Allegra Kent [own] parents. She borrowed a neighbor's working papers and took a job at twelve. By fourteen, she was teaching ballroom dancing at night in someone's private home, mostly to Japanese men". Born in Santa Monica, Kent studied with Bronislava Nijinska and Carmelita Maracci before joining the School of American Ballet. She discovered music and dance at the age of 7 and enjoyed both, but she was 11 before she took her first ballet lesson. She had completely flat feet as a little girl and consulted a doctor, who prescribed wedges in her shoes to give her arches. She then began
Germany Kent University of Alabama's graduate school, where she received her Master of Arts degree on a full scholarship. In 1992, Kent developed her interest in journalism and began work while still in high school; for two years, she was the announcer over the loud speaker, delivering the morning news for her school. During that time, she served as the editor-in-chief for her school newspaper, "NPHS Beat", an award-winning student newspaper, which provided a launchpad for her literary career. After NPHS, Kent was active on the student-run media team serving as a reporter in the journalism department at Northwest Mississippi Community College.