Shae Marks was born in New Orleans, Louisiana where she spent most of childhood. According to her Playmate Profile, she was a tomboy growing up. Soon after her tenth birthday, Marks's family moved to Peachtree City, Georgia, a suburb of Atlanta. While in high school she played soccer and tennis and was involved in swimming and cheerleading. After graduating from McIntosh high school, she briefly majored in journalism at the University of West Georgia, but later dropped out and moved back to New Orleans.

Shae Marks was discovered by Playboy when she was 20 years old at the World Gym in Houston, Texas. One month later, in October 1993, she flew to Los Angeles, California (meeting her husband on the flight), did a test shoot for a centerfold and was accepted as Playmate of the Month for May 1994. During her stint with Playboy, Marks was a traveling representative for the company, visiting such ports of call as Hong Kong and Denmark. Later she entered the acting arena, guest starring on such shows as Married... with Children, Renegade, Viper, and Baywatch. Marks was also featured in advertisements for Molson Beer, as well as modeling for Frederick’s of Hollywood, Venus Swimwear, and other catalogs.