Padma Lakshmi | |
|---|---|
 Lakshmi in 2023 | |
| Born | Padma Parvati Lakshmi Vaidynathan (1970-09-01)September 1, 1970 (age 54) Madras, India |
| Citizenship | US (naturalized) |
| Education | Clark University (BA) |
| Occupations |
|
| Years active | 1992–present |
| Spouse | |
| Children | 1 |
| Modeling information | |
| Height | 5 ft 9 in (1.75 m)[1] |
| Hair color | Black[1] |
| Eye color | Brown[1] |
| Website | padmalakshmi |
Padma Parvati Lakshmi (Tamil pronunciation:[ˈpɐd̪maːˈlɐkʂmi];néeVaidynathan;[2] born September 1, 1970[3][4]) is an American television personality, model, and author. She hosted the cooking competition programTop Chef onBravo continuously from 2006 to 2023. She is the creator, host, and executive producer of thedocuseriesTaste the Nation with Padma Lakshmi, which premiered in June 2020 onHulu. The series covers the food and culture of immigrant and indigenous communities across America. For her work with these two series, as an executive producer and as a host, she has received 16Primetime Emmy nominations.
Born in India, Lakshmi immigrated to the United States as a child. She became a model before embarking on a career in television. She has written five books: two cookbooks,Easy Exotic andTangy, 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 byJuana Martinez-Neal, the latter two appearing onThe New York Times best-seller list. Lakshmi has formed and produced sales for five different businesses. In 2023, she was listed amongTime's100 most influential people in the world,[5] was a co-founder of theEndometriosis Foundation of America, and is aUnited Nations Development Programme Goodwill Ambassador.
Lakshmi was born Padma Parvati Lakshmi Vaidynathan on September 1, 1970,[4] in Madras (nowChennai), India.[6] Her mother, Vijaya Lakshmi,[2] is a retiredoncology nurse.[3] Lakshmi's parents divorced when she was two years old.[2]
Lakshmi immigrated to the United States at the age of four and lived in New York City before moving toLa Puente, California, with her mother and stepfather.[7] She has stated that, as a teenager, she wasbullied due to her Indian heritage, which caused her to struggle to overcome "internalized self-loathing."[8]
At the age of 14, Lakshmi was hospitalized for three weeks and eventually diagnosed withStevens–Johnson syndrome, a rare illness caused by hypersensitivity to an infection or a potentially fatal reaction to certain kinds of medications.[9] Two days after her discharge from the hospital, she was injured in a car accident inMalibu, California, which left her with a fractured right hip and a shattered right upper arm.[10] The arm injury required surgery, from which she retained a seven-inch scar between her elbow and shoulder.[9]
Lakshmi graduated fromWilliam Workman High School inCity of Industry, California, in 1988.[7][11] In 1992, she graduated fromClark University, earning aBachelor’s Degree in Theatre Arts and American Literature.[12][13]
In a 2018 essay forThe New York Times, Lakshmi revealed that, at the age of 16, she was raped by her then boyfriend, which she did not report. Lakshmi stated that her decision to keep silent about the rape resulted from her stepfather's relative assaulting her when she was seven years old. After she told her mother and stepfather about his assault, they sent her to live with her grandparents for a year. Lakshmi wrote, "The lesson was: If you speak up, you will be cast out." She said, "I am speaking now because I want us all to fight so that our daughters never know this fear and shame and our sons know that girls' bodies do not exist for their pleasure and that abuse has grave consequences."[14] When she became anaturalized US citizen,[15] Lakshmi officially changed her name to simply Padma Parvati Lakshmi to honor her mother.[2]
In effect, Lakshmi began her modeling career at age 21, when a modeling agent discovered Lakshmi while she was studying in Madrid.[9] She has said, "I was the first Indian model to have a career in Paris, Milan, and New York. I'm the first one to admit that I was a novelty."[16] Lakshmi was able to pay off her college loans by working as a model and actress.[citation needed][17]
She has modeled for designers includingEmanuel Ungaro,Giorgio Armani,Gianni Versace,Ralph Lauren, andAlberta Ferretti and appeared in ad campaigns forRoberto Cavalli andVersus.[18] She was a favorite model of the photographerHelmut Newton, whose photographs of her often highlighted the large scar on her right arm.[19][20]
Lakshmi has appeared on the covers ofRedbook,Vogue India,FHM,Cosmopolitan,L'Officiel India,Asian Woman,Elle,Avenue,Industry Magazine,Marie Claire (India Edition),Harper's Bazaar,Town & Country, andNewsweek.[21] She also posed nude for the May 2009 issue ofAllure.[22]
She has done shoots for photographersMario Testino and Helmut Newton.[9][23]
In 2023, at age 53, she appeared in theSports Illustrated Swimsuit Issue.[24]
