Sue-Ellen Cassiana Fernandes was born in Harrow, London, to parents of Indian origin who had emigrated to Britain from Kenya and Mauritius. Her family background and upbringing instilled in her a strong work ethic and appreciation for the opportunities afforded by British society, factors that have shaped her political outlook.

Braverman was educated at Heathfield School, Pinner, and later at Cambridge University where she studied law at Queens' College. Her time at Cambridge provided a foundation in legal theory and practice, setting the stage for her subsequent career as a barrister. She also obtained a Master's degree in European and French Law from the Pantheon-Sorbonne University.