Born Diane Monique Lhuillier to French, Spanish/Filipino parents, Monique was raised in the southern part of the Philippines called Cebu.  As a child, Monique was very influenced by her mother’s glamorous sense of style and was exposed to the importance of style because the family traveled extensively. Her favorite destinations were always Paris and Los Angeles.  At the early age of 15, Monique left home to attend the prestigious Chateau Mont-Choisi boarding school in Lausanne, Switzerland. It was while she was in Switzerland that she decided to pursue her dreams of becoming a designer. She decided to attend the Fashion Institute of Design and Merchandising (FIDM) and move to Los Angeles.