Leon, Madonna's firstborn with her ex actor Carlos Leon, sought out financial independence at a young age, reportedly paying her own college tuition and later renting out an apartment in Brooklyn. Still, her experience with independence allowed her to develop more appreciation her mother for all she's managed to do. "I didn't fully comprehend that until I realized the importance of empowerment and what it means to be a woman," Leon said, adding that she admires her mom for how she's always been "empowering to other women" and "ahead of her time."
