See How Bustle’s Latest Event Aimed to Spark Joy Among Attendees

Scotty Cunha, Donni Davy, and Krista Williams chatted during the "Beauty, Inside Out Founders Panel."Photo: Matt Winkelmeyer/Getty Images for BustleLOS ANGELES—Nothing says happiness like doughnuts and disco balls. And that’s exactly what Bustle brought to its latest event. 

On June 29, the digital media brand teamed up with Toyota to host the inaugural “experiential celebration of joy” at nya studios in Los Angeles. The daylong event featured panel conversations, meditation sessions, giveaways, and brand activations. 

Titled Bustle B.Happy, the event featured curated programming including conversations on topics in the wellness space, such as a life hacks panel with Alyssa Amoroso, Payton Sartain, and Kamie Crawford; a conversation between Charlotte Owen and Jessica Knoll about BookTok; a panel with beauty brand founders Donni Davy and Scotty Cunha; a discussion with reality TV star and podcaster Whitney Port, podcaster Tay Lautner, and wellness coach Nazanin Mandi on unlocking your joy; and workout, meditation, and breathwork sessions. The day concluded with The Happiest Hour featuring drag queen karaoke.

“In the hustle of everyday life, we too often deprioritize our own happiness in favor of ambition and perfection. GenZennials are tired of the current one-size-fits-all approach to wellness. In fact, 76% of Gen Z define ‘wellness’ as anything that makes you feel good,” explained Lindsay Leaf, executive vice president of brand marketing and experiential at BDG, about the inspiration behind the event, citing data from youth insights platform YPulse.

She added that Bustle’s related content on the topic has soared 156% year over year, further enforcing the need for this type of event.

The event included two indoor soundstages and a connecting outdoor lot with vibrant decor and visual elements like disco balls, greenery, streamers, balloons, and more. Guests noshed on acai bowls from Simply Snackable and Shake Shack burgers, fries, and Fonuts during the Happiest Hour.

At the center of the event was Toyota Camry’s “Maze of Merriment,” a larger-than-life interactive maze that included a laundromat vignette where guests could win prizes, a coffee cart, a passenger photo moment, and more. Exiting through a car wash-inspired ribbon tunnel, attendees arrived at a vehicle display.

“Toyota wanted to spotlight the all-new 2025 Toyota Camry in a way that elicited joy. They envisioned an event that transformed everyday moments into joyful, fun experiences,” Leaf said about the partnership. 

Other brand activations included a 21 Seeds-stocked cocktail bar, Dairy Boy custom denim, Rellery permanent jewelry, fashion sketches by illustrator Creating With Jade from clothing brand Artless Forever, Air Milkshake's paint-by-numbers station with kits from Paint Anywhere, and Woo More Play’s glazing doughnut station. Almost 1,000 guests attended the event.

Leaf said that after the success of this year’s inaugural event, “we are already in plans to annualize it, and there are, of course, endless ways to tap into joy that we are excited to explore with our audience and brand partners.”

Keep scrolling to see key vendors and more from inside the Bustle B.Happy event...

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