Leslie Grace Martínez was born to Dominican parents on January 7, 1995, in The Bronx, a borough of New York City.

[4] She recorded and released an independent Christian music album in partnership with CD Baby while in middle school.

[10] In mid-2016 she participated as captain of the Univision reality show Va por ti with Luis Coronel, Chiquis Rivera and the host Galilea Montijo.

In January 2017 she collaborated with the duo Play-N-Skillz, Wisin and Frankie J in the reggaeton-style cover of Selena's song, "Si una vez".

[13] On April 11, 2019, it was announced that Grace would be starring as Nina Rosario in the 2021 film adaptation of Lin-Manuel Miranda's Tony Award-winning musical In the Heights.

Grace received praise from critics including David Ehrlich from IndieWire who wrote that she "shined" in the role.

K. Austin Collins of Rolling Stone wrote, "Its highest accomplishment is that it succeeds as the star vehicle Hollywood seemed to demand.