Sarah Palin

As well known for being a media personality as she is for being a political figure, Sarah Palin first became famous on a national level when she was chosen by senator John McCain as his running mate during the 2008 U.S. presidential election.

Born in Idaho in 1964 but raised in Wasilla, Alaska, Palin competed in her hometown's Miss Wasilla beauty pageant, finishing in third place. She went on to graduate from the University of Idaho with a bachelor's degree in communications and subsequently returned to Alaska, where she became a sportscaster for KTUU-TV and KTVA-TV in Anchorage.

Palin began her political career in 1992 when she was elected to Wasilla City Council, running as a Republican. She eventually became the mayor of the city in 1999. Following an unsuccessful run for the Republican nomination for lieutenant governor in 2002, Palin was appointed to the Alaska Oil and Gas Conservation Commission, which she served on for a year.

Then in 2006, Palin ran for governor of the state and was victorious. Palin was serving her first term when she was tapped by McCain to join him in his bid for the presidency.

Though McCain ultimately lost the election to Barack Obama, Palin's unique public persona made her a major talking point in popular culture.

She resigned from her position as governor in 2009 before the end of her first term and published a memoir describing her experiences titled Going Rogue: An American Life.

Palin next became a speaker at Tea Party events, eventually taking a position as a regular commentator at Fox News.

She starred on the reality series "Sarah Palin's Alaska" (TLC, 2010-11) from 2010 to 2011, and has published a number of Christian themed books including America by Heart: Reflections on Family, Faith, and Flag, I Hope Like Heck, Good Tidings and Great Joy: Protecting the Heart of Christmas, and Sweet Freedom: A Devotional.