Leona was born and raised in Seattle, where she also completed her undergraduate degree in journalism at the University of Washington (UW). During her time at UW, she worked as a freelance writer for her school newspaper, The Daily UW, where she wrote stories about mental health and wellness. Leona was also an editorial intern for The Seattle Globalist, a local news outlet, where she focused most of her writing on issues of race and diversity.
Toward the end of her undergraduate career, Leona tried her hand at political reporting and covered the legislative session in Olympia, Washington, where she continued to pursue mental health within the realm of politics.