Qi’ra was a human female from the planet Corellia who lived during the reign of the Galactic Empire. She grew up on the streets along with Han as part of the White Worms. Though they were at first rivals, the two Scrumrats eventually became lovers. Sometime after Qi’ra was made Head Girl by Lady Proxima, Han and Qi’ra attempted to escape with a vial of coaxium, but were separated at the Coronet Spaceport, with Han getting away, though he promised to return for her.

Qi’ra was sold into slavery by Proxima to the slave dealer Sarkin Enneb, who eventually sold her to Dryden Vos, the public leader of Crimson Dawn. Vos trained Qi’ra in martial arts and prompted her to kill Enneb, branding her right wrist with the Crimson Dawn symbol and making her his most trusted lieutenant.

In 10 BBY, Qi’ra reunited with Solo on Vandor and accompanied him and his friends on a mission to retrieve coaxium. She recommended a ship owned by the smuggler Lando Calrissian and rekindled her relationship with Solo. After the mission was unsuccessful, she returned to Vos, whom she betrayed and killed to save Han. Despite this, however, Qi’ra left Solo behind as she traveled to Dathomir to meet with Maul, the true leader of Crimson Dawn.

Between 3 ABY and 4 ABY, Crimson Dawn resurfaced under the leadership of Qi’ra. Having stolen Han Solo, who had been frozen in carbonite, from bounty hunter Boba Fett, she plotted to bring major galactic factions to her with Solo as the bait.