Andrea's Story: From Scientist to World-Record Hula-Hooper!

Life can take you on unexpected journeys, and Andrea M. is living proof of that. Once an engineer, Andrea traded her career in science to become a full-time hula-hooper, breaking multiple world records along the way.

Over the past few years, Andrea has honed a unique skill in the world of hula-hooping and now performs on stages worldwide, including TV shows such as Got Talent.  She gained viral fame for her extraordinary record-breaking feats, using different parts of her body including her butt to spin the hoop in ways few could imagine. The US-born Londoner never anticipated this path, saying, "It was by chance. I wasn’t at all sporty, but five years ago I picked up a hula hoop, and it changed my life. I’ve broken many Guinness World Records in hula hooping so far, and I’m training for several more." She describes her pursuit of these records as "addictive because of the challenge of pushing myself further."

With a PhD in engineering, Andrea made a bold decision a few years ago to leave her university position and dedicate herself entirely to hula-hooping. Her dedication paid off as she steadily improved, fueled by inspiration from other hula-hoopers.

Andrea broke her first Guinness World Record in 2020 by achieving 400 hula hoop spins around her bottom. She surpassed her own record in 2022, reaching 453 spins, and went on to set more records, breaking her personal best twice, bringing her total to 10 records. "I was inspired by other hula-hoopers who had broken world records, and as I improved, I decided to go for a record myself," she explained. "My first record in 2020 required a lot of training and effort, but it was incredibly exciting."

Andrea credits this unique hobby with improving her fitness, noting, "A few years ago, I couldn’t do it. I was very unfit and not sporty at all, but I practiced every day to music—at home, in parks during lockdown, in gyms, and in city squares."

Starting with online tutorials, Andrea eventually discovered a thriving community of hula-hoopers and teachers in London and beyond. Along the way, she made countless new friends and found joy in making people smile with her unusual talent. "People find my hula-hooping on my butt very funny," she shared. "They usually laugh and are surprised that it’s even possible. Most have never seen it before and are curious to try it themselves. I love making people smile and laugh with my hula-hooping."