Dot was born in Turlock, California and moved to Hilmar, where she grew up. When she was in middle school, she became very tall very fast. This made her back hurt, so she started exercising by lifting weights to strengthen the muscles. By high school, she was very good at lifting weights and won contests. She was named the school's female athlete of the year. When she was 19, she tried arm wrestling, and was very good at it. She won the world championship 15 times.