Communications Major

Being an 'it girl' for tech may help Yahoo change its dated image, but it's not without some controversy.

Yahoo CEO Marissa Mayer posed for the September issue of Vogue, and guess what? This photo spread isn't causing the backlash we might expect.

Why?

Mayer’s shot is feminine and sensual while still being very corporate, says branding expert Karen Leland. Mayer holds an iPad with her face on it, says Leland, stressing she has a body and a brain. “To me she’s trying to create an integrated message that yes I’m a CEO but I’m also a feminine woman and that makes me powerful.”

Marissa Mayer, who was Google's first female engineer and its 20th employee when she joined that company in 1999,  was named CEO of Yahoo earlier this week. Who exactly is this woman Silicon Valley is raving about. Here are 11 facts about Mayer you might find interesting.