Nikki Haley is the second US governor of Indian heritage (File Photo)
South Carolina Governor. Nikki Haley, the 44-year-old daughter of Indian immigrants, would bring limited international experience to one of the US government's most important international assignments: UN ambassador.
Haley is the first woman and first minority chosen by President-elect Donald Trump for his Cabinet. The Senate must confirm the nomination, which Trump announced in a statement Wednesday.
The second-term governor was a Trump critic during the White House campaign, endorsing Florida Sen. Marco Rubio ahead of South Carolina's first-in-the-South primary.
Haley, the second US governor of Indian heritage, is the first South Carolina governor who is not a white man.
She has had little exposure on the world stage, and almost all of that has been in pursuit of luring jobs to South Carolina.