When John McCain announced that his vice-presidential running mate was the fresh faced Sarah Palin, he not only made headlines every where, but he also launched the entire country into a quest to answer the question “Who is Sarah Palin?” Sarah Palin grew up to become mayor of the same small town she graduated high school from and then went on to eventually become the Governor of Alaska. She is still relatively new to many Americans, but here are seven things you don’t know about Sarah Palin.

1. In the 1999 political race for the position of Mayor of Wasilla which she had won, she received just 909 votes.

2. She graduated from Wasilla High School in Wasilla, Alaska where she also won the Miss Wasilla beauty contest. Her talent in the competition was playing the flute.

3. She gave birth to her fifth child, son Trig, while serving as Governor of Alaska. She returned to the office for work three days after giving birth.

4. Although elected the Governor of Alaska, she was born in Sandpoint, Idaho.

5. She was chosen to be Republican Presidential Nominee John McCain’s vice-presidential running mate after serving just a little over one year and eight months as Governor of the state of Alaska.

6. She holds the distinction of winning the 2006 Republican gubernatorial primary against a sitting Governor before winning the general election as well.

7. While mayor of Wasilla, Alaska she was seen wearing a Pat Buchanan button during his 1996 presidential run.

To many, Sarah Palin seemed to have come out of nowhere when John McCain thrust her into the spotlight of the national political scene. She remained a controversial selection to many while others saw her as a distinctive and refreshing anti-Washington D.C. pick. No matter what her history is, there is no escaping the fact that Sarah Palin will be in the public eye for quite some time now.