Gena Lee Nolin was born in Duluth, Minnesota. She grew up on her family's farm and as a tomboy. Her diet was that of fatty foods. As an athletic child she enjoyed skating, basketball, playing volleyball and softball. She went up for every team in school. When Gena was a little girl, she used to have a little blanket that she would play with as she sucked her thumb.

Gena had her share of problems with jealous girls in High School. Once, she got into a fistfight when a girl accused her of stealing her boyfriend even though she had never met him! The girl got so jealous, that she came at Gena and started throwing punches. Defending herself, Gena just swung and knocked her out cold. The girl was unconscious. Neely's family moved to Las Vegas while she was a senior in High School. Friends kept suggesting that she enter the 'Miss Las Vegas' contest. She won the title!