Leone grew up in Aci Catena,[1] where her mother Gabriella, a communal employee, and her father Ignazio, a retired teacher, were originally from. She has lived in Acireale since 1999, and attended the "Gulli and Pennisi" grammar school there. She then went to an art school in Catania.
Leone took part in Miss Italia 2008, and won the competition. She qualified for the pageant by winning the title Miss Prima dell'Anno 2008 (Miss First of the Year), a title that she won on a Carlo Conti programme, L