Effie Lavore (b. Bethany Love Orr) was raised in Colorado Springs, Colorado, where she and her siblings were home schooled and restricted access to most media. She discovered theatre and film upon entering high school, teaming up with the traveling improv group Theatrical Garbage and becoming the youngest comedienne to perform in a weekly show at her hometown comedy club. While continuing to perform locally Lavore earned a degree in science from the University of Colorado with plans to continue on to medical school, but she ultimately opted for a career in entertainment.