Sarah Palin shot to national fame in 2008 when John McCain chose the then-little-known Alaska governor as his running mate. With her mix of grit and charm, she became an instant sensation—then stepped back from politics to face personal trials that drew as many headlines as her career once did.

Born in Idaho and raised in Wasilla, Alaska, Palin was a standout athlete before meeting her high school sweetheart, Todd. The two eloped in 1988, borrowing witnesses from a nearby retirement home because they couldn’t afford a wedding. Together they built a bustling family—Track, Bristol, Willow, Piper, and Trig—and a life anchored in Alaska’s rugged landscape. Palin reported the news, helped run their fishing business, and later became Alaska’s first female governor in 2006.