Lakshmi served as a host ofDomenica In, an Italian program, in 1997.[25] She hosted theFood Network seriesPadma's Passport,[23] which was part of the larger seriesMelting Pot in 2001, where she cooked recipes from around the world. She also hosted two one-hour specials inSouth India andSpain for the Britishculinary tourism showPlanet Food, broadcast on the Food Network in the U.S. and internationally on theDiscovery Channels.[26] Lakshmi was also an official contributor for season 19 ofThe View from 2015 to 2016.[27]
Lakshmi was a host and judge on the television showTop Chef. She also serves as an executive producer of the show. Lakshmi was nominated for the Primetime Emmy Award forOutstanding Host for a Reality or Reality-Competition Program in2009 and in2020 through2022 forTop Chef. In 2020, Lakshmi won threeCritic's Choice Awards forTop Chef.[28] In 2023 she departed from the show following thetwentieth season.[29]
Lakshmi is also the creator, host, and executive producer ofTaste the Nation with Padma Lakshmi, which premiered onHulu on June 18, 2020,[30] and received theGotham Award for Breakthrough Series[31] and Critic's Choice Awards for Best Culinary Show in 2021 and 2022.[13][32]Taste the Nation received 100% onRotten Tomatoes.[33] In 2021, Hulu released a 4-episode special,Taste the Nation: Holiday Edition. In June 2022, Lakshmi received her firstJames Beard Foundation Award forTaste the Nation: Holiday Edition.[34]
Her first film roles were in the Italian pirate moviesThe Son of Sandokan andCaraibi (Pirates: Blood Brothers). She had a comical supporting part as the lip-synching disco singer Sylk in the 2001 American movieGlitter, starringMariah Carey. In 2002, Lakshmi made a guest appearance as alien princess Kaitaama in "Precious Cargo," the 37th episode of the science fiction TV seriesStar Trek: Enterprise. She portrayed Madhuvanthi in the TV movieSharpe's Challenge (aired 2006).[35] In 2006, she appeared in ABC's Biblical TV seriesThe Ten Commandments as Princess Bithia. In 2009, Lakshmi starred in the video for theEels song "That Look You Give That Guy."[36]
She starred in the 2003Bollywood filmBoom, alongsideKatrina Kaif andMadhu Sapre, as one of three supermodels accused of stealing diamonds. She played the role of Geeta inPaul Mayeda Berges's 2005 filmThe Mistress of Spices. Lakshmi also made a guest appearance on the NBC series30 Rock in 2009 and appeared onWhose Line Is It Anyway? in 2014.[citation needed]
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Lakshmi's first cookbook,Easy Exotic, a compilation of international recipes and short essays released in 1999, was awarded the Best First Book at the 1999 Gourmand World Cookbook Awards inVersailles. Her second cookbook,Tangy, Tart, Hot and Sweet, was released on October 2, 2007,[37] and was reissued in March 2021.[38] Her first memoir,Love, Loss and What We Ate, was released on International's Women's Day, March 8, 2016, and was aThe New York Times best-seller.[24] Also in 2016, Lakshmi's third culinary book, an encyclopedia and reference guide,The Encyclopedia of Spices and Herbs: An Essential Guide to the Flavors of the World, was released on October 4.[39] Her first children's bookTomatoes for Neela, released on August 31, 2021, and illustrated byJuana Martinez-Neal, debuted fourth onThe New York Times best-seller list.
Lakshmi also guest editedThe Best American Travel Writing 2021, a collection of essays from renowned travel writers.
Lakshmi wrote a syndicated column inThe New York Times[40] and has written articles on style for the American edition ofVogue, at editorAnna Wintour's request. She also wrote a column on style forHarper's Bazaar (UK and US editions), following a commission from editorGlenda Bailey.
Lakshmi created "The Padma Collection" of fine jewelry that was sold atBergdorf Goodman,Neiman Marcus, andNordstrom. Under the same trade name, she designed a home décor line that was sold at allBloomingdale’s stores. Also, Lakshmi created "Padma’s Easy Exotic", a conglomeration of gastronomic items that included home goods, teas, organic foods, and spice blends, and worked withMAC Cosmetics to create a collection of a small, curated, selections of makeup products for worldwide distribution named "MAC Padma" that soon initially sold out in the United States and India.[13] She launched a lingerie collaboration withBare Necessities in June 2024 called "Padma X Bare Necessities".[41][42]
In April 2004, after living together for five years, Lakshmi and novelistSalman Rushdie married. Rushdie stated that Lakshmi asked for a divorce in January 2007,[43] and in July 2007, the couple filed it.[44][45] She also dated billionaireTheodore J. Forstmann.[46][47]
On February 22, 2010, Lakshmi gave birth to her daughter with businessmanAdam Dell.[48][49]
Lakshmi speaks five languages: Tamil, Hindi, English, Spanish, and Italian.[50]
At age 36, Lakshmi was diagnosed withendometriosis,[51] which she has had since early adolescence.
