Birthplace: the U.S.A.

Jessie is the most talented athlete of the terrestrial nation. Born and grown up in an American ghetto, she had to take care alone of her little brother, seeing as both their parents were dead. Jessie has therefore grown up in poverty until her little sister's death, caused by an incurable disease. Since then, a black priest of a local church took care of her, and he nurtured her running skills, that she had always used to run from her chasers after the stealing she did for surviving. Thanks to that priest and a meeting with Tome Midou, Jessie starts dedicating herself to athletics, with the intent to becoming Cosmo Beauty. She feels a strong resentment for Akari, who she deem as too weak and unworthy of being the daughter of her idol. She also feels an innate but sporty rivalry towards Ayla Roznovsky. 

It is the year 4999 - mankind has long abandoned war in favor of intergalactic competition through athletic events. One of which is an all-female contest for the coveted "Cosmo Beauty" title. Akari Kanzaki has just entered the University Satellite in hopes of becoming the latest Cosmic Beauty - a title held by her mother long ago. On her first few days in the university, she meets new friends, encounters fierce rivals, and struggles to become the best of all the Battle Athletes.
 
(Source: Anime News Network)

[Profile](https://osawa-inc.co.jp/women/itomiki/)

Akari Kanzaki has just joined an all-girls academy in hopes of entering the University Satellite, an elite sports training facility. She wants to win the title of Cosmo Beauty - a title held years ago by her mother. It's not an easy task for her as fear, doubt and peer pressure get in her way, but friends, rivals and fans slowly encourage her to overcome her obstacles and become the best of the Battle Athletes.
 
(Source: Anime News Network)

Emilie Colleen de Azevedo Brown is an American voice actress. Before moving out of the Los Angeles area, she did several anime voice roles mostly under the names Emily Brown, Mary Cobb and Marie Downing. One of her earliest voice acting roles was Annie Labelle in the 1980s crossover anime hit Robotech when she was 13 years old. 

In 2001, Emilie teamed up with her sister Rachel Coleman to create Signing Time! - an entertaining children's public television and video series that teaches basic American Sign Language (ASL) to children of all abilities. In 1996, Rachel and her husband Aaron discovered that their oldest daughter Leah was deaf. From the beginning, they have found that teaching her 'hearing' peers even a few basic signs builds bonds of friendship and community that every child needs. 

Emilie's first son, Alex - one year younger than Leah - made his first sign at 10 months of age by telling his mom he wanted "milk." Emilie has seen first-hand the communication benefits that ASL offers all children, including miraculous results for children with special needs. 

In addition to being a mom, Emilie is the co-creator, director, and producer of the Signing Time series. After graduating from Brigham Young University in 1996 with a theatre degree, she continued her career in the entertainment industry, doing voiceover work for countless TV and radio commercials, cartoons, CD-ROMs, television shows and major motion pictures. Emilie has been the creative force behind the development of concepts, scripts, film and post-production of over 26 Signing Time! episodes, as well as Baby Signing Time, Practice Time and all other Two Little Hands Productions.

Jessie Gartland