Melanie grew up in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, where she spent nearly all of her free time outdoors and playing sports. She has been an athlete since age 4, which she believes strongly contributed to her strong work ethic and desire to succeed in every challenge she faces. Although she grew up in the city with very limited wildlife and raw nature around her, she has always had a deep connection to animals and the land.
At the age of 17, Melanie enlisted in the US Navy where she served 4 years active duty as an Information Systems Technician. While enlisted, she traveled to 8 countries, where she was exposed to a variety of different cultures and developed an interest in culturtal anthropology which she continues to study today. Upon completion of her military service, Melanie attended Old Dominion University in Virginia where she studied Exercise Science. After finishing school, Melanie moved from Virginia to Arizona where she currently works as a Recreation Assistant. After moving to Arizona, she developed a passion for extreme hiking, camping, and fishing which led her to begin primitive survival skill studies.