Shannon Tweed was born in St. John's, Newfoundland and Labrador, to a mink rancher. Shannon Tweed was raised on a mink ranch in Whitbourne, Newfoundland and Labrador. Shannon Tweed has six brothers and sisters. Shannon Tweed graduated from Mount Royal Collegiate in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan and became involved in beauty pageants at a young age. In 1978, Shannon Tweed was third runner-up in the Miss Ottawa Pageant and won the Miss Canada talent competition (her specialty: singing).