Born Katrina Amy Alexandria Alexis Infield in Brighton, England, Price was brought up in the seaside town of Brighton in East Sussex, England. Her mother is English and her maternal grandmother is Jewish. She took the surname Price after her mother remarried following the split from her biological father when she was a child. Her decision to start modeling came after a friend suggested she have some professional photographs done. The pictures were sent to a modeling agency in London, and to her surprise, the agency invited her into their studios for a photo shoot and to discuss a contract. Within weeks she began appearing on 'Page 3' of the The Sun newspaper (topless modeling). It was at this time that she assumed the name "Jordan" when somebody in the photo shoot disapproved her using her real name and felt Jordan would be best suited for her.

Although she was already a well-established model, with frequent appearances on Page 3 and in men's lifestyle magazines to her credit, Jordan was still insecure about the size of her breasts, believing that breast implants would make her look better. Despite protests from friends and family, Jordan underwent the operation, increasing her cup size from a B to a D.

In an attempt to cross over from modeling to other areas, Price auditioned for a part on the television series Baywatch in 1998, guest presented The Big Breakfast and played herself in an episode of Dream Team.

Jordan (now preferring to be known to the public as Katie Price while not modeling) began 2004 by appearing on the reality TV series I'm a Celebrity... Get Me Out of Here!, alternately falling out with John Lydon and flirting in the jungle with singer Peter Andrewhom she eventually married.

She appeared in the documentaries Jordan: Living With a dream (Channel 4), Jordan: The Truth About Me, Jordan: Model Mum, Jordan: You Don't Even Know Me (BBC Choice), Jordan Gets Even (Five) and the series When Jordan Met Peter (ITV), Jordan & Peter: Laid Bare (ITV2), Jordan & Peter: Marriage and Mayhem (ITV2), and the Katie & Peter series, including Katie & Peter: The Next Chapter (ITV2) and Katie & Peter: The Baby Diaries. Katie & Peter was also successful in the United States, where it aired on E!, helping to establish Jordan's fame State-side.

Under the name Katie Price, she was one of the acts competing for the right to represent the United Kingdom at the Eurovision Song Contest 2005, to be held in Ukraine. On 5 March 2005, singing a song titled "Not Just Anybody", wearing a skin tight pink cat suit whilst heavily pregnant, she lost the public vote, coming in second place in the pre-selection show Making Your Mind Up, behind Javine. Price and André released a duets album on 27 November 2006 titled A Whole New World, with all proceedings going to their chosen charities affiliated with the many health conditions of her eldest son, Harvey. The album debuted at #20 in the UK album chart and achieved platinum status.

To coincide with her appearance on I'm a Celebrity... Get Me Out of Here! earlier in the year, Price released the first of three autobiographies – Being Jordan – in May 2004. Her second autobiography – Jordan: A Whole New World – detailing her wedding and family life. Price's third autobiography Pushed to the Limit was released in February 2008.