Elena hails from a small tribe (whose enlightened chief comes complete with a doctorate from a French University). Elena grew up in the arms of the vast, harsh, and yet nurturing savanna, under the wise guidance of her parents. An only child, she has developed a wonder and love for life, and an inate ability to communicate with nature. Using her natural spring to her advantage, she practices capoeria, the "dancing" fighting style using only kicks and especially suited for women of smaller stature.

Elena enters the third Street Fighter tournament at the bequest of the village elders. Elena is known to detest fighting, so the elders send her to the tournament so that she can discover her fighting spirit. For they wish to remind her that fighting is part of their culture. And so she enters the tournament. After it is over, she returns home, ever more persistent in her dislike for fighting. After much persuasion, the village elders allow her to go to school. And so she searches for the perfect place to attend classes, and finds it--in Japan. There she befriends a young girl named Narumi and gains many new friends. She then decided to show her "new friends" to her old friends, by taking them to the forest to meet the animals.