Actress and retired professional wrestler Chyna was born December 27, 1969 in Rochester, New York with the birth name Joanie Marie Laurer.  Chyna describes her family life as a “very dysfunctional” one.  When her parents divorced, her father remained alcoholic and her mother regularly had a new guy.  Chyna was also a physically abused child.  To protect her, she was taken and raised by her sister Kathy.  Up to this day, she considers Kathy her best friend and mother.

Chyna went to places with the help of several scholarships.  When she was 16, she moved to Spain upon receiving a study grant from United Nations.  After graduating from high school in 1987, she took up Spanish Literature at the University of Tampa in Florida.  Chyna also learned French and German, and can fluently speak in both languages.

Her plan then was to land a job in the Federal Bureau of Investigation or the Drug Enforcement Administration but it didn't happen.  She joined Peace Corps instead and used her knowledge by teaching literacy in Costa Rica.  She joined a band, became a belly dancer and even worked as a pager saleswoman.   She also regularly joined fitness competitions.

In 1997, she met WWF performers Triple H and Shawn Michaels in a bar, and the two helped her get into the wrestling show.  Chyna's WWF debut was on In Your House.  She stayed with WWF until 2001.  She also got the name “Chyna: The Ninth Wonder of the World” from the show.  In 2002, she joined New Japan Pro Wrestling and appeared on the program's 30th anniversary show.

Chyna currently appears on VH1's reality TV series Celebrity Rehab.  The show documents the experiences of celebrities as they undergo drug, alcohol and addiction treatment program.  It chronicles their journey towards rehabilitation and recovery.  Chyna has a drinking problem and takes pain killers regularly.  Rumor has it that she's addicted to steroids but the wrestler denies using it.