History of Padma Lakshmi in Timeline
Padma Lakshmi is a multifaceted American personality known for her work as a television host, model, author, businesswoman, and activist. She gained widespread recognition as the host of Bravo's "Top Chef" (2006-2023). Lakshmi further showcased her talents as the creator, host, and executive producer of the Hulu docuseries "Taste the Nation with Padma Lakshmi," starting in 2020. Her contributions to these series have earned her 16 Primetime Emmy Award nominations as both an executive producer and a host.
September 1, 1970: Padma Lakshmi Born
On September 1, 1970, Padma Parvati Lakshmi Vaidynathan, later known as Padma Lakshmi, was born in Madras, now Chennai, Tamil Nadu, India. She is now an American television host, model, author, businesswoman, and activist.
1971: Parents' Separation
In 1971, Vijaya Lakshmi and Padma Lakshmi's father separated, which was followed by a divorce the next year, after which Vijaya immigrated to the United States.
1988: Graduated from High School
In 1988, Padma Lakshmi graduated from William Workman High School in the City of Industry.
1992: Graduated from Clark University
In 1992, Padma Lakshmi graduated from Clark University, earning a bachelor's degree in Theatre Arts and American Literature.
1997: Hosted Domenica In
In 1997, Padma Lakshmi served as a host of Domenica In, an Italian program.
1999: Easy Exotic Cookbook Award
In 1999, Padma Lakshmi's first cookbook, Easy Exotic, was awarded the Best First Book at the 1999 Gourmand World Cookbook Awards in Versailles.
2001: Hosted Padma's Passport
In 2001, Padma Lakshmi hosted the Food Network series Padma's Passport, which was part of the larger series Melting Pot, where she cooked recipes from around the world.
2001: Acted in the movie Glitter
In 2001, Padma Lakshmi played a comical supporting part as the lip-synching disco singer Sylk in the American movie Glitter, starring Mariah Carey.
2002: Appeared in Star Trek: Enterprise
In 2002, Padma Lakshmi made an appearance as alien princess Kaitaama in "Precious Cargo," of the TV series Star Trek: Enterprise.
2003: Starred in the film Boom
In 2003, Padma Lakshmi starred in the Bollywood film Boom, alongside Katrina Kaif and Madhu Sapre, as one of three supermodels accused of stealing diamonds.
April 2004: Married Salman Rushdie
In April 2004, after living together for five years, Padma Lakshmi and novelist Salman Rushdie married.
2005: Played the role of Geeta in 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 Bravo cooking competition program Top Chef.
2006: Appeared in 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: Lakshmi requested a divorce
In January 2007, Salman Rushdie stated that Padma Lakshmi asked for a divorce.
July 2007: Filed for divorce
In July 2007, Padma Lakshmi and Salman Rushdie filed for divorce.
October 2, 2007: Tangy, Tart, Hot and Sweet Cookbook Release
On October 2, 2007, Padma Lakshmi's second cookbook, Tangy, Tart, Hot and Sweet, was released.
May 2009: Nude photo shoot
In May 2009, Padma Lakshmi posed nude for Allure magazine.
2009: Appeared in the video for the Eels song "That Look You Give That Guy"
In 2009, Padma Lakshmi appeared in the video for the Eels song "That Look You Give That Guy."
2009: Co-founded Endometriosis Foundation of America
In 2009, Padma Lakshmi co-founded the Endometriosis Foundation of America.
2009: Guest appearance on 30 Rock
In 2009, Padma Lakshmi made a guest appearance on the NBC series 30 Rock.
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: Opening of MIT Center for Gynepathology Research
In 2009, the Endometriosis Foundation of America, co-founded by Padma Lakshmi, 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: Appeared on Whose Line Is It Anyway?
In 2014, Padma Lakshmi appeared on Whose Line Is It Anyway?
2015: Contributor for The View
From 2015 to 2016, Padma Lakshmi was an official contributor for season 19 of The View.
