Margaret Pegues was born in Nassau, Bahamas. Her family originates from Haiti and she speaks fluent creole. She moved to Fort Lauderdale, Florida at the age of 8 years old. She graduated from South Plantation High School in 1998 located in Plantation, Florida. Two weeks after graduating high school on June 22, 1998, she enlisted into the United States Marine Corps and went to boot camp at Marine Corps Recruit Depot Parris Island located in Beaufort, South Carolina. After successfully completing boot camp, she then went to Marine Combat Training at Camp Geiger, North Carolina. Upon completion, Margaret then attended Military Occupational Specialty School at Marine Aviation Training Support Squadron located in Meridian, Mississippi where she became an Aviation Supply Specialist (6672).