Born in Phnom Penh, Cambodia. Shortly after finishing high school, the Cambodian government collapsed and she was removed from the city to a rural village. After 16 years of moving from place to place fleeing a repressive government, Sokhomaly made her way to America. Recently she received her American citizenship, yet she still holds true to many Cambodian traditions and values. She is active with the Cambodian temple and the Fresno Holistic Center, and is involved in many Khmer community events. She helped form the United Khmer Cultural Preservation, an organization that offers spaces for Cambodians to practice their art and culture and to address the issues that concern them the most. Sokhomaly believes that language barriers between the younger and older generation is a major issue that affects the Cambodian community in Fresno.