Piseth Pilika was born to Mr. Oak Harl and Mrs. Meng Mony in Phnom Penh, 1965. Her father was a professor who taught French at the University of Korokosol. She had two sisters, Pealear and Daro; she herself being the oldest. Her birth name was Oak Eap Pili. After both of her parents tragically died during the Khmer Rouge regime, Piseth Pilika and her two sisters was raised by their uncle. They all changed their name to Sao Pili, Sao Pealear, and Sao Daro after their uncle, Sao Piseth. Sao Daro, the youngest sister later on died as well leaving behind the two sisters. In 1980, with the support from her aunt, Meng Sonali, who was a teacher at the School of Fine Arts, Pili began to study and train in the Cambodian cultural dance. She completed the study in 1988 and continued on working for the school as a lead dancer. With her great talent and beauty she started to become popular. She was invited to star in her own movie called, "Sromorl Anthakal (Shadow of Darkness)", by Wat Phnom production. By this time she was a well-known figure in the whole country. In 1989, she changed her name to Piseth Pilika that we came to know today.