Joanne De Jesus-Cortes was born on November 2, 2001 in Fayetteville, NC to Jose and Janette De Jesus. She has an older brother, Javier. Currently, Joanne is a student at Connections Academy and she will graduate from high school in 2020. When she has time outside of gymnastics, she enjoys photography.
Joanne's parents signed Joanne up for a gymnastics summer camp in Tennessee and she loved it so much that she wanted to do gymnastics everyday. Joanne is part of a military family, so they moved a few times the last few years. She trained at World Class Gymnastics Newport News, VA and Acrotex Gymnastics in Georgetown, TX. As a level 5 gymnast in 2011, Joanne finished fifth in the all-around and third on vault at the Texas State Championships. At the 2012 Level 6 Texas State Championships, she placed sixth in the all-around and fourth on vault and floor exercise. She competed in one level 7 meet in 2013 and qualified to the State Championships.
Joanne qualified to the 2014 Level 8 Texas State Championships, 2014 Region 3 Championships and 2015 Level 8 Texas State Championships. She moved up to level 9 for the 2016 season where she placed seventh in the all-around and second on floor exercise at the State Championships. She qualified to the Region 3 Championships. As a level 10 gymnast, Joanne qualified to the Region 8 Championships in 2017, 2018 and 2019. She placed eighth on balance beam at the 2017 Regionals. In 2019, Joanne qualified to Region 3 Championships.
Joanne trains 22-30 hours per week at Capital Gymnastics in Cedar Park, TX under coach Zach Crumpton. She is working hard to become a successful level 10 gymnast as well as to obtain a Division I college gymnastics scholarship.