Samanka Dumond-Desir was born and raised in Port-au-Prince, Haiti. As a little girl growing up in Haiti, she was a passionate lover of nature and loved playing outdoors with a beloved cat, Monou.

After moving to the United States as a teen, she earned a bachelor's degree in International Business and French at St John's University and a master's degree in Construction Management at New York University. Throughout the years, she has been an active member in her community, volunteering for Jumpstart Corps members while in college and working with the young children at her local church. She currently resides in New York City with her husband, Jasinsky Desir, and her parents.