Reo Shinozaki attends St. Cavis Gakuen High School. He has pale skin, striking blue eyes accentuated by long white eyelashes, and a tall frame. His short white hair features a distinctive long section hanging down the right side and layered bangs. He typically wears a white and blue St. Clavis jacket and pants, paired with dark grey sneakers.

Reserved and outwardly cold, Reo communicates bluntly with few words, often appearing aloof or distant. He displays minimal emotion and rarely shows visible reactions. Though he initially dismisses Kensei Maeshima's rivalry, he maintains a consistent focus on Kensei's actions. Beneath this detached exterior lies a fiercely competitive spirit. On rare occasions, he reveals unexpected facets that surprise observers. He tends to wander off alone unless supervised.

Recognized as a figure skating prodigy, Reo dominated elementary school competitions, consistently outperforming Kensei Maeshima and becoming his primary rival. After delivering cold, dismissive remarks that contributed to Kensei quitting figure skating, Reo continued to achieve fame in the sport. Upon entering high school, he abandoned professional singles skating, feeling he could no longer progress. He transitioned to skate-leading, asserting this move aligned with his original intentions.

His family includes a half-brother, Hayato Sasugai, who is one day younger than him and harbors enmity toward Reo.

Reo exhibits a notable interest in penguins, specifically the mascot associated with skate-leading competitions. He collects multiple penguin-themed items from competition gift shops.

His name combines the kanji for "wise" (怜) and "male phoenix bird" (鳳). His surname Shinozaki means "dwarf bamboo" (篠) and "cape" or "peninsula" (崎).