.But popularity and power are only the beginning for the Nobel laureate and her hundreds of new MPs, many of whom have no experience of public office.
Here are a few of their main challenges: Suu Kyi's party can form a government, but who will lead it?
The Nobel laureate is barred from the presidency by a clause in the junta-drafted constitution because her children are British.
Many believe it was scripted specifically to block her path to power.
She has said she will rule "above" a puppet president, who will replace outgoing President Thein Sein in late March.
If she does, that position is not covered in the constitution and could rile the powerful military who have ceded some powers but retain 25 percent of seats in parliament - and with them an effective veto on major charter change.
Given the presidency issue, Suu Kyi may need to sweeten up an army which held her prisoner for some 15 years.
Observers say good relations between Suu Kyi and the military will be crucial to get anything done.
That is because the military's political powers are not limited to parliament.
The 2008 constitution that was scripted under ex-dictator Than Shwe hands the army chief control over three key ministries: home affairs, defence and border affairs.
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