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Padma Lakshmi is an Emmy-nominated producer, television host, food expert, and a New York Times best-selling author. In 2023, she was named one of Time Magazine's 100 Most Influential People.

She is the creator, host, and executive producer of the critically acclaimed Hulu series Taste the Nation, which premiered its second season in May 2023 and recently received its first Emmy nomination for Outstanding Hosted Nonfiction Series or Special.

Lakshmi served as host and executive producer of Bravo’s two-time Emmy-winning series Top Chef for 19 seasons. Top Chef has been nominated for 47 Emmys, including her five-time nomination as Outstanding Host For A Reality Or Competition Program.

Lakshmi is an American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) Artist Ambassador for immigrants' rights and women's rights. Lakshmi was also appointed a Goodwill Ambassador for the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP). In December 2021, she received the Advocate of the Year Award by the United Nations Correspondents Association (UNCA).

Born in India, she grew up in the United States, graduating from Clark University with a bachelor’s degree in Theatre Arts and American Literature. Known as India’s first supermodel, she began her career as a fashion model and actress working in Europe and the United States.

Lakshmi is a prolific author, writing the best-selling Easy Exotic, which won the Best First Book award at the Gourmand World Cookbook Awards. Lakshmi followed this with the publication of her second cookbook, Tangy, Tart, Hot & Sweet, and her memoir The New York Times best-selling Love, Loss, and What We Ate. She later published The Encyclopedia of Spices & Herbs. In August of 2021, she published her first children’s book Tomatoes for Neela which was also a New York Times best-seller.

In addition to her food writing, Lakshmi has also contributed to Vogue, Gourmet, both British and American Harper’s Bazaar, as well as penning a syndicated column on fashion and food for The New York Times.