Szohr was born in Menomonee Falls, Wisconsin as the oldest of five children. She is of half Hungarian and one quarter African American descent. Szohr started modeling at age six; her first national campaign was for Quaker Oats at age ten, and she was also hired to do print ads for Kohl's department store. Szohr later graduated from Menomonee Falls High School, and moved to Los Angeles at the age of seventeen to pursue an acting career.