Leigh had been the victim of intimate image abuse. An iCloud hack resulted in private videos appearing on adult websites. It was beyond her control. Life changed in an instant.
It was all over the websites, it was all over WhatsApp chats and it even managed to hit the headlines of national newspapers worldwide," the Crystal Palace player tells Sky Sports. "Dealing with the aftermath was tough. You never expect to go through that. You think your life is over.
"You do not know how you are going to make amends for it. You do not know how you are going to have that conversation with your family. You don't know how people are going to look at you. You think you are going to lose family and friends over it."
That experience in the spring of 2019 led to sickness, sleep deprivation, depression and dramatic weight loss. Her football career was put on hold.
"It is something nobody can prepare you for. You walk into rooms where people laugh at you."
One year on, she is in a much better place. This time, her Sky Sports interview is in front of the cameras. Self-belief is returning. Speaking out helped.
"I don't think I had another option other than to use my platform. For the best part of two years I wanted it to go away, I wanted to hide away and I did not ever want to discuss it. I just thought it would go away naturally but the thing is that it never goes away.
"It was the final part of my healing process that I had my say on it. I wasn't this object that people said I was and I finally got to fight back a little bit.
"As soon as I did, it really helped me."
So too did the response.
"There has been so much more support than negativity. The football world has been the biggest part of my recovery and me having self-belief again. Being able to look in the mirror without feeling ashamed of myself and being disgusted and feeling really dirty."
Fellow women footballers at Crystal Palace and far beyond rallied around.
The female footballing world is such an amazing community. No matter what badge you are wearing on your kit, everyone does pull together. I am very fortunate. That is what the football world do really well. We come together. That is the beauty of a team sport."
With her colleagues in the men's game, it took longer.
"I have friends in the men's game so I know what went on in their group chats, I know how I was spoken about. That was not nice.
"So I would not say that I had initial support from the male footballing world but I also know they did not mean any harm by it, they were just being lads. Those lads need educating to understand that I am not a porn star. I did not want my videos out there.
"Since speaking out with Sky Sports a year ago that attitude has completely changed. From the male footballing world, in particular, when I walk into rooms now I feel so much respect. It is completely different now that I have spoken out and told my side of the story."
