She grew up in rural Swabia (East Württemberg) as the daughter of a kindergarten teacher (mother) and a skilled labour worker (father). After graduating high school (German Abitur) in Schwäbisch Gmünd, she studied German studies and Scandinavian studies at the University of Göttingen. After graduating (Magister Artium), she worked at her university as the equal opportunity commissioner. In 2004/05, she spent a year at Harvard University on a scholarship of the Nieman Foundation for Journalism.