Padma Lakshmi Bio, Age, Parents, Height, Husband, Daughter, Education, Model, TV Shows, Books, Top Chef, Net worth

Padma Lakshmi Biography

Padma Lakshmi is an Indian-American television host, author, model, and activist. She is widely known as the host of Bravo TV’s reality series Top Chef. Lakshmi has been hosting Bravo’s Top Chef from season 2 in 2006. She is also 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.

Padma Lakshmi Age | Birthday

Lakshmi is 51 years old (age in March 2022). She was born on September 1, 1970. The Top Chef Houston host, Lakshmi celebrates her birthday on the 1st of September each passing year.

Padma Lakshmi Parents

Lakshmi, who is a model and television host was born in Chennai, India to her parents; her father and her mother Vijaya Lakshmi, and her father Vaidyanathan Lakshmi. She was born in a Tamil Brahim family. Her mother Vijaya is a retired oncology nurse. Padma’s parents divorced when she was two years old. Her mother remarried her stepfather.

Moreover, Lakshmi, her family immigrated to the United States when she was four years old. She was raised in New York City before moving to La Puente, California with her mother and stepfather.

Padma Lakshmi
Padma Lakshmi

Padma Lakshmi Height

Lakshmi stands at a height measurement of 5 feet and 9 inches. She is an Indian-American model and television host.

Padma Lakshmi Husband

Lakshmi was married to novelist Salman Rushdie.  The two married in April 2004, after living together for five years. Lakshmi and Rushdie filed for divorce in July 2007 and have since been divorced.

Moreover, after divorcing Salman, Lakshmi dated millionaire Theodore J. Forstmann from 2009 until his death in 2011.  

Padma Lakshmi Daughter

Lakshmi has a daughter named Krishna (born in 2010). She had her daughter with businessman Adam Dell. 

Padma Lakshmi Education

Lakshmi went to William Workman High School in City of Industry, California, from where she graduated in 1988. Upon high school graduation, Lakshmi attended Clark University, in Worcester, Massachusetts. The model also graduated with a degree in theater arts and American literature in 1992.

Padma Lakshmi Career

Lakshmi is an author, model, and television host. She has been the host of Bravo T V’s reality series Top Chef from its second season in 2006. She started modeling at the age of 21. Lakshmi has authored a number of books and appeared in a number of television shows.

Padma Lakshmi Model

Lakshmi started modeling at the age of 21 years.  She was studying in Madrid, Spain when she was discovered by a modeling agent. She has modeled in Paris, Milan, and New York.  Lakshmi modeled for top designers including Emanuel Ungaro, Giorgio Armani, Gianni Versace, Ralph Lauren, and Alberta Ferretti. She has also appeared in ad campaigns for Roberto Cavalli and Versus. 

Additionally, Lakshmi has appeared on the covers of RedbookVogue India, FHMCosmopolitanL’Officiel IndiaAsian WomanElle, AvenueIndustry MagazineMarie Claire (India Edition)Harper’s BazaarTown & Country, and Newsweek. Besides, she has done shoots for photographers Mario Testino and Helmut Newton.

Padma Lakshmi Television shows

Lakshmi has appeared in a number of television shows. Some of the notable TV shows she has appeared in as a host include:

  • Top Chef
  • Taste the Nation with Padma Lakshmi
  • Planet Food
  • Melting Pot: Padma’s Passport

Padma Lakshmi Books

Lakshmi has authored six books:

  • Easy Exotic (cookbook)
  • Tangy, Tart, Hot & Sweet (cookbook)
  • The Encyclopedia of Spices & Herbs: An Essential Guide to the Flavors of the World
  • Love, Loss, and What We Ate (memoir)
  • Tomatoes for Neela (children’s book)
  •  she guest-edited The Best American Travel Writing 2021

Awards

Padma has won several awards for her work. She won:

  • The Gotham Award for Breakthrough Series and a Critic’s Choice Award for Best Culinary Show-in Taste the Nation with Padma Lakshmi
  •  Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Reality-Competition Program- in Top Chef season 6

Padma Lakshmi Top Chef | Top Chef Houston

Lakshmi is the host of Bravo TV’s reality series Top Chef. She started hosting Top Chef from season 2 in 2006. Season 19 of Top Chef is coming to Houston and it premieres on March 3, 2022. During season 19 of Top Chef, 15 “chefs will put their expert take on iconic regional dishes, while also being immersed in the ethnic diversity that has come to define Houston’s culinary identity.”

Top Chef  season 19 Contestants

Chefs competing in season 19 of Top Chef in Houston are:

  • Leia Gaccione
  • Stephanie Miller
  • Sam Kang
  • Jae Jung
  • Monique Feybesse
  • Jo Chan
  • Jackson Kalb
  • Nick Wallace
  • Sarah Welch
  • Buddha Lo
  • Ashleigh Shanti
  • Evelyn Garcia
  • Robert Hernandez
  • Damarr Brown
  • Luke Kolpin

Padma Lakshmi Net worth

Television host, model, and author Lakshmi has an estimated net worth of $40 million (as of 2022). She has been the host of Top Chef since 2006. She also worked as a model from the age of 21 and she has so far authored six books. According to celebrity net worth, she earns $50,000 per episode as the host of Top Chef.