Yami Lee was born and raised in Stockton, California. Her parents, Pao Lee and Shua Mua are both from Laos and are also both deaf. Both parents met when they came to the U.S. and had Yami on January 10, 1993. Yami who was always inspired by music from her brothers and tv found singing and acting something she knew she would love for the rest of her life. She has two older brothers; one in a wheelchair, and three sisters. Her grandma who is one of her idols and inspirations is the one holding up her family she says. She is Hmong. Her talent in singing was discovered when she joined her middle school talent show and won first place. Yami was schooled at Parkrose High School her freshman year in Oregon, where she enrolled in dance classes, including hip hop and lyrical. She then, came back to Stockton and finished school at Edision Senior High School where she graduated. Her passion for music has grown throughout her life along with acting and dancing. She says, "I want to be the first Asian-American major artist in the industry."
