Padma Lakshmi

Padma Lakshmi, already known internationally as an actress and award-winning writer, is widely recognized as host of the top-rated TV series "Top Chef" on Bravo. In 2006 Padma was nominated for a primetime Emmy Award as "Outstanding Host on a Reality-Competition" and in 2010 "Top Chef" won the Emmy Award for "Outstanding Reality-Competition Program."

Padma has penned two cookbooks: her award-winning debut "Easy Exotic" (winner of the International Versailles Prize for Best First Cookbook) and "Tangy, Tart, Hot & Sweet" which was a much larger endeavor filled with over 150 recipes from around the world and intriguing personal memoirs. Both books are available on Amazon.

On screen Padma has played herself on NBC’s "30 Rock" and performed as Princess Bithia in ABC's mini-series "The Ten Commandments" alongside Naveen Andrews (Lost), Omar Sharif and Dougray Scott. Padma also appeared in BBC America's "Sharpe's Challenge" opposite Sean Bean as the beautiful Indian courtesan Madhuvanthi who becomes a ruler defending her Rajasthani province from Sharpe and the British Empire. The two-part mini-series, directed by Tom Clegg, is based on Bernard Cornwell's best-selling novels.

On the big screen, she joined Aishwarya Rai and Dylan McDermott in Paul Mayeda Berges' film "Mistress of Spices."

Originally known as the first internationally successful Indian supermodel, Padma Lakshmi started modeling while an exchange student in Spain with Clark University where she received a B.A. in Theater Arts. She was discovered by a modeling agent while sitting in a café and since has appeared in numerous fashion editorials and walked the runway for the likes of Ralph Lauren, Emmanuel Ungaro and Alberta Ferretti and starred in campaigns for Versus and Roberto Cavalli.