Humza Yousaf has been voted in as the sixth First Minister of Scotland today.
He becomes the youngest person to hold the top job in Scottish politics as well as the first from a minority ethnic background.
Support from SNP and Green MSPs was enough for Yousaf to formally succeed Nicola Sturgeon as the new leader of the country.
The outgoing First Minister had earlier submitted her resignation in writing to the King.
Yousaf, 37, faced three rival nominations for the top job from the leaders of Scottish Labour, Scottish Conservatives and Scottish Lib Dems.
But each of those runners fell at the first hurdle, allowing Yousaf to be declared the winner by Presiding Officer Alison Johnstone.
In his own nomination speech to MSPs, Yousaf referred to the fact that he and Scottish Labour leader Anas Sarwar are of Pakistani Muslim heritage.
The new SNP leader said: “It’s also quite a signal of the progress that we have made as a country, as well as a parliament, that two of the candidates putting themselves forward are from minority ethnic communities.
“That the majority of MSPs in this Parliament belong to parties led by two people of colour, two people of the Muslim faith.
“The fact that no-one bats an eyelid at this tells me we are making progress in our nation for which we should all be very, very proud.”
He said his Government would “listen carefully and pay respect” to the views of all MSPs while standing up to any attempts to “undermine devolution”.
Sarwar pledged to continue to work alongside the new First Minister in their fight against racism.
The Scottish Labour leader said: "It is something our grandparents would never, ever have imagined when they arrived in this country and made Scotland their home."
He added: "I know that he has faced personal abuse and racism, as have so many others who don’t have the platform that he and I are fortunate to have.
"I am proud of the work we have done alongside others to stand against hatred and bigotry, and my promise is that I will continue to stand alongside you in that fight for all of us.”
Lorna Slater, the Scottish Greens co-leader, said: "Today represents a historic milestone. Our youngest ever First Minister. Our first Muslim leader. And the first minority ethnic leader of a devolved Government in the UK.
"It also represents the continuation of our historic agreement, which brought the Scottish Greens into Government for the first time in the UK.
"Humza Yousaf has been a great supporter of the Bute House Agreement. That support has been consistent and strong throughout the last six weeks, and for that Humza Yousaf has my – and my party’s – gratitude."
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