Jessica grew up in Jacksonville, Florida. Her father Don works in construction and her mother Elaine is a teacher. She has an older brother, Wesley, and a younger sister, Natalie. She danced competitively from the age of six. The first acting job she got was a cheese cracker commercial in Tokyo, Japan (where she spent a summer at age sixteen). She moved to Los Angeles a few years later and began her acting training. Hobbies include cooking, yoga, and playing poker.

She auditioned for roles on "As the World Turns," "Dawson's Creek" and "Port Charles." She also modeled in Japan when she was 16.She is the middle child of construction worker Don, and teacher Elanie. She has an older brother named Wesley and a younger sister named Natalie.Worked with "The Young and the Restless" star, Greg Rikaart, at California Pizza Kitchen, during their struggling actor days.