Padma Parvati Lakshmi is an Indian-born American author, activist, actress, model, philanthropist, and television host.
41 Facts About Padma Lakshmi
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Padma Lakshmi has hosted the cooking competition program Top Chef on Bravo continuously since season 2.
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Padma Lakshmi is the creator, host, and executive producer of the critically acclaimed docuseries Taste the Nation with Padma Lakshmi, which premiered in June 2020 on Hulu and explores the food and culture of immigrant and indigenous communities across America.
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Padma Parvati Lakshmi was born in Madras, India, into a Tamil Brahmin family.
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Padma Lakshmi's parents divorced when she was two years old.
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Padma Lakshmi graduated from William Workman High School in City of Industry, California, in 1988.
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In effect, Padma Lakshmi began her modeling career at age 21, when a modeling agent discovered Padma Lakshmi while she studied abroad in Madrid.
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Padma Lakshmi has modeled for designers such as Emanuel Ungaro, Giorgio Armani, Gianni Versace, Ralph Lauren, and Alberta Ferretti and appeared in ad campaigns for Roberto Cavalli and Versus.
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Padma Lakshmi was a favorite model of the photographer Helmut Newton, whose photographs of her often highlighted the large scar on her right arm.
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Padma Lakshmi posed nude for the May 2009 issue of Allure.
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Padma Lakshmi has done shoots for photographers Mario Testino and Helmut Newton.
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Padma Lakshmi is the current host and one of the judges on the television show Top Chef.
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Padma Lakshmi serves as an executive producer of the show.
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Padma Lakshmi was nominated for the Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Host for a Reality or Reality-Competition Program in 2009 and in 2020 through 2022 for Top Chef.
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In 2020, Padma Lakshmi won three Critic's Choice Awards for Top Chef.
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Lakshmi is the creator, host, and executive producer of Taste the Nation with Padma Lakshmi, which premiered on Hulu on June 18,2020, and received the Gotham Award for Breakthrough Series and a Critic's Choice Award for Best Culinary Show.
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In June 2022, Padma Lakshmi received her first James Beard Foundation Award for Taste the Nation: Holiday Edition.
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Previously, Padma Lakshmi served as a host of Domenica In, Italy's top-rated television show, in 1997.
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Padma Lakshmi hosted the Food Network series Padma's Passport, which was part of the larger series Melting Pot in 2001, where she cooked recipes from around the world.
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Padma Lakshmi hosted two one-hour specials in South India and Spain for the British culinary tourism show Planet Food, broadcast on the Food Network in the US and internationally on the Discovery Channels.
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Padma Lakshmi was an official contributor for season 19 of The View from 2015 to 2016.
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Padma Lakshmi had a comical supporting part as the lip-synching disco singer Sylk in the 2001 American movie Glitter, starring Mariah Carey.
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In 2002, Padma Lakshmi made a guest appearance as alien princess Kaitaama in "Precious Cargo," the 37th episode of the science fiction TV series Star Trek: Enterprise.
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Padma Lakshmi portrayed Madhuvanthi in the TV movie Sharpe's Challenge.
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Padma Lakshmi starred in the 2003 Bollywood film Boom, alongside Katrina Kaif and Madhu Sapre, as one of three supermodels accused of stealing diamonds.
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Padma Lakshmi played the role of Geeta in Paul Mayeda Berges's 2005 film The Mistress of Spices.
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Padma Lakshmi guest edited The Best American Travel Writing 2021, a collection of essays from renowned travel writers.
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Padma Lakshmi wrote a syndicated column in The New York Times and has written articles on style for the American edition of Vogue, at editor Anna Wintour's request.
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Padma Lakshmi wrote a column on style for Harper's Bazaar, following a commission from editor Glenda Bailey.
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Rushdie stated that Padma Lakshmi had asked for a divorce in January 2007, and later that year, in July, the couple filed it.
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On February 22,2010, Padma Lakshmi gave birth to her daughter with businessman Adam Dell.
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At the age of 36, Padma Lakshmi was diagnosed with endometriosis, which she has had since early adolescence.
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Padma Lakshmi is a co-founder of the Endometriosis Foundation of America, a nonprofit organization focused on increasing awareness, education, research, and legislative advocacy against the disease.
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The foundation was instrumental in the 2009 opening of the MIT Center for Gynepathology Research, where Padma Lakshmi gave the keynote address.
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Padma Lakshmi is a global ambassador for Keep a Child Alive, and since 2007 has traveled to sites in India on their behalf.
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Padma Lakshmi is known as an advocate for immigrant rights, the independent restaurant industry and women's rights.
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Padma Lakshmi is the American Civil Liberties Union ambassador for immigration and women's rights.
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Padma Lakshmi has been a critic of skin-lightening creams that are marketed to people of color.
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Padma Lakshmi has spoken about the colorism she has experienced while living in India and the United States.
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Padma Lakshmi was appointed United Nations Development Programme Goodwill Ambassador on March 7,2019.
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In October 2022, Padma Lakshmi was honored at the 20th edition of the ACLU's Sing Out For Freedom benefit concert along with Patti Smith and Shaina Taub.