Karlie Montana (also known as Janelle, Karly Montana, Karlye Montana) was born in Phoenix, Arizona on May 14, 1986. At age 16 she worked at Cold Stone Creamery, and at 18 she entered the adult entertainment industry after being approached by an agent. Her debut came in 2004, and her early films focused on lesbian and anal scenes.

Over the years, Karlie appeared in films for major adult production companies including Vivid, Hustler, Elegant Angel, and Club Jenna. In 2012, she was named Twisty’s Treat of the Month and was nominated for an AVN Award for Unsung Starlet of the Year. That same year, she directed her first adult feature.