Padma Lakshmi: Difference between revisions

{{Short description|Indian American author, activist, model, and actress (born 1970)}}

|image          = Padma Lakshmi.jpg

|caption        =Lakshmi in 2020

|partner        = [[Theodore J. Forstmann]] (2009–2011)

|nationality    = Indian

'''Padma Parvati Lakshmi''' ({{IPA-ta|'pəd̪mə 'ləkɕmi}}; born September 1, 1970)<ref name=tvg>{{cite web |title= Padma Lakshmi | url= http://www.tvguide.com/celebrities/padma-lakshmi/279465 | publisher=[[TV Guide]] | access-date= April 21, 2014}}</ref> is an [[Indian American]] author, activist, model, and television host. She has hosted the cooking competition program ''[[Top Chef]]'' on [[Bravo (American TV network)|Bravo]] continuously since [[Top Chef (season 2)|season 2]] (2006). For her work, she received a [[61st Primetime Emmy Awards|Primetime Emmy nomination]] for [[Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Host for a Reality or Reality-Competition Program|Outstanding Reality Host]] in 2009 and 2020. She is also the creator, host, and executive producer of the critically-acclaimed <ref name=":0">{{Cite web |last=TOLLEY |first=JOHN |date=June 13, 2022 |title=Padma Lakshmi's Taste The Nation Just Received An Impressive Honor |url=https://www.tastingtable.com/894091/padma-lakshmis-taste-the-nation-just-received-an-impressive-honor/ |access-date=June 16, 2022 |website=Tasting Table}}</ref> [[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. In 2022, ''Taste the Nation: Holiday Edition'' won a [[James Beard Foundation Award]] in the Visual Media - Long Form category.

She has published six books: two cookbooks, ''Easy Exotic'' and ''Tangy, 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''; a children's book, ''Tomatoes for Neela'' illustrated by [[Juana Martinez-Neal]], and guest edited ''The Best American Travel Writing 2021.''

Padma Parvati Lakshmi was born in [[Madras]] (now [[Chennai]]), India, into a [[Tamil people|Tamil]] [[Brahmin]] family.<ref>{{Cite news|last=Cox|first=Interview by Ana Marie|date=2016-03-17|title=Padma Lakshmi Won't Date Men Who Aren't Feminists|language=en-US|work=The New York Times|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2016/03/20/magazine/padma-lakshmi-wont-date-men-who-arent-feminists.html|access-date=2021-07-07|issn=0362-4331}}</ref><ref name=TimeIndia>{{cite news |url=http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2002-01-25/news-interviews/27111927_1_padma-lakshmi-lakshmi-films-india-contest |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121104084341/http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2002-01-25/news-interviews/27111927_1_padma-lakshmi-lakshmi-films-india-contest |url-status=dead |archive-date=November 4, 2012 |title=It's my life, says Padma Lakshmi|work= [[The Times of India]]|access-date=January 3, 2011|author=Gauri Sinh|date= January 25, 2002}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://indiatoday.intoday.in/site/Story/117590/Cinema/padma-a-secret-in-rushdie-memoir.html |title=Padma a secret in Rushdie memoir|work= [[India Today]]|access-date=January 3, 2011|date= October 24, 2010|author= Neha Tara Mehta}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.telegraphindia.com/1060430/asp/look/story_6153204.asp |title=The Telegraph – Calcutta : Look |work=[[The Telegraph (Kolkata)|The Telegraph]] |access-date=January 3, 2011 |date=April 30, 2006 |author=Amit Roy |location=Calcutta, India |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121004025553/http://www.telegraphindia.com/1060430/asp/look/story_6153204.asp |archive-date=October 4, 2012 |url-status=dead }}</ref><ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.thestar.com/article/286731 |title=Padma Lakshmi a global brand in the making|work=[[Toronto Star]]|access-date=January 1, 2011|date= December 22, 2007|author= Jennifer Bain}}</ref><ref>[https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/voraciously/wp/2020/06/15/with-a-new-series-of-her-own-padma-lakshmi-is-at-the-top-of-her-game/ With a new series of her own, Padma Lakshmi is at the top of her game : Washington Post]</ref> Her mother Vijaya is a retired [[oncology]] nurse. Her parents divorced when she was two years old.

