Padma Lakshmi
Padma Parvati Lakshmi (Tamil pronunciation: [ˈpɐd̪maː ˈlɐkʂmi]; born September 1, 1970) is an Indian-American author, model, activist, and television host. Born in India, Lakshmi immigrated to the United States as a child and was raised in California. She became a model before embarking on a career in television. Lakshmi hosted the cooking competition program Top Chef on Bravo continuously from 2006 to 2023. For her work, she received a Primetime Emmy nomination for Outstanding Reality Host in 2009 and 2020 through 2022. She is also the creator, host, and executive producer of the docuseries Taste the Nation with Padma Lakshmi, which premiered in June 2020 on Hulu. The series covers the food and culture of immigrant and indigenous communities across America.
Padma Lakshmi | |
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Lakshmi in 2006 | |
| Born | Padma Parvati Lakshmi September 1, 1970 Madras, Tamil Nadu, India |
| Nationality | American |
| Education | Clark University (BA) |
| Occupation(s) | Model, author, actress, television host |
| Years active | 1992–present |
| Spouse | |
| Children | 1 |
| Modeling information | |
| Height | 5 ft 9 in (1.75 m) |
| Hair color | Black |
| Eye color | Brown |
She has written five books: two cookbooks, Easy Exotic and Tangy, Tart, Hot & Sweet; an encyclopedia, The Encyclopedia of Spices & Herbs: An Essential Guide to the Flavors of the World; a memoir, Love, Loss, and What We Ate; and a children's book, Tomatoes for Neela illustrated by Juana Martinez-Neal.
In 2023, she was listed among Time's 100 most influential people in the world.