In 2016, Lakshmi was awarded theEllis Island Medal of Honor from theNational Ethnic Coalition of Organizations (NECO) and, in 2018, earned the Karma Award fromVariety.[24][13]
In 2022, Lakshmi was honored by theCarnegie Corporation of New York'sGreat Immigrant Award.[52][53]
In 2024, Lakshmi was a visiting scholar at theMassachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), and was bestowed the ICON Award fromBoston University's School of Hospitality Administration.[24][13]
Lakshmi is a co-founder of theEndometriosis Foundation of America, anonprofit organization focused on increasing awareness, education, research, and legislative advocacy against the disease.[54][55] The foundation was instrumental in the 2009 opening of theMIT Center for Gynepathology Research,[56] where Lakshmi gave the keynote address.[57]
Lakshmi is known as an advocate for immigrant rights, the independent restaurant industry,[58] and women's rights.[59]
Lakshmi is theAmerican Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) ambassador for immigration and women's rights. She has also been a critic of skin-lightening creams marketed to people of color.[60] She has also spoken about thecolorism she has experienced while living in India and the United States.[61][62]
Lakshmi was appointedUnited Nations Development Programme Goodwill Ambassador on March 7, 2019. "My main mission as UNDP Goodwill Ambassador is to shine a spotlight on the fact that inequality can affect people in rich and poor countries alike. Many nations have greatly reduced poverty, but inequality has proved more stubborn," said Lakshmi. "Inequality is further compounded by gender, age, ethnicity, and race. It especially affects women, minorities, and others who face unimaginable discrimination in the societies in which they live."[63] In December 2021, she received the Advocate of the Year Award by theUnited Nations Correspondents Association (UNCA).[64] In October 2022, Lakshmi was honored at the 20th edition of the ACLU's Sing Out For Freedom benefit concert along withPatti Smith andShaina Taub.[65]
Lakshmi was instrumental in the passage of a bill associated with teen health in theNew York State Senate.[13]
| Year | Title | Notes | Role |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1995 | Unzipped | Documentary (US) | Herself |
| 1997 | Domenica In | TV Program (Italian) | Host |
| 1998 | Il Figlio di Sandokan | TV series (Italian, Drama) | |
| 1999 | Caraibi –Pirates: Blood Brothers | TV series (Italian, Adventure) | Malinche |
| 2000 | Linda e il brigadiere ep: "Il fratello di Linda" | TV series (Italian, Comedy) | Indian Lady |
| Planet Food | Documentary (Cooking) | Host | |
| 2001 | Glitter | Film (US) | Sylk |
| Melting Pot: Padma's Passport | TV Program (US, Cooking) | Host | |
| 2002 | Star Trek: Enterprise | TV series (US) | Kaitaama Episode: "Precious Cargo" |
| 2003 | Boom | Film (Indian) | Shiela Bardez |
| 2005 | The Mistress of Spices | Film (Indian) | Geeta |
| 2006 | The Ten Commandments | TV series (US) | Princess Bithia |
| Sharpe | TV series (UK) | Madhuvanthi Episode: "Sharpe's Challenge" | |
| 2006–2023 | Top Chef | TV Program (US, Reality/Cooking) | Host / Judge (Season 2–20) |
| 2009 | 30 Rock | TV series (US) | Herself Episode: "The Problem Solvers" |
| 2014 | Whose Line Is It Anyway? | TV series (US) | Herself |
| 2014 | Royal Pains | TV series (US) | Herself Episode: "A Bridge Not Quite Far Enough" |
| 2015–2016 | The View | TV Program (US, Panel) | Herself, contributor |
| 2017 | Drop the Mic | TV Program (US, Reality) | Herself, contestant Episode 10 (season 10) |
| 2018 | RuPaul's Drag Race | TV Program (US, Reality) | Herself, guest judge Episode 2 (season 10) |
| 2019 | Butterbean's Café | TV series (US) | Chef Belle Legume (Voice) Episode: "The Towering Tower of Crepes!" |
| 2020–present | Taste the Nation with Padma Lakshmi | TV series (US, Cooking) | Herself, host and executive producer |
| 2022 | Getting Curious With Jonathan Van Ness | TV series (US, Fun Educative) | Herself, guest and expert |
| 2023 | Big Mouth | TV series (US) | Priya (Voice) |
By this he means the end of his marriage. In January of 2007, Lakshmi asked for a divorce.
They filed for divorce in 2007.
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