Lakshmi [[immigration to the United States|immigrated]] to the United States at age four and was raised in [[New York City]] before moving to [[La Puente, California]] with her mother and stepfather.<ref name=":3">{{Cite podcast|url=https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/padma-lakshmi/id1501446978?i=1000478144681|title=Padma Lakshmi|website=Asian Enough|publisher=The Los Angeles Times|last=Yamato|first=Jen|last2=Shyong|first2=Frank}}</ref> As a teenager growing up in [[Los Angeles]], she stated that she was bullied and endured racial aggression, which caused her to struggle to overcome "internalized self-loathing."<ref>{{Cite news|last=Hauser|first=Christine|date=March 9, 2016|title=Padma Lakshmi Opens Up About Rushdie in Memoir|newspaper=The New York Times|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2016/03/10/arts/padma-lakshmi-opens-up-about-rushdie-in-memoir.html|access-date=April 29, 2016|issn=0362-4331}}</ref>

In 1984, when Lakshmi was 14 years old, she was hospitalized for three weeks, and eventually diagnosed with [[Stevens–Johnson syndrome]], a rare illness caused by hypersensitivity to an infection, or a potentially fatal reaction to certain kinds of medications.<ref name=":4" />

Two days after her discharge from the hospital, she was injured in a car accident in [[Malibu, California]], which left her with a fractured right hip and a shattered right upper arm.<ref>{{cite magazine|date=2007|title=Letter From New York|magazine=Vanity Fair|volume=Issues 566–568}}</ref> The arm injury required surgery, which left her with a seven-inch scar between her elbow and shoulder.<ref name=":4">{{Cite news|last=Cartner-Morley|first=Jess|date=April 8, 2006|title=Th unlikely wife of Salman Rushdie Padma Lakshmi talks to Jess Cartner-Morley|language=en-GB|work=The Guardian|url=https://www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/2006/apr/08/fashion.salmanrushdie|access-date=June 17, 2020|issn=0261-3077}}</ref>

In a 2018 essay for ''[[The New York Times]]'', Lakshmi revealed that she had been raped at the age of 16 by her older boyfriend, which she did not report. She stated that her decision to keep silent about the rape was informed by an earlier sexual assault she experienced at the age of seven, by her stepfather's relative. After telling her mother and stepfather about the assault, she was sent to India to live with her grandparents for a year. She wrote that, "The lesson was: If you speak up, you will be cast out." She went on to say, "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."<ref name="NYT20180925">{{cite news|author=Padma Lakshmi|date=September 25, 2018|title=I was raped at 16 and I kept silent.|work=The New York Times|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2018/09/25/opinion/padma-lakshmi-sexual-assault-rape.html|access-date=September 25, 2018}}</ref>

Lakshmi attended [[Clark University]] in [[Worcester, Massachusetts]], graduating with a degree in [[theater arts]] and American literature in 1992. She began her modeling career while an exchange student in [[Madrid, Spain]].

Lakshmi's modeling career began at age 21, when she was discovered by a modeling agent while studying abroad in Madrid.<ref name=":4" /> 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."<ref name=autogenerated1>[https://web.archive.org/web/20060516160152/http://www.lakshmifilms.com/padma_lakshmi_press43.htm Padma Lakshmi  — ''Evening Standard Magazine''] LakshmiFilms.com</ref> Lakshmi was able to pay off her college loans by working as a model and actress.

She 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 [[Versace|Versus]].<ref>[http://www.bravotv.com/Top_Chef_2/bios/padma_lakshmi.shtml Padma Lakshmi Bio] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20061110004030/http://www.bravotv.com/Top_Chef_2/bios/padma_lakshmi.shtml |date=November 10, 2006 }} Bravotv.com</ref> She was a favorite model of the photographer [[Helmut Newton]], whose photographs of her often highlighted the large scar on her right arm.<ref>{{cite web|last=D'Souza Wolfe|first=Nandini|title=At Home with Padma|url=http://nypress.com/at-home-with-padma/|publisher=New York Press|access-date=February 9, 2014}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Clark |first=Molly |date=2021-12-29 |title=The Unexpected Way Padma Lakshmi Got Into Modeling |url=https://www.mashed.com/719383/the-unexpected-way-padma-lakshmi-got-into-modeling/ |access-date=2022-06-16 |website=Mashed.com |language=en-US}}</ref>

