History of Padma Lakshmi in Timeline
Padma Lakshmi is a prominent American television personality, model, and author recognized primarily for her role as the host of Bravo's Top Chef from 2006 to 2023. She also created, hosts, and executive produces the Hulu docuseries Taste the Nation with Padma Lakshmi, focusing on the food and culture of immigrant and indigenous communities in the United States. Lakshmi's contributions to these shows, both as a host and executive producer, have garnered her 16 Primetime Emmy nominations.
September 1, 1970: Padma Lakshmi Born
On September 1, 1970, Padma Parvati Lakshmi was born as Padma Vaidynathan.
1988: Graduation from High School
In 1988, Padma Lakshmi graduated from William Workman High School in City of Industry, California.
1992: Graduation from Clark University
In 1992, Padma Lakshmi graduated from Clark University, earning a Bachelor’s Degree in Theatre Arts and American Literature.
1997: Host of Domenica In
In 1997, Padma Lakshmi served as a host of Domenica In, an Italian program.
1999: Gourmand World Cookbook Award
In 1999, Padma Lakshmi's first cookbook, Easy Exotic, was awarded the Best First Book at the Gourmand World Cookbook Awards in Versailles.
2001: Host of Padma's Passport
In 2001, Padma Lakshmi hosted the Food Network series Padma's Passport.
2001: Appearance in Glitter
In 2001, Padma Lakshmi played a comical supporting role as Sylk in the movie Glitter, starring Mariah Carey.
2002: Star Trek: Enterprise Guest Appearance
In 2002, Padma Lakshmi made a guest appearance as alien princess Kaitaama in Star Trek: Enterprise.
2003: Bollywood film Boom
In 2003, Padma Lakshmi starred in the Bollywood film Boom, alongside Katrina Kaif and Madhu Sapre.
April 2004: Marriage to Salman Rushdie
In April 2004, Padma Lakshmi married novelist Salman Rushdie after living together for five years.
2005: The Mistress of Spices
In 2005, Padma Lakshmi played the role of Geeta in Paul Mayeda Berges's film The Mistress of Spices.
2006: Hosting "Top Chef"
In 2006, Padma Lakshmi began hosting the cooking competition program "Top Chef" on Bravo.
2006: Sharpe's Challenge and The Ten Commandments
In 2006, Padma Lakshmi portrayed Madhuvanthi in the TV movie Sharpe's Challenge and appeared in ABC's Biblical TV series The Ten Commandments as Princess Bithia.
January 2007: Request for Divorce
In January 2007, Padma Lakshmi asked Salman Rushdie for a divorce.
July 2007: Filing for Divorce
In July 2007, Padma Lakshmi and Salman Rushdie filed for divorce.
October 2, 2007: Release of Tangy, Tart, Hot and Sweet
On October 2, 2007, Padma Lakshmi released her second cookbook, Tangy, Tart, Hot and Sweet.
May 2009: Nude Photoshoot for Allure
In May 2009, Padma Lakshmi posed nude for Allure magazine.
2009: Guest Appearance on 30 Rock
In 2009, Padma Lakshmi made a guest appearance on the NBC series 30 Rock.
2009: Starring in Eels Music Video
In 2009, Padma Lakshmi starred in the video for the Eels song "That Look You Give That Guy."
2009: Emmy Nomination for Top Chef
In 2009, Padma Lakshmi was nominated for the Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Host for a Reality or Reality-Competition Program for Top Chef.
2009: MIT Center for Gynepathology Research Opening
In 2009, Padma Lakshmi's Endometriosis Foundation was instrumental in the opening of the MIT Center for Gynepathology Research, where Lakshmi gave the keynote address.
February 22, 2010: Birth of Daughter
On February 22, 2010, Padma Lakshmi gave birth to her daughter with businessman Adam Dell.
2014: Appearance on Whose Line Is It Anyway?
In 2014, Padma Lakshmi appeared on Whose Line Is It Anyway?
2015: Contributor for The View
From 2015, Padma Lakshmi became an official contributor for season 19 of The View.
March 8, 2016: Release of Love, Loss and What We Ate
On March 8, 2016, Padma Lakshmi's memoir, Love, Loss and What We Ate, was released and became a The New York Times best-seller.
2016: Contributor for The View
In 2016, Padma Lakshmi was an official contributor for The View.
2016: Ellis Island Medal of Honor
In 2016, Padma Lakshmi was awarded the Ellis Island Medal of Honor from the National Ethnic Coalition of Organizations (NECO).
2018: Karma Award from Variety
In 2018, Padma Lakshmi earned the Karma Award from Variety.
2018: Essay on Sexual Assault
In 2018, Padma Lakshmi revealed in an essay for The New York Times that she was raped at the age of 16.
March 7, 2019: UNDP Goodwill Ambassador Appointment
On March 7, 2019, Padma Lakshmi was appointed United Nations Development Programme Goodwill Ambassador.
June 2020: Premiere of "Taste the Nation with Padma Lakshmi"
In June 2020, "Taste the Nation with Padma Lakshmi" premiered on Hulu. The series explores the food and culture of immigrant and indigenous communities in America.
June 18, 2020: Premiere of Taste the Nation
On June 18, 2020, Taste the Nation with Padma Lakshmi premiered on Hulu.
2020: Critic's Choice Awards & Emmy Nomination
In 2020, Padma Lakshmi won three Critic's Choice Awards for Top Chef and was nominated for the Primetime Emmy Award.
March 2021: Reissue of Tangy, Tart, Hot and Sweet
In March 2021, Padma Lakshmi's cookbook, Tangy, Tart, Hot and Sweet, was reissued.
August 31, 2021: Release of Tomatoes for Neela
On August 31, 2021, Padma Lakshmi's first children's book Tomatoes for Neela was released and debuted fourth on The New York Times best-seller list.
December 2021: Advocate of the Year Award
In December 2021, Padma Lakshmi received the Advocate of the Year Award by the United Nations Correspondents Association (UNCA).
2021: Guest Editor for The Best American Travel Writing
In 2021, Padma Lakshmi guest edited The Best American Travel Writing 2021.
2021: Awards for Taste the Nation
In 2021, Taste the Nation with Padma Lakshmi received the Gotham Award for Breakthrough Series and Critic's Choice Awards for Best Culinary Show.
June 2022: James Beard Foundation Award
In June 2022, Padma Lakshmi received her first James Beard Foundation Award for Taste the Nation: Holiday Edition.
October 2022: Honored at ACLU's Sing Out For Freedom
In October 2022, Padma Lakshmi was honored at the 20th edition of the ACLU's Sing Out For Freedom benefit concert.
2022: Great Immigrant Award
In 2022, Padma Lakshmi was honored by the Carnegie Corporation of New York's Great Immigrant Award.
2022: Emmy Nomination for Top Chef
In 2022, Padma Lakshmi was nominated for the Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Host for a Reality or Reality-Competition Program for Top Chef.
2023: Departure from "Top Chef"
In 2023, Padma Lakshmi departed from her role as host of "Top Chef" after the twentieth season.
2023: Time's 100 Most Influential People
In 2023, Padma Lakshmi was listed among Time's 100 most influential people in the world.
2023: Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Issue Appearance
In 2023, at the age of 53, Padma Lakshmi appeared in the Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Issue.
June 2024: Lingerie Collaboration with Bare Necessities
In June 2024, Padma Lakshmi launched a lingerie collaboration with Bare Necessities called "Padma X Bare Necessities".
2024: Visiting Scholar at MIT and ICON Award
In 2024, Padma Lakshmi was a visiting scholar at MIT and received the ICON Award from Boston University's School of Hospitality Administration.
