Willam Belli

Willam Belli was born to Debbi Ruzic Belli in Philadelphia. He is the younger of two children. He has a sister, Samantha. Belli states he is of Yugoslav and Italian heritage. He lived in Florida for middle school and high school. Belli's father worked at the Kennedy Space Center. His aunt is television director Mary Lou Belli.

Growing up, Willam frequently illustrated dresses, to which many people assumed that he wanted to become a fashion designer, but he asserted that he designed the garments with the intent to wear them himself. He later worked in costume design in theatre, and, at the age of 13, he was put in drag for the first time at a closing night party. From there, he would dress in drag to watch performances of The Rocky Horror Show, and was paid for a drag performance for the first time at the age of 16.

Belli was overweight when he was young but lost the extra pounds by becoming vegetarian before being emancipated at 16. Belli met his husband, Bruce, at nineteen. They were married on September 9, 2008.