Staff writer for The Federalist from April 2015 until her death.
She received her high school diploma from the Western Christian High School Private Satellite Program and graduated from Patrick Henry College in 2015 with a degree in journalism.
On December 27, 2018, Payton, who was battling the flu and meningitis, was found unconscious by her friend Morgan Murtaugh. She fell into coma and died the next day at the age of 26.
Before joining the Federalist, she worked at the conservative site Watchdog.org.