Cohen's full first name is Alexandra Pauline. She switched to skating at age 7 after starting with gymnastics. She has also won various gymnastics awards. Cohen won the silver medal at US Nationals in her first senior year. She takes part in choreographing her programs. She admires figure skaters Scott Hamilton and Kurt Browning. Cohen's long term goals include working as a fashion designer. Until now, she has designed some of her practice dresses with the help of her mother and her costume designer Mare Talbott. Her mother Galina emigrated from the Ukraine to the United States. Her younger sister Natasha is a pianist. Cohen switched coaches shortly before the 2005 U.S. Nationals, leaving Robin Wagner to go back to former coach John Nicks in California. Cohen withdrew from Skate America 2005 due to a hip injury.