joan's story was highlighted in the 2018 documentary 'Hula Girl,' which helped bring her contribution to light, though she never gained the fame or fortune associated with the toy's success. Her legacy lives on as the woman who named and helped launch one of America's most iconic toys, remembered fondly by her family and friends.