And I think the reverse, as long hair after a while makes women look dated, haggard and like they are trying too hard. Different strokes and all that. As to the subject of our OP, I think she can be a very attractive woman and in those early pictures, downright hot. But like others have said, the ravages of time catch up to all if us. It’s just a matter of when.
ETA: Palin is indeed hot. It’s her personality that makes a closed hand more appealing.
Don’t forget that she and Bill the Cat had a thing. Devouring Nicaragua was a passion. 
MOL was overstating, but if you’re denying that women are heavily rewarded or dismissed (usually dismissed) based on their looks, you’re either disingeneous, inattentive, or have never read comments on the Internet accompanying articles posted by women with a headshot.
People discuss the looks of people of both genders, but it’s much more rare to see a woman dismiss a man’s professional capabilities based on finding him “fugly.”
I know it wasn’t your question.