Keeley Hazell was born in the London borough of Lewisham, grew up in Grove Park and attended the Ravensbourne School in Bromley. Her mother, Amber, was a dinner lady and her father, Roy, was a window fitter; they separated when she was thirteen years old. At 16 years of age, Hazell left school to work as a hairdresser. Her work colleagues persuaded her to try her luck at modelling. At 17, she competed in The Daily Star's "Search for a Beach Babe" contest and won. Still not old enough to pose on Page 3, she went to study fashion at Lewisham College.