She has done shoots for photographers [[Mario Testino]] and Helmut Newton.<ref name=":4" /><ref name=":5">{{cite web|author=Unny|first=Divya|date=July 5, 2007|title=Padma Lakshmi..the woman who broke Rushdie's heart|url=https://www.dnaindia.com/entertainment/report-padma-lakshmithe-woman-who-broke-rushdie-s-heart-1108450|access-date=January 1, 2011|website=DNAIndia}}</ref>

Lakshmi is the current host and one of the judges on the television show ''[[Top Chef]].'' The show has been nominated for a [[Primetime Emmy Award]] for [[Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Competition Program|Outstanding Reality-Competition Program]] from [[Top Chef (season 2)|season 2]] up until [[Top Chef (season 16)|season 16]], with [[Top Chef (season 6)|season 6]] winning the award in [[62nd Primetime Emmy Awards|2010]].

She also serves as an executive producer of the show. Lakshmi was nominated in the Primetime Emmy Award for [[Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Host for a Reality or Competition Program|Outstanding Host for a Reality or Reality-Competition Program]] in [[61st Primetime Emmy Awards|2009]] and in [[2020 Emmy Awards|2020]] for ''Top Chef''. In 2020, Lakshmi won three Critic's Choice Awards for ''Top Chef''. <ref>{{Cite web |last=June 13 |first=Antonia DeBianchi |last2=Pm |first2=2022 02:36 |title=Padma Lakshmi Won 3 Critics Choice Real TV Awards — and Brought Her Mom to the Show |url=https://people.com/food/padma-lakshmi-won-3-critics-choice-real-tv-awards-and-brought-her-mom-to-the-show/ |access-date=2022-06-16 |website=PEOPLE.com |language=en}}</ref>

Lakshmi is also the creator, host, and executive producer of ''[[Taste the Nation with Padma Lakshmi]],'' which premiered on [[Hulu]] on June 18, 2020<ref>{{Cite web|title=Taste the Nation|url=https://press.hulu.com/shows/taste-the-nation|access-date=2021-01-18|website=Hulu Press|language=en}}</ref> and received the [[Gotham Awards|Gotham Award]] for Breakthrough Series <ref>{{Cite web|last=Davis|first=Clayton|date=2021-01-12|title=‘Nomadland’ Wins Best Feature at Gotham Awards, Riz Ahmed and Nicole Beharie Upset in Acting Categories|url=https://variety.com/2021/film/awards/gotham-awards-2020-winners-1234882987/|access-date=2022-02-10|website=Variety|language=en-US}}</ref> and a [[Critic's Choice Award]] for Best Culinary Show.<ref>{{Citation|title=BEST CULINARY SHOW - 3rd Annual Critics Choice REAL TV Awards|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3XyGpj5qdfc|language=en|access-date=2022-02-10}}</ref> ''Taste the Nation'' received 100% on [[Rotten Tomatoes]].<ref>{{Citation|title=Taste the Nation With Padma Lakshmi|url=https://www.rottentomatoes.com/tv/taste_the_nation_with_padma_lakshmi|language=en|access-date=2022-02-10}}</ref> In 2021, Hulu released a 4-episode special, ''Taste the Nation: Holiday Edition.'' In ''Taste the Nation,'' Lakshmi collectively expands and redefines the meaning of American food.<ref>{{Cite news|last=Rao|first=Tejal|date=2020-06-18|title=Padma Lakshmi Finds a New Voice, Amplifying the Voices of Others|language=en-US|work=The New York Times|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2020/06/18/dining/padma-lakshmi-taste-the-nation.html|access-date=2020-06-19|issn=0362-4331}}</ref> In June 2022, Lakshmi received her first [[James Beard Foundation Award: 2020s|James Beard Foundation Award]] for ''Taste the Nation: Holiday Edition''. <ref name=":0" />

Previously, Lakshmi first served as a host of ''[[Domenica In]]'', Italy's top-rated television show, in 1997.<ref name="NYTVows">{{cite news|url=https://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=9E03E5D9153AF936A15757C0A9629C8B63|title=Weddings/Celebrations – Vows – Padma Lakshmi and Salman Rushdie|author=Stephen Henderson|date=April 25, 2004|work=[[New York Times]]|access-date=January 1, 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150528051221/http://www.nytimes.com/2004/04/25/style/weddings-celebrations-vows-padma-lakshmi-and-salman-rushdie.html|archive-date=May 28, 2015|url-status=live}}</ref> She hosted the [[Food Network]] series ''Padma's Passport'',<ref name=":5" /> which was part of the larger series ''Melting Pot'' in 2001, where she cooked recipes from around the world. She also 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 U.S. and internationally on the [[Discovery Channel]]s.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/food/tv_and_radio/planetfood_index.shtml|title=Food – TV and radio|publisher=BBC|access-date=April 4, 2010}}</ref>

