
Padma Lakshmi
Emmy-nominated television host, producer, and food connoisseur
Padma Lakshmi, an Emmy-nominated television host, producer, and food connoisseur, has made significant strides in the culinary world. She is the mastermind behind the James Beard Award-winning Hulu series, Taste the Nation with Padma Lakshmi, which has also garnered a Critics Choice Real TV Award for Best Culinary Series and a 2021 Gotham Award for Breakthrough Series. Her prowess extends to Bravo’s Top Chef, a two-time Emmy-winning series now in its 21st season, where she served as both host and executive producer for 19 seasons. Padma’s influence in the industry was recognized in 2023 when TIME named her one of the most influential people.
As a New York Times bestselling author, Padma has penned a children’s book, Tomatoes for Neela, and edited The Best American Travel Writing. Her literary contributions also include two cookbooks, Easy Exotic and Tangy, Tart, Hot & Sweet, a bestselling memoir, Love, Loss and What We Ate, and The Encyclopedia of Spices & Herbs.
Beyond her culinary and literary accomplishments, Padma is a passionate advocate for women’s and immigrants’ rights, serving as an ACLU Artist Ambassador. She co-founded the Endometriosis Foundation of America (EndoFound) and was appointed a Goodwill Ambassador for the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP). Her advocacy work earned her the Advocate of the Year Award from the United Nations Correspondents Association (UNCA).
Padma’s academic pursuits have led her to a visiting scholar position at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT). She has been honored with the Karma Award from Variety magazine and the 2016 EIHS Ellis Island Medal of Honor, further cementing her status as a trailblazer and influencer.