Born and raised in Tampa, Florida, USA, she first got into performing at the age of 10 when she auditioned for a local theater production and landed the lead. She continued to act in high school where she was discovered by Nickelodeon and commuted from Florida to Montreal, Canada to star for two seasons in the television series Are You Afraid of the Dark? After graduating from high school, she spent a year attending Florida State University, but dropped out to move to Hollywood where she worked extensively in television and then in popular movies.
Played the President's daughter in the original pilot for the TV show "DAG." However the show was revamped before airing and her character was eliminated. Joanna is a member of the Delta Delta Delta sorority. Was homecoming queen at Florida's Tampa Catholic High School. Dad Jay is a gynecologist, mom Loraine is a homemaker and brother Michael is a medical school student. Is of Cuban descent. In her spare time she teaches junior/high school students English as a second language. Attended Independent Day School in Tampa, a local private school.