Florence was born to a history professor and a ferry captain in British Victoria. Her father, a professor at the University of British Columbia, wanted his daughter from a young age to follow him in the field of academics, and get a good degree. As she grew up, she did very well in school... but she found little joy in her studies. Florence usually found solace with her mother, who was away often, but usually took Florence on trips with her. However, since age 7, she has loved to sing. She won a talent show contest in her junior high for her singing, and while she kept her studies up, she started a band with some friends shortly after graduation from college.

Her band, Royalty, became an underground hit, and within a few years Florence was enjoying great popularity, resulting in her dropping out of grad school. Her relationship with her parents became strained as she grew, but she still loved them no matter what, even if they did not approve. However, the strain eventually led to her parents divorcing. As of now, she hasn't had contact with them for years.

During her fame, Florence also decided to try out another art form in between albums: acting. Her first shot was to voice a fire-breathing dragon for a fantasy movie being filmed in Vancouver.

At the studio one day, a major fire started, spreading over the building. While Florence was initially unharmed, she ran to assist- and ran headlong into a red breach, transforming instantly into a dragon- a wyvern. Although first horrified by her transformation, with the help of a phoenix, she learned how to use her new wings, and soon began to see life wasn't so bad after all. Even if she was the size of a small airplane.