 When François Fillon began running for the French presidency in 2017, she emerged in the public eye to campaign for her husband.Penelope Fillon rose to prominence in January 2017, when French newspaper "Le Canard enchaîné" published an article in which she was accused of being paid €500,000 in public money over eight years as her husband's "assistant" while performing no or very little work.The public outcry that followed led the controversy to be labelled "Penelopegate" by some, despite her husband denying any wrongdoing.