Ardern, born in Hamilton, N.Z., hit the ground running after winning the election. At 40 and still the youngest world leader, she calls herself a feminist. She is married to Clarke Gayford, a television executive. In 2018, she gave birth to a daughter, Neve Te Aroha. The only other world leader to give birth in office is Pakistan’s Benazir Bhutto in 1990.

The youthful Ardern has been refreshingly assertive in reforming New Zealand’s gun laws. In March, she closed the country’s borders to foreign visitors because of the coronavirus. Soon after, she issued a nationwide lockdown that required all nonessential workers to stay home. Six months later, she and her Cabinet took a voluntary 20% pay cut due to the virus.

Ardern has executed this progressive agenda with a coalition of female lawmakers determined to make a difference. For much of its history, New Zealand’s population has consisted of one-third Maori and two-thirds European — although today’s Maori population stands at a lower 17%. Yet Ardern’s respect for the Polynesian race only grows. She tapped Nanaia Mahuta, an experienced Maori female legislator, to be the country’s minister of foreign affairs.

Raised as a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, Ardern stepped away from the faith due to the church’s policies regarding gays

Ardern is not New Zealand’s first female leader; Helen Clark served in that capacity in the 1980s. Ardern’s newly elected Labor Party majority is made up almost exclusively of women. The 120-member legislative body includes 11 lesbian, gay, bisexual or transgender members, 12 Pacific Island descendants and 16 Maoris. It is the island nation’s most diverse Parliament ever.

In a recent television interview, the anchor of Australia’s “60 Minutes” peppered her with tough questions. She responded with polished, witty answers. She candidly acknowledged to being unusually popular, even claiming that New Zealanders often call her by her first name. With tongue in cheek, she insisted that not every citizen auditioned for the popular “Lord of the Rings,” which was filmed in New Zealand.

U.S. leadership was diminished the past four years by Donald Trump’s misogynistic style. By contrast, Ardern’s cheerful turn in office is a pleasure to watch. She will undoubtedly welcome the experienced President-elect Joe Biden to the current assembly of world leaders. And now, the United States also has a charismatic woman as vice president-elect, Kamala Harris.

The more often countries decide to elect smart women to lead them, the more likely we are to see gentle, kind and effective leaders jump into the fray. Such is the assertion of former U.S. President Barack Obama.

Jacinda Ardern fits that model with extraordinary class and savvy.