A former Jr. Canadian tennis champion, training with weights to help with her tennis performance led to her interest in bodybuilding; Coates can bench press 250 pounds.

She first became interested in wrestling during the Hulk Hogan / Randy Savage / Miss Elizabeth saga in the late 1980s. Coates eventually appeared at WWE Backlash 2005, during the "Masterlock Challenge" segment. After this initial appearance, Coates was signed to a developmental contract with World Wrestling Entertainment (WWE). However, Coates left the company to work for wXw and refocus her training. Soon after training in wXw, Coates began regularly working for Ohio Valley Wrestling, often facing off with several of OVW/WWE's divas such as Beth Phoenix, Jillian Hall, Mickie James, and Melina Perez. At one point, she was the bodyguard for Jillian Hall. After a stint in OVW, Coates was then assigned to Deep South Wrestling as the Bag Lady. Soon after, Melissa began to undergo an attire change, dressing more di