Dobson was born Judith Mary Kirk in
Auckland in about 1966 and grew up in the suburb of
Māngere Bridge. She was educated at
Epsom Girls' Grammar School, before training as a nurse and working at
National Women's Hospital and
Green Lane Hospital. In 1987, she began part-time modelling, and made her first television appearance that year as a contestant on the show
Face of the Eighties. The following year, she spent two months modelling in Japan, and worked as pharmaceutical sales representative on her return to New Zealand. She competed in the 1988
Miss Universe New Zealand pageant, placing fourth, behind winner
Lana Coc-Kroft, and that year was a model in the Benson and Hedges Fashion Awards and appeared on the children's programme
Spot On in an item about a day in the life of a fashion model. ==Television career==