Colby was raised in a Jehovah’s Witness household, which she has described as "very loving but very strict." In 2004, at age 29, she married Alexandre De Meyer and had two children. However, her growing involvement in television contributed to the end of their marriage. In a 2012 interview with WQAD-TV, she stated, “Fame and notoriety are not easy for him to deal with at all, so the relationship ended up not working out.”

Joining American Pickers

Before the inception of American Pickers, Colby had been close friends with Mike Wolfe for over a decade. When the History Channel greenlit the show, Wolfe invited her to work at the Antique Archaeology office. The series premiered on January 18, 2010, and quickly gained popularity, becoming the number-one rated non-fiction series among total viewers and adults aged 25–54 by September of that year.

Reflecting on her decision to join the show, Colby remarked in a Yuppie Punk interview, “I didn’t have any trepidation at all. I just figured if Mike’s on board, I’m on board.” She also clarified rumors about her relationship with Wolfe, stating, “People think that Mike and I are dating, which isn’t true at all.”

Roller Derby and Burlesque Career

Outside of her work in television, Colby has pursued a number of creative ventures. She participated in a roller derby league for three years as part of the team The Big Mouth Mickies, until injuries forced her to retire. “After three years of roller derby, I pretty much tore my body up,” she explained. “But I think the shelf life of a roller derby girl is like three to five years.”

After leaving roller derby, Colby formed a burlesque troupe called Burlesque Le Moustache, comprised of eight performers touring eastern Iowa and western Illinois. She performed under the stage name Dannie Diesel and eventually opened a burlesque academy named Dannie Diesel’s Bump 'n' Grind Academy, located in the Rogers Park neighborhood of Chicago.

Colby credits a burlesque show featuring comedian Margaret Cho and dancer Satan’s Angel as the inspiration behind her burlesque involvement. “Growing up in a strict household, I went into that evening thinking burlesque was taboo and wrong," she said. "But I left feeling liberated—being in a space with women of all shapes and abilities who fully embraced themselves was life-changing for me.”

The History Channel has been supportive of Colby’s burlesque activities. “I made it clear upon starting the show exactly what I do,” she stated. “As long as everything stays tasteful, I think they’re okay with it.”