Jade's best pals were Ted Capwell, Laken Lockridge and Danny Andrade. Danny was infatuated with Jade, but she was more attracted to hunky lifeguard Warren Lockridge, Laken's brother. Meanwhile, Jade had one dream and that was becoming a famous movie star. She and her friends Ted and Danny set out for Hollywood, where they shared many laughs and disappointments. They also befriended Peaches Delight, a former fan dancer, after rescuing her from a mugging. Eventually, Jade met a movie producer named Willard Holmby. He wanted Jade to bare her body for a screen test in a sleazy motel room, but she couldn't bring herself to do it.

Despite Danny's constant warnings, Jade was too naive to realize that Holmby was a producer of porno flicks! Jade didn't see the light until the movie shoot. She went into another room and called Danny, who came to her much-needed rescue. Later, at a phone booth, Jade and Danny met David Hasselhoff of Knight Rider fame. This enounter left Jade starry-eyed.

Ultimately, Jade and her friends departed Hollywood and went back to Santa Barbara. Unlike Danny, Jade was able to attend high school with Ted and Laken at the more expensive Lymon Prep, but only because her mother was an employee of the school. Later, Jade and her friends bought a motel specifically for fellow teens, but their grumpy teacher Mr. Bottoms intervened.

In 1985, Jade's appearances became few and far between, especially after her brother Joe died. That same year, Jade befriended teen runaway Christie Duvall and started working at the local beach snack bar. One night, Jade saw Christie arguing with Ted. Christie was subsequently raped by her stepbrother Steve Bassett, but accused Ted of the crime. Jade was last seen when she testified at Ted's rape trial. She was rarely mentioned after that.

Jade and her mother, Marisa, were the only members of the Perkins family who stayed alive.