Jessie comes from a poor family, and she never had any nice toys or dolls. She and James got the worst marks at the Poké Tech, and later they both joined the bike gang of Sunny Town, where Jessie was known as "Chainer Jess", because she always swang a chain about when she was riding her bike.

Jessies mother, Myamoto, was sent to search for Mew by Madame Boss, Giovanni's mother. Jessie, who was very young then was very upset, and worried about her mother.