Ruth Davidson stormed to victory in the elections overnight, taking the Edinburgh Central Seat from the hands of the SNP in the best ever Scottish Parliament result for the Tories.

The Scottish Conservative leader has promised to serve to the very best of her ability and "hold the SNP" to account as the leader of the main opposition to Nicola Sturgeon’s party.

Ms Davidson has long been tipped as a potential successor to David Cameron. A recent poll by Conservative Home found her to be more popular than any other Cabinet member in its league table, a result cemented by her success in the Holyrood election.

But in November, she insisted she had no designs on the Tory leadership. “Running a G7 country is not for faint hearted. I don't think I'm up to it, I don't want it and I don't want the impact that it would have on my life and all of the people that I love.”

Her ascent to the top

Ms Davidson has risen rapidly through the ranks of her party to lead it in Scotland. She was a ubiquitous presence during campaigns in 2015, with Ms Davidson appearing in virtually any photocall going, no matter how offbeat.

“When the nation is swooning over other leaders, you sometimes have to make more of an effort up here,” she told The Guardian. “So I may have been a slight photo tart when it came to the election.”

Elections 2016: Agony and ecstasy for candidates as results pour in Show all 10 1 /10 Elections 2016: Agony and ecstasy for candidates as results pour in Elections 2016: Agony and ecstasy for candidates as results pour in SNP leader Nicola Sturgeon waves after winning her seat Glasgow Southside in the Scottish Parliament elections at the Emirates Arena in Glasgow Getty Images Elections 2016: Agony and ecstasy for candidates as results pour in Leader of the Scottish National Party (SNP), Nicola Sturgeon embraces Margaret Ferrier (L), and Janet Doris (R) as her husband Bob Doris (unseen) speaks to the audience at the Emirates Arena in Glasgow EPA Elections 2016: Agony and ecstasy for candidates as results pour in SNP leader Nicola Sturgeon reacts as results come in at a Scottish Parliament election count at the Emirates Arena in Glasgow PA Elections 2016: Agony and ecstasy for candidates as results pour in Labour Party members celebrate after David Burton Sampson (centre) wins the Labour seat for St Martin's ward during the election count for Basildon at the Sports Village in Basildon, Essex PA Elections 2016: Agony and ecstasy for candidates as results pour in Scottish Labour leader Kezia Dugdale, who failed in her bid to win the Edinburgh Eastern constituency from the SNP, at the count at the Royal Highland Centre, Ingliston, Renfrewshire PA Elections 2016: Agony and ecstasy for candidates as results pour in Scottish Conservative leader Ruth Davidson is congratulated after she won the Edinburgh Central seat at the count at the Royal Highland Centre, Ingliston, Renfrewshire PA Elections 2016: Agony and ecstasy for candidates as results pour in Scottish Conservative leader Ruth Davidson speaks after winning the Edinburgh Central seat at the count at the Royal Highland Centre, Ingliston, Renfrewshire PA Elections 2016: Agony and ecstasy for candidates as results pour in Scottish Conservative leader Ruth Davidson arrives at a Scottish Parliament election count at the Royal Highland Centre, Ingliston, Renfrewshire PA Elections 2016: Agony and ecstasy for candidates as results pour in SNP supporters react as their party wins another seat at a counting centre in Glasgow Reuters Elections 2016: Agony and ecstasy for candidates as results pour in Vaughan Gething of Labour retains his seat for Cardiff South and Penarth during the National Assembly for Wales election count at the Sport Wales National Centre in Cardiff, Wales Getty Images

Background

Aged 37, she was the youngest ever party leader and has used her age in interviews to distance herself from the legacy set by Margaret Thatcher, who was in power while she was still a baby.

Ms Davidson's background differs greatly to those of the Etonians who overwhelmingly populate her party: she grew up in a working-class family, spending most of her adult life in Glasgow.

She worked as a BBC journalist and signaller in the Territorial Army (before becoming an Army Reservist) before going on to study at Glasgow University, eventually entering politics in 2009.

Sexuality

Like Ms Sturgeon and Mhairi Black, she is sharp, straight-talking, and interviews variously describe her as agreeable, convivial and funny. Like Ms Black and the Scottish Labour leader Kezia Dugdale, she is also openly gay and speaks publicly about her relationship with her partner, Jen Wilson. Her background, sexuality, and openness form part of her broad appeal and she has gone out of her way to present herself as the politician everyday people can relate to.

The self-described “tough old bird” has used her steely disposition and dedication to tackling abuse and homophobia to set herself apart from her peers.

“I do call out and will challenge or retweet or draw attention to it when people make homophobic remarks about me,” she once told the BBC, “because I've got a lot of young followers on Twitter, and I think they have to see that it is OK to say, 'That's not acceptable language. I do not have to accept this.'”

Beliefs

A practising Christian, she struggled with her sexuality for years before eventually deciding not to "live a lie".

“I thought I was destined for the big white wedding and the chap on my arm and all the rest of it, and then it wasn't to be,” she told BBC Radio Scotland’s Stark Talk. “I didn't come out until my mid twenties. I'd known for a few years before that.