Suzanne Marie Mahoney was born in San Bruno, California, to Marion Elizabeth (née Lourie), a medical secretary, and Francis Mahoney, a laborer.

Suzanne grew up in a working-class family in San Bruno. Details of her early childhood experiences are somewhat limited, but it's known she attended Catholic school.

She attended a Catholic school during her younger years.

Somers attended Capuchino High School in San Bruno, where she actively engaged in school activities and demonstrated an early interest in performing arts.

Somers briefly attended Lone Mountain College in San Francisco (now part of the University of San Francisco). She did not graduate. During this time, she began exploring her artistic interests further, and she also became pregnant.