She was born in Oakland, California, the daughter of the late Jimmie Joseph and Vera Jean Guyton.
A lifelong Raiders fan, some of her fondest childhood memories were attending Raiders' practices while visiting and meeting the players with her father. Her father was career military, and she spent many of her formative years between Hawaii and the Philippines.
After graduating high school in Hawaii, she spent time living in Atlanta and traveling the world. This included touring and living in Europe for over a year.
Through her young adult years, she work in diverse occupations including as a hairdresser, celebrity photographer, and police officer. She later earned her master's of social work from the University of Hawaii, and began her career working for the military in Hawaii, helping active duty members, veterans, and their families. While working at Tripler Army Medical Center in Hawaii, she met Dr. Christopher L. Wathier, while he was completing his medical internship with the Army. They were married in Hawaii in 1999.