Lakshmi was also an official contributor for season 19 of ''[[The View (U.S. TV series)|The View]]'' from 2015 to 2016.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://abc7news.com/956426/|title=Season 19 of 'The View' kicks off with new cast, old favorite|date=September 8, 2015|website=ABC7 San Francisco}}</ref> For celebrity contestant, she competed and won against music producer [[Randy Jackson]] in an episode of [[TBS (U.S. TV channel)|TBS]]'s ''[[Drop the Mic]]'' that aired on December 26, 2017.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.bravotv.com/the-daily-dish/padma-lakshmi-randy-jackson-drop-the-mic-video|title=Padma Lakshmi Faced off with Randy Jackson and It Got Really Savage|last=Vena|first=Jocelyn|date=December 27, 2017|website=Bravo}}</ref> She has appeared on ''See Us Coming Together, "''a special that celebrates the rich diversity of Asian and Pacific Islander communities as part of Sesame Workshop’s ongoing racial justice initiative".<ref>{{Cite web|title=See Us Coming Together: A Sesame Street Special {{!}} Sesame Workshop|url=https://www.sesameworkshop.org/what-we-do/racial-justice/see-us-coming-together|access-date=2022-02-10|website=www.sesameworkshop.org|language=en-EN}}</ref>

Her first film roles were in the Italian pirate movies ''[[The Son of Sandokan]]'' and ''Caraibi (Pirates: Blood Brothers)''. She had a comical supporting part as the lip-synching disco singer Sylk in the 2001 American movie ''[[Glitter (film)|Glitter]],'' starring [[Mariah Carey]]. In 2002, Lakshmi made a guest appearance as alien princess Kaitaama in "[[Precious Cargo (Star Trek: Enterprise)|Precious Cargo]]," the 37th episode of the science fiction TV series ''[[Star Trek: Enterprise]]''. She portrayed Madhuvanthi in the TV movie ''[[Sharpe's Challenge]]'' (aired 2006).<ref>{{Cite magazine|date=March 2004|title=Escape Views|url=http://www.lakshmifilms.com/padma_lakshmi_press16.htm|magazine=Harpers & Queen|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20041128061716/http://www.lakshmifilms.com/padma_lakshmi_press16.htm|archive-date=November 28, 2004}}</ref> In 2006, she appeared in ABC's Biblical TV series ''[[The Ten Commandments (TV series)|The Ten Commandments]]'' as Princess Bithia. In 2009, Lakshmi starred in the video for the [[Eels (band)|Eels]] song "That Look You Give That Guy".<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.spinnermusic.co.uk/2009/09/01/eels-that-look-you-give-that-guy-video-premiere/|title=Eels, 'That Look You Give That Guy' – Video Premiere – Spinner UK|date=September 1, 2009|publisher=Spinnermusic.co.uk|access-date=April 4, 2010}}</ref>

She starred in the 2003 [[Bollywood|Bollywood film]] ''[[Boom (2003 film)|Boom]]'', alongside [[Katrina Kaif]] and [[Madhu Sapre]], as one of three supermodels who are accused of stealing diamonds. She played the role of Geeta in [[Paul Mayeda Berges]]'s 2005 film ''[[The Mistress of Spices (film)|The Mistress of Spices]]''. Lakshmi also made a guest appearance on the NBC series ''[[30 Rock]]'' in 2009 and appeared on ''[[Whose Line Is It Anyway? (U.S. TV series)|Whose Line Is It Anyway?]]'' in 2014.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Padma Lakshmi |url=http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0482290/ |access-date=2022-06-16 |website=IMDb}}</ref>

