Joy Mangano was born in East Meadow, New York, on Long Island. Her early life was marked by a curious and inventive spirit. Even as a child, Joy displayed a knack for identifying problems and devising innovative solutions, a trait that would define her future career.

Working as a waitress and single mother, Joy grew frustrated with the inefficiency and messiness of traditional mops. She conceived the idea for the Miracle Mop, a self-wringing mop made of a continuous loop of cotton that could be wrung out without getting the user's hands wet. This marked her first major step into the world of inventing and entrepreneurship.

Joy faced significant hurdles in bringing her invention to market. She invested her personal savings and relied on family support to produce a prototype. Initial sales were slow, primarily at trade shows and local fairs. She tirelessly promoted her product herself, often demonstrating it directly to potential customers, fueled by an unwavering belief in its potential.

A pivotal moment arrived when Joy secured an opportunity to showcase the Miracle Mop on QVC, a home shopping network. While her first on-air appearance was initially unsuccessful, she recognized that only she could effectively demonstrate the mop's unique benefits. Her subsequent appearances, where she passionately explained and demonstrated the product, led to phenomenal sales, making the Miracle Mop a runaway success and launching her career as an entrepreneur.

Following the success of the Miracle Mop, Joy continued to invent and develop new products, securing numerous patents for her innovations. She forged a strong partnership with HSN (Home Shopping Network), where she became a prominent on-air personality and sold a wide range of her inventions, including Huggable Hangers, Forever Fragrant, and Performance Platforms.

Joy established Ingenious Designs, LLC, which became the umbrella company for her various inventions and product lines. This allowed her to manage her growing business and further develop her product concepts. Under her leadership, Ingenious Designs became a significant player in the direct-to-consumer market.

Joy's remarkable life story served as the inspiration for the biographical film 'Joy,' starring Jennifer Lawrence. The film provided a fictionalized but compelling portrayal of her struggles, triumphs, and unwavering determination to succeed as an inventor and entrepreneur. While the movie took creative liberties, it brought significant attention to her achievements and inspired countless individuals.

Joy remains an active entrepreneur and continues to explore new ventures. She is a sought-after speaker and mentor, inspiring aspiring inventors and business owners to pursue their dreams with passion and resilience. Her legacy as a self-made entrepreneur continues to motivate others to identify problems and create innovative solutions that improve people's lives.