Padma Lakshmi

By Elma B.

Padma Lakshmi is a mother, a model, an actress, a cookbook author and a television host. She is the modern day Indian princess. She became well known in the U.S. after she began hosting the reality TV show Top Chef in 2006. 

Padma Lakshmi esmadre,  modelo, actriz, autora de libros de cocina y de una serie de televisión. Ella es la princesa india moderna. Ella fue conocida en EE.UU. después que presentara el reality show Top Chef en 2006.

Padma Lakshmi with daughter Krishna Thea Lakshmi-Dell

In 1984, when Lakshmi was 14 years old, she was in a car accident in Malibu, California. The accident left a seven inch scar between her shoulder and her elbow on her right hand. Discussing the accident, Lakshmi said in an interview with Vogue in 2001 that "Being in a car crash was like an exhilarating hallucination, an unbelievable moment that oddly remains one of the most beautiful images in my memory." As a result of the accident, Lakshmi has a fractured right hip. Afterwards, Lakshmi led a successful modeling career by appearing on covers like Vogue India, Cosmopolitan, Marie Claire and Harper's Bazaar. 

Prior to earning a household name in the food industry via Top Chef, she wrote a cookbook Easy Exotic, which won her the "Best First Book" award at the 1999 Gourmand World Cookbook Awards. In 2010, Top Chef won the Emmy Award for Outstanding Reality-Competition Program. Also, in 2010 Lakshmi gave birth to Krishna, whose father is Adam Dell. For more on the Renaissance woman, see the photos below. What do you think, team Padma? ;)

Padma Lakshmi as the Top Chef host

Padma Lakshmi with Adam Dell

Krishna Thea Lakshmi-Dell

Padma Lakshmi with ex-husband Salman Rushdie