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 in [[Versailles (city)|Versailles]]. Her second cookbook, ''Tangy, Tart, Hot and Sweet'', was released on October 2, 2007<ref>''Amazon.com'' [https://www.amazon.com/Tangy-Tart-Hot-Sweet-Recipes/dp/1602860068 Tangy Tart Hot and Sweet: A World of Recipes for Every Day (Hardcover)]</ref> and was reissued in March 2021 <ref>{{Cite web|title=Top Chef’s Padma Lakshmi Serves It Up Tangy, Tart, Hot, and Sweet|url=https://cherrybombe.com/radio-cherry-bombe/padmalakshmi-tangytart|access-date=2022-02-11|website=Cherry Bombe|language=en-US}}</ref> and was named one of Apple's Best Books of 2021.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Apple's Best Books of 2021|url=https://books.apple.com/WebObjects/MZStore.woa/wa/viewFeature?id=1592391573&mt=11&ls=1&campaign_id=AB_ORS_PART&ign-itsct=books_collection_bestof2021&ign-itscg=80048|website=Apple Books}}</ref> Her first memoir, ''Love, Loss and What We Ate'', was released on International's Women's Day, March 8, 2016. Lakshmi's third book, an encyclopedia and reference guide, ''The Encyclopedia of Spices and Herbs'' on October 4, 2016.<ref>{{Cite web|title=The Encyclopedia of Spices and Herbs|url=https://www.harpercollins.com/products/the-encyclopedia-of-spices-and-herbs-padma-lakshmi|access-date=2022-02-06|website=HarperCollins|language=en}}</ref> Her first children's book ''Tomatoes for Neela,'' released on August 31, 2021 and illustrated by [[Juana Martinez-Neal]], debuted fourth on [[The New York Times Best Seller list|The New York Times best-seller list]].

In April 2004, after living together for five years, Lakshmi married novelist [[Salman Rushdie]]. In July 2007, the couple filed for divorce.<ref>{{cite web | url = http://www.eonline.com/news/article/index.jsp?uuid=ed1a664d-9538-487b-9f0b-9bc4b4e5330c | date= July 3, 2007 | publisher = [[E!]] | title= Rushdie, Top Chef Wife Skewer Marriage | archive-date= September 30, 2007 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20070930190150/http://www.eonline.com/news/article/index.jsp?uuid=ed1a664d-9538-487b-9f0b-9bc4b4e5330c}}</ref> She was in a relationship with billionaire [[Theodore J. Forstmann]] from 2009 until his death in 2011.<ref>{{Cite magazine|title=The Unwritable Memoirs of Teddy Forstmann: How the Billionaire Treated His Ghostwriters|url=https://www.vanityfair.com/news/2013/02/memoirs-teddy-forstmann-billionaire-ghostwriters|access-date=2021-07-01|magazine=Vanity Fair|date=January 11, 2013|language=en-US}}</ref><ref>{{Cite magazine|title=Teddy Forstmann Wanted Padma Lakshmi's Baby to Be Raised as His Own Daughter|url=https://www.vanityfair.com/news/2013/01/teddy-forstmann-padma-lakshmi-baby-battle|access-date=2021-07-01|magazine=Vanity Fair|date=January 3, 2013|language=en-US}}</ref> During a break in her relationship with Forstmann, she had a daughter, Krishna (b. 2010), with businessman [[Adam Dell]].<ref>[https://people.com/food/padma-lakshmi-50-birthday-celebrates-with-partner-adam-dell/ Padma Lakshmi Is 50! Top Chef Host Feels 'Truly Blessed' as She Celebrates with Partner Adam Dell] ''People'', Claudia Harmata, September 01, 2020</ref>

Lakshmi speaks five languages: [[English language|English]], Spanish, [[Italian language|Italian]], [[Tamil language|Tamil]] and [[Hindi]].<ref>{{cite web|last=Hattersley|first=Giles|date=April 2, 2006|title=My husband? Oh, he's a writer dude|url=http://www.thesundaytimes.co.uk/sto/news/article196237.ece|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://archive.today/20130505071154/http://www.thesundaytimes.co.uk/sto/news/article196237.ece|archive-date=May 5, 2013|access-date=April 15, 2011|work=[[Sunday Times]]|df=mdy-all}}</ref>

At the age of 36, Lakshmi was diagnosed with [[endometriosis]],<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Gfixp0jUjKg |title=Padma Lakshmi shares her struggle with endometriosis |work=Redbook Magazine |via=[[YouTube]] |date=October 17, 2011 |access-date=February 12, 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201102201459/https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Gfixp0jUjKg |archive-date=November 2, 2020 |url-status=live }}</ref> which she has had since early adolescence.

