Bristol Palin

Bristol Palin, born in 1990, is the oldest daughter of Alaska's once Governor Sarah Palin, the 2008 Republican vice presidential nominee and running mate of John McCain. Palin graduated from high school on May 14, 2009, with a 3.497 G.P.A. She reportedly plans to attend a local college and possibly pursue a career in real estate.http://www.people.com/people/article/0,,20279197,00.html

Bristol Palin was announced as one of the cast members on the 11th season of Dancing With the Stars. The new cast members were revealed on Monday, August 30, 2010, by the hosts of the ABC reality dancing competition, Tom Bergeron and Brooke Burke, during a live announcement during the show Bachelor Pad. The first episode of Dancing With the Stars season 11 premiered on September 20, 2010.http://www.mahalo.com/dancing-with-the-stars-season-11-cast Palin made what some felt were surprising advancements during the Dancing with the Stars competition, surviving eliminations that took out some of the more experienced performers. Palin beat out R&B singer Brandy to make her one of the final three, alongside Jennifer Grey and Kyle Massey.http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1652447/20101117/brandy.jhtml

The move upwards in Dancing With The Stars came amid a facebook controversy where Palin and her sister, Willow, made profane posts on their pages that included disparaging homosexual references.http://www.nydailynews.com/gossip/2010/11/17/2010-11-17_bristol_palin_apologizes_for_sister_willows_homophobic_posts_on_facebook_slams_h.html The controversial posts were made after a criticism on facebook of Sarah Palin's Alaska show. Bristol Palin made apologies on behalf of herself and her sister.http://www.nydailynews.com/gossip/2010/11/17/2010-11-17_bristol_palin_apologizes_for_sister_willows_homophobic_posts_on_facebook_slams_h.html

ABC news reported on August, 3rd, 2010, that Bristol Palin had ended her relationship with Levi Johnston, the father of her son. Although some sources point to a former girlfriend of Johnston's, Palin cites her ex-fiance's "obsession with the limelight" as the reason for the split.http://abcnews.go.com/Entertainment/bristol-palin-breaks-levi-johnston-played/story?id=11316211

In a July 2010 issue of Us Weekly, the magazine reported the engagement of the couple after an exclusive interview with Palin. The two had reconnected and were planning to wed within a few weeks of the announcement. According to Palin, at the time, she planned to dress both Johnston and their son Tripp in camo vests and that she would have worn a white Carolina Herrera wedding gown.http://today.msnbc.msn.com/id/38239802/ns/today-today_people/

• On September 1, 2008, Sarah Palin announced that Bristol was pregnant and intended to marry the baby's father, then boyfriend Levi Johnston.http://www.iht.com/articles/2008/09/01/america/daughter.php Previous to this announcement, internet rumors had suggested that the Palin family's youngest son, Trig Palin, was in fact Bristol's baby and not Sarah's.http://dailykos.com/storyonly/2008/8/31/234157/516/1017/581734
• On January 2, 2009, Sarah Palin released a statement on the governor's web site saying that the pregnancy had been "shocking news" but that they now feel blessed. Bristol Palin also made a statement, saying her situation was not ideal and that she discourages teens to become pregnant, but that she "can't imagine life without" Tripp.http://www.politico.com/news/stories/0109/16999.html

Briston Palin was interviewed by Greta Van Susteren from FOX News where she talked about being a teen mom. She stated, "I hope people learn from my story. It's so much easier if you're married, have a house and career. It's not a situation you want to strive for." She also stated that her mother's view of abstinence among teens is "not realistic at all."http://www.people.com/people/article/0,,20259465,00.html

• The Candies Foundation was formed in 2001 and focuses its efforts on educating American youth about the consequences of teenage pregnancy. Palin said she joined the Candies Foundation as a Teen Ambassador because, "I feel that I could be a living example of the consequences of teen pregnancy. If I can prevent even one girl from getting pregnant, I will feel a sense of accomplishment."http://sev.prnewswire.com/health-care-hospitals/20090505/NY1111605052009-1.html