Kemi Badenoch was elected Conservative Party leader in a fiercely contested election where she defeated rival Robert Jenrick by 12,418 votes.

She created history by becoming the first black woman to lead a major political outfit in the country.

She replaced former UK PM Rishi Sunak under whose leadership the party faced the worst possible defeat in the general polls.

Labour Party's Keir Starmer clinched the elections to become the new PM of the UK, ending Sunak's tenure as the country's leader.

Under Sunak's leadership, the party lost over 200 seats and settled for just 121 in the House of Commons.

After her victory, Badenoch wrote on X: "It is an honour and a privilege to have been elected to lead our great Conservative Party. A party that I love, that has given me so much."

"I’d also like to pay tribute to @RobertJenrick who fought a great campaign. I have no doubt he will have a key role to play in our party for many years to come," she said.

As per UK government website, she was the Secretary of State for the Department for Business and Trade between 7 February 2023 and 5 July 2024.

She was Secretary of State for International Trade and President of the Board of Trade between 6 September 2022 and 4 July 2024, and Minister for Women and Equalities for the Equality Hub between 25 October 2022 and 4 July 2024.

Previously she was Minister of State at the Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities between 16 September 2021 and 6 July 2022.

Born in London, she spent a significant portion of her childhood in Nigeria.