Aja was born in Seattle, Washington. Her athletic ability was evident from a young age. By elementary school she was racing and beating all the boys on the playground. Born to Soun Frary, a ballerina dancer and her father, Lee Leavy, California State High School Wrestling Champion; Aja's athletic genes set the stage for her future. Aja excelled as a 3 sport high school athlete and by college earned a full scholarship as a Track and Field Heptathlete at San Diego State University.

Aja went onto become a Division 1 NCAA Bronze Medalist and earned All-American Honors by her senior year. In 2000, while still a collegiate athlete, Aja was one of the youngest competitors at the Olympic Trials, placing 9th. After college Aja was accepted into the United States Olympic Training Center program where she was able to train full time and compete across the country and the world. In 2004 an injury struck just before her most promising Olympic Trails competition. While healing, a college friend knew she would make an ideal stunt double and stunt performer. Her first movie was on a film called American Gangster in 2006. Her career took off after her first film and since then has become one of the countries most sought after Stuntwoman.

In 2016 she became a member of the Stuntwomen's Association of Motion Picture, one of Aja's highest career highlights.