Ayya Soma was born in Italy and worked as an editor in the fashion industry in Milan, London, and New York. She first encountered Buddhism during a stay at Santacittārāma Monastery in Italy, in the tradition of Ajahn Chah. In 2015 she met Bhante Suddhāso, which marked a turning point in her practice. Together they founded Buddhist Insights in New York and later, in 2019, Empty Cloud Monastery.

She took anagārikā precepts in 2016, received monastic ordination in 2018 under Ven. Paññāvatī, and full bhikkhunī ordination in 2020. She works on translating the Pāli Canon into English and Italian and regularly teaches on the Buddhist Insights YouTube channel.