Lanx
<Prior Amod>
she looks 40ish? so that means she was around 20 when civilzation fell, not a lot of knowledge for not graduated college girl, so yea it'd have to be family connections.They need to give her a golden goose type of knowledge or ability. Say, she worked at a nuclear plant and has the door codes and the knowledge on how to keep the power on. Or, she has family connections to another faction that is supplying their food on a weekly basis. Or, she is married to the muscle that is keeping the rabble in order.
Dumb examples, but examples nonetheless. If she is just some salty, fat frumpster that took power because "she got attitude", its going to be a major writing-fail and a bad casting decision.