Born in Perth, Western Australia, Taylor-Smith suffered from scoliosis, an abnormal curvature of the spine, throughout her school years.

The condition required her to wear a back brace, although she was successful in national age group swimming competitions.

While on a swimming scholarship to the University of Arkansas in the United States, the heavy training regime caused a lower-body paralysis.

[4] In 1998, Taylor-Smith was diagnosed with chronic fatigue syndrome after prolonged exposure to polluted water and Giardia lamblia infection, and was given six months to live.

Taylor-Smith currently lives in Perth, where she works as a motivational speaker for her company, Champion Mindset.