Early Life
Jones was raised in Jackson, Mississippi, the only child of Debra Martinson Pearsall and James Harrison Jones Junior, and the granddaughter of "Ageless Hero" Gloria Martinson, founder of the non-profit organization, Gleaners, and Mike Martinson, Founder and CEO of the Dobbs Maynard Advertising Agency, who was often referred to as "The King Maker" due to his strong political influence and clout. Her mother is of Scandinavian descent. Her maternal great-grandparents immigrated to the US through Ellis Island from Oslo, Norway. Jones is also the great-niece of State Representative Rita Martinson (Madison, Mississippi). She attended junior high school at St. Andrew's in Ridgeland, Mississippi, where she played Juliet in a school production of William Shakespeare's play Romeo and Juliet. At age 14, Jones, accompanied by her mother and stepfather, Dennis Pearsall, moved from Jackson to Long Island. At 17, Jones was encouraged to pursue an acting and modeling career, subsequently living in London, Boston, New York City and Los Angeles. She was a high school homecoming queen and a varsity cheerleader. By the time she graduated from high school, she was working steadily as a model.
She came to prominence initially after winning a national modeling contest sponsored by Seventeen magazine in 2000, and appearing on Live with Regis and Kathie Lee.
In 2004 Jones earned a BBA degree in design and management from Parsons School of Design and completed a study abroad program at The University of Westminster in London, England. While in NY obtaining her undergraduate degree, she concurrently studied theater, TV and film at various performing art schools including Weist-Barron.
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