March 8, 2016: Love, Loss and What We Ate Memoir Release
On March 8, 2016, Padma Lakshmi's first memoir, Love, Loss and What We Ate, was released and became a The New York Times best-seller.
October 4, 2016: The Encyclopedia of Spices and Herbs Release
On October 4, 2016, Padma Lakshmi's third culinary book, an encyclopedia and reference guide, The Encyclopedia of Spices and Herbs: An Essential Guide to the Flavors of the World, was released.
2016: Contributor for The View
From 2015 to 2016, Padma Lakshmi was an official contributor for season 19 of The View.
2016: Awarded 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: Earned Karma Award from Variety
In 2018, Padma Lakshmi earned the Karma Award from Variety.
2018: Lakshmi reveals rape in The New York Times essay
In a 2018 essay for The New York Times, Padma Lakshmi revealed that, at the age of 16, she was raped by her then boyfriend, which she did not report.
March 7, 2019: Appointed UNDP Goodwill Ambassador
On March 7, 2019, Padma Lakshmi was appointed United Nations Development Programme Goodwill Ambassador.
2019: Appointed UNDP Goodwill Ambassador
In 2019, Padma Lakshmi was appointed as a United Nations Development Programme Goodwill Ambassador.
June 18, 2020: Taste the Nation Premiered on Hulu
On June 18, 2020, Taste the Nation with Padma Lakshmi premiered on Hulu.
2020: Nomination for Primetime Emmy Award and won Critics Choice Awards
In 2020, Padma Lakshmi was nominated for the Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Host for a Reality or Reality-Competition Program for Top Chef. In 2020, Lakshmi won three Critic's Choice Awards for Top Chef.
2020: Taste the Nation Premieres
In 2020, Taste the Nation with Padma Lakshmi, a docuseries created, hosted, and executive produced by Padma Lakshmi, premiered on Hulu.
March 2021: Tangy, Tart, Hot and Sweet was reissued
In March 2021, Padma Lakshmi's second cookbook Tangy, Tart, Hot and Sweet, which originally released on October 2, 2007, was reissued.
August 31, 2021: Tomatoes for Neela Children's Book Release
On August 31, 2021, Padma Lakshmi's first children's book, Tomatoes for Neela, illustrated by Juana Martinez-Neal, was released and debuted fourth on The New York Times best-seller list.
December 2021: Received 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: Hulu released a 4-episode special, Taste the Nation: Holiday Edition
In 2021, Hulu released a 4-episode special, Taste the Nation: Holiday Edition.
2021: Guest Editor for The Best American Travel Writing 2021
In 2021, Padma Lakshmi guest edited The Best American Travel Writing 2021, a collection of essays from renowned travel writers.
June 2022: James Beard Foundation Award for Taste the Nation
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 benefit concert
In October 2022, Padma Lakshmi was honored at the 20th edition of the ACLU's Sing Out For Freedom benefit concert along with Patti Smith and Shaina Taub.
2022: Honored by the Carnegie Corporation of New York's Great Immigrant Award
In 2022, Padma Lakshmi was honored by the Carnegie Corporation of New York's Great Immigrant Award.
2022: Nomination for Primetime Emmy Award 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 the show Top Chef after hosting it since 2006, following the twentieth season.
2023: Named one of Time's 100 Most Influential People
In 2023, Padma Lakshmi was listed among Time magazine's 100 most influential people in the world.
2023: Appears in Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Issue
In 2023, at age 53, Padma Lakshmi appeared in the Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Issue.
June 2024: Launched a lingerie collaboration with Bare Necessities called "Padma X Bare Necessities"
In June 2024, Padma Lakshmi launched a lingerie collaboration with Bare Necessities called "Padma X Bare Necessities".
2024: Visiting Scholar and ICON Award
In 2024, Padma Lakshmi was a visiting scholar at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), and was bestowed the ICON Award from Boston University's School of Hospitality Administration.
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