Sanae Takaichi becomes Japan's first female PM

Sanae Takaichi has won an historic vote to become Japan's first female prime minister ever, BBC reports. 

The 64-year-old conservative is known as Japan's 'Iron Lady' - she's an admirer of former British Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher.

This is her third attempt at becoming the Japanese leader, and she's the fourth PM in five years from her scandal-hit party, LDP.

She belongs to the LDP's hardline wing, and is a protege of the late former PM Shinzo Abe.

Now that she's elected, her many challenges will include contending with a sluggish economy, navigating a rocky US-Japan relationship and uniting the ruling party which has been rocked by scandals and internal conflicts.