Melissa Cohen was born in Johannesburg, South Africa, in 1989 to Zoe and Lee Cohen. She is of mixed race and was born in South Africa, but following her marriage, she acquired American citizenship through naturalization.
Melissa is from a close-knit liberal family with liberal sympathies and devout Jews. Gary Cohen, a podiatrist who lives in Sandton, South Africa, is reported to be her brother. When she was 21, she moved to the United States.
Melissa has not divulged much about her education and history, however, it is assumed that she had her primary, secondary, and high school education in her hometown of Johannesburg, South Africa. She graduated from King David High School and went on to study Interior Designing at the University of Johannesburg.
