Īmes's mother suffered from bipolar disorder.

Both her parents were in the army and she spent her early years as a military brat, including a number of years living beside Canadian Forces Base Petawawa. She was of Polish ancestry and was also one-quarter African-American.

She grew up in Petawawa, Ontario, and later lived in Colorado Springs, Colorado. Ames was born Mercedes Grabowski in Antigonish, Nova Scotia, on 23 August 1994.