JoAnn was born in Philadelphia but raised mostly in Orlando. She attended Columbus Academy of Dance in Florida where she taught gymnastics, tap, jazz and ballet for Becky Columbus while training under ballet master, Nolan Dingman, who was one of George Balanchine's original dancers. She also went to Lisa Maile Acting School and Lisa is credited for "pushing" JoAnn into the entertainment industry due to a "strong commercial look". On her very first audition, JoAnn booked the job which was a national Disney World Industrial.
She was a gymnast training toward the Olympics. She later furthered her education by earning a BA degree from the University of North Carolina at Wilmington and then onto Appalachian State University to earn an MA degree.
