[1][5][6] Harrison was first selected for the Black Sticks Women in October 2005 on the back of her performance for Northland in the National Hockey League that year.

[7] Born in Palmerston North to Steve[8] and Zanna Harrison,[9] Charlotte spent most of her early life living in Whangārei.

[1][11] Despite Charlotte being two years older and three centimetres (1 in) shorter than her sister Samantha, once the two competed together for the Black Sticks, their similarities in appearance became apparent and were often mistaken for each other by commentators and match officials.

[11][12] This was partially alleviated by Samantha dyeing her hair brown in mid-2010,[12] but within a year reverted to her natural blonde colour.

Harrison attended Whangarei Girls' High School,[7][8][13] before later studying beauty therapy at the Auckland University of Technology.