Padma Lakshmi Indian-American television host, model, author, entrepreneur, and activist. She was born in India and then immigrated to the United States as a child. She started out as a model, discovered at 21 while studying in Madrid, before venturing into television. 

Her first role as a TV host was on Domenica In, an Italian program broadcast on Rai 1. She later hosted Food Network shows, Padma’s Passport and Planet Food. She gained international fame in 2006 when she joined Top Chef as the host and executive producer during its second season, a role she held for 17 years. 

In 2020, Lakshmi launched and hosted the critically acclaimed series Taste the Nation on Hulu, which explores the food culture of immigrant and indigenous communities across America. After leaving Top Chef in 2023, she partnered with CBS to develop and host America’s Culinary Cup, a high-stakes cooking competition that premiered in March 2026. 

Padma Lakshmi was married to author Salman Rushdie from 2004 to 2007. She has one daughter, Krishna, born in 2010. She is a known advocate for women’s rights, immigrant rights, and the independent restaurant industry. Additionally, she is the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) ambassador for immigration and women’s rights and the United Nations Development Programme Goodwill Ambassador.