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.<ref>{{cite web|title = ABC Nightline: Padma Lakshmi: Where Foodie Meets Fashion|url = http://www.hulu.com/watch/153360|website = Hulu|access-date = February 12, 2016}}</ref><ref>{{cite journal | author = Goldstein, Lisa A. | date = March 12, 2015 | title = Padma Lakshmi's Personal Cause: The Endometriosis Foundation of America | website = womenshealth.com | format = online news story | url = http://womenshealth.com/padma-lakshmis-personal-cause-the-endometriosis-foundation-of-america/ | access-date = March 18, 2016 | quote = The whole of Goldstein's article is reproduced by ''www.endofound.org'' (see [http://www.endofound.org/padma-lakshmi-s-personal-cause-the-endometriosis-foundation-of-america]), without acknowledgment of the author, through a URL appearing at the base of the derivative page. }}</ref> The foundation was instrumental in the opening of the [[Massachusetts Institute of Technology|MIT]] [https://cgr.mit.edu/ Center for Gynepathology Research], where Lakshmi gave the keynote address.<ref>{{Citation|title = TV host of 'Top Chef' Padma Lakshmi speaks at MIT|url = https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WKnDjTUnKEA|date = December 8, 2009|access-date = February 12, 2016|last = cambchron}}</ref> She is a global ambassador for [[Keep a Child Alive]], and since 2007 has traveled to sites in India on their behalf.

Lakshmi is known as an outspoken advocate for immigrant rights and the independent restaurant industry<ref>{{Cite web|date=2020-06-18|title=Padma Lakshmi's political "Taste the Nation" food series could not have debuted at a better time|url=https://www.salon.com/2020/06/18/taste-the-nation-review-padma-lakshmi-hulu/|access-date=2020-06-19|website=Salon|language=en}}</ref> and is a strong advocate of women's rights.<ref>{{Citation|title=Lakshmi: Problem goes beyond gang rape|date=January 9, 2013|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GTe4rNf9mck|publisher=CNN|access-date=February 12, 2016|via=YouTube}}</ref>

Lakshmi is the [[American Civil Liberties Union]] ambassador for immigration and women's rights. She has been an outspoken critic of skin-lightening creams that are marketed to people with darker skin, particularly in non-white majority nations.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Furdyk |first=Brent |date=2020-06-09 |title=Padma Lakshmi Slams Skin-Lightening Cream Targeting People Of Colour |url=https://etcanada.com/news/654853/padma-lakshmi-slams-skin-lightening-cream-targeting-people-of-colour/ |access-date=2020-07-12 |website=ET Canada}}</ref> She has also spoken about the [[colorism]] she has experienced while living in India and the United States.<ref>{{Cite news|last1=Arora|first1=Priya|last2=Maheshwari|first2=Sapna|date=2020-06-25|title=Criticism of Skin Lighteners Brings Retreat by Unilever and Johnson & Johnson|language=en-US|work=The New York Times|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2020/06/25/business/unilever-jj-skin-care-lightening.html|access-date=2020-07-01|issn=0362-4331}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|last=Rao|first=Tejal|date=2020-06-18|title=Padma Lakshmi Finds a New Voice, Amplifying the Voices of Others|language=en-US|work=The New York Times|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2020/06/18/dining/padma-lakshmi-taste-the-nation.html|access-date=2020-07-01|issn=0362-4331}}</ref>

Lakshmi was appointed [[United 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."<ref>{{Cite web|title=Padma Lakshmi|url=https://www.undp.org/content/undp/en/home/goodwill-ambassadors/padma-lakshmi.html|access-date=2020-11-04|website=UNDP|language=en}}</ref> In December 2021, she received the Advocate of the Year Award by the [[United Nations Correspondents Association]] (UNCA).<ref>{{Cite web|title=UNDP Goodwill Ambassador Padma Lakshmi Wins 2021 Advocate of the Year Award by the United Nations Correspondents Association (UNCA) {{!}} United Nations Development Programme|url=https://www.undp.org/press-releases/undp-goodwill-ambassador-padma-lakshmi-wins-2021-advocate-year-award-united-nations|access-date=2022-02-10|website=UNDP|language=en}}</ref>

! class="unsortable" | Role

| 1997 || ''Domenica In'' || TV Program (Italian) ||'''Host'''

| ''Planet Food'' || Documentary (Cooking) ||'''Host'''

| ''Melting Pot: Padma's Passport'' || TV Program (US, Cooking) ||'''Host'''

|''[[Getting Curious With Jonathan Van Ness]]''

* {{IMDb name|0482290}}