Soanya Ahmad was born in Queens, New York. The eldest of three children, she was raised by parents who emigrated from Guyana.

She attended The City College of New York as part of the first class of Cuny Honors College students. There she graduated with a Bachelor of Arts degree with a concentration in photography. After having photographed many black and white harborscapes of cities on the east coast, she became interested in learning more about the waterfront, prompting her to pursue a second degree in Maritime Technology at Kingsborough Community College.

Soanya came into contact with the 1000 Days Non-stop at Sea expedition at the beginning of her third year in college as she was photographing the piers of Manhattan. Having worked various office jobs through college, as she was graduating, she realized the well defined city grid and square cubicle was not for her. She preferred instead to follow her own expansive spirit in a less limiting environment and the sea was the perfect place to start. Three years after her first encounter with the project, she decided to become a part of it and accompany the noble and charming captain of the expedition, Reid Stowe, on his greatest and most challenging voyage yet.

After being onboard the Schooner Anne for a year now, Soanya has come to play an integral role with all facets of the expedition including, photographing, videotaping, organizing, and inventorying as well as operating all of the computers and communications equipment