Born May 21, 1975 in Centreville, Illinois, K. L. Rich is the older of two children born to the union of James and Arma Rich Sr. After completion of high school from East St. Louis Sr. High, she entered the United States Navy and was stationed at the Naval Air Station Base in Whidbey Island, Washington. Upon receiving an honorable discharge and having received Letters of Commendation and Appreciation from the Commanding Officer, she was determined to be the first college graduate in her immediate family. She completed a Bachelor of Science degree in Paralegal Studies from Southern Illinois University at Carbondale, Illinois.

She went on to do coursework towards a Master of Science degree in Elementary Education from the University of Phoenix in Arizona. After residing in Illinois for many years, she relocated to Georgia where she now resides and is a member of the dReam Center Church of Atlanta under Bishop William H. Murphy III and Pastor Danielle Murphy.