Padma Lakshmi
Padma Parvati Lakshmi, Padma Parvati Lakshmi Vaidyanathan
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Who is this?
Padma Parvati Lakshmi (Tamil pronunciation: [ˈpɐd̪maː ˈlɐkʂmi]; née Vaidynathan; born September 1, 1970) is an American television host, model, author, entrepreneur, and activist. She rose to prominence by hosting the Bravo cooking competition program Top Chef (2006–2023). Lakshmi is the creator, host, and executive producer of the docuseries Taste the Nation with Padma Lakshmi, which premiered in 2020 on Hulu. For her work with these two series, as an executive producer and as a host, she has received 16 Primetime Emmy Award nominations. Born in India, Lakshmi immigrated to the United States as a child. She became a model before embarking on a career on television. 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, the latter two appearing on The New York Times's best-seller list. Lakshmi has formed and produced sales for five different businesses. She co-founded the Endometriosis Foundation of America in 2009. She was appointed United Nations Development Programme Goodwill Ambassador in 2019. Lakshmi was listed among Time magazine's 100 most influential people in the world in 2023.
Career
- 1970Born
Trivia
- •Place of birth: Chennai
- •Citizenship: United States, India
- •Known as: actor, television presenter, model, television actor
- •Spouse: Salman Rushdie
What happened recently
Padma Lakshmi Says These 3 Indian Restaurants Deserve a Spot on Your Bucket List - Food & Wine
Padma Lakshmi’s NYC Rooftop Garden Has One "Tacky" Detail We Can’t Stop Thinking About
Interview: Padma Lakshmi is Redefining Food Television with ‘America’s Culinary Cup’
Why Padma Lakshmi Wants ‘America’s Culinary Cup’ to Mark a New Wave of “High-End” Food TV
Day 2 of AIA26: Padma Lakshmi speaks, College of Fellows welcomes new members, and more - The American Institute of Architects: AIA
Padma Lakshmi talks about the power of connection at AIA26 - The American Institute of Architects: AIA
Padma Lakshmi reflects on past relationships and rumored romance with chef Melissa King
Padma Lakshmi's Net Worth Reaches $40 Million in 2026: How She Built Her Wealth
Padma Lakshmi Says She's 'Not in Competition' with 'Prior Work' on Top Chef After Creating America's Culinary Cup (Exclusive)
Opinion | Padma Lakshmi: The Decision That Would Create a Permanent American Underclass
Padma Lakshmi on Building Her Own Cooking Competition After Being ‘Burnt Out’ by ‘Top Chef’: ‘I Didn’t Want to Go Back to Just Being Talent’
Why Did Padma Lakshmi Leave 'Top Chef'? Reason for Her Exit and What She's Doing Now
Writer, Food Expert, and ‘Top Chef’ Host Padma Lakshmi to Visit Fairfield University, Dec. 18
Padma Lakshmi Is Not Done Building Her Legacy - Bon Appétit: Recipes, Cooking, Entertaining, Restaurants | Bon Appétit
Padma Lakshmi Reflects on 'Slut Shaming' She Experienced While Pregnant With Her Daughter in 2010
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