Jubilation Lee, aka Jubilee, a Chinese-American teenager, exuding confidence and joy, standing in the heart of a bustling food court.

Born the daughter of prosperous Chinese immigrants, young Jubilation was sent to an exclusive Beverly Hills school, where her talent for gymnastics was discovered. Jubilee spent much of her time roller-blading with friends at the local mall, but ultimately ran afoul of mall security. Facing juvenile detention if caught, Jubilee panicked and first manifested her mutant ability to generate explosive energy. Soon after, her parents were mistakenly killed by hit-men.

Jubilee fled to the only home she had left - the mall. She survived as a petty thief and street performer, using her mutant powers to put on shows for the crowds. Mall security eventually tired of her eluding capture and called in a team of novice mutant hunters, the M-Squad. That same day, the mall was visited by several female members of the X-Men. When the M-Squad attacked Jubilee, the X-Men came to her aid and then left via a teleport gateway. Intrigued, Jubilee followed them through and arrived at the X-Men's base.