Joelle Kayembe was born in Lubumbashi, Democratic Republic of Congo, the daughter of wealthy Congolese businessman Kalonji Kayembe.

In 1994, she moved to South Africa. Kayembe began playing nanny to her seven younger children. She desired to study psychology, but became a model after being spotted at age 19. She began with several jobs that did not pay until getting a calendar spread with FHM SA.