Actor, Writer, Producer, EndoFound Founder
Padma Lakshmi is an Emmy-nominated food expert, television host, producer and best-selling New York Times author.
She is the creator, host, and executive producer of the critically acclaimed Hulu series Taste the Nation, which received multiple Critics Choice Real TV Awards in both 2021 and 2022 and a 2021 Gotham Award for Breakthrough Series as well as the 2022 James Beard Award for Visual Media in Long Form. Taste the Nation is currently gearing up for its third season.
Lakshmi also serves as host and executive producer of Bravo’s two-time Emmy-winning series Top Chef, which has been nominated for 37 Emmys, including her now four-time nomination for Outstanding Host for A Reality-Competition Program. The epic 20th season of the show is set to premiere in 2023.
She also won the 2022 Critics Choice Real TV Award for Best Show Host for both Taste the Nation and Top Chef.
In 2021, Lakshmi released her first children’s book, The New York Times best-selling Tomatoes for Neelain. Illustrated by award-winning Juana Martinez-Neal, Tomatoes for Neela tells an intergenerational journey while celebrating delicious flavors, international foods, and one family's treasured recipes and traditions.
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) and was awarded the 2021 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 established herself as a food expert early in her career hosting Padma’s Passport, where she cooked diverse cuisine from around the world and Planet Food, a documentary series, both on theFood Network domestically and worldwide on the Discovery Channel. She also co-hosted Rai Television's Domenica In, Italy’s highest-rated variety show.
She’s 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 will publish her first children’s book Tomatoes for Neela.
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.
Lakshmi created a fine jewelry line The Padma Collection, which sold at Bergdorf Goodman, Neiman Marcus and Nordstrom. She also designed a home décor line under the same name featuring tabletop dishware, stemware and hand-blown glass décor pieces, was sold nationwide inBloomingdale’s. In addition, Lakshmi created Padma’s Easy Exotic, a collection of culinary products ranging from frozen organic foods, fine teas, natural spice blends and home goods. In 2018, Lakshmi collaborated with MAC Cosmetics for a worldwide capsule collection called MAC Padma which quickly sold out in both India and the United States.
After unknowingly suffering from endometriosis for decades, in 2009 she co-founded EndoFound(formerly known as Endometriosis Foundation of America) alongside Advanced Gynecological Surgeon Tamer Seckin, MD. EndoFound launched the first interdisciplinary research facility in the country for Gynepathology, as a joint project between Harvard Medical School and MIT and Lakshmi gave the keynote address at the Center’s opening in December 2009.
Her efforts were recognized on the floor of the New York State Senate, where she succeeded in passing a bill related to teen health initiatives. The organization’s ENPOWR program has currently educated over 32,000 students about endometriosis in high schools across the state of New York.
Lakshmi is a visiting scholar at Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) and has received the 2018 Karma Award from Variety, as well as the 2016 EIHS Ellis Island Medal of Honor.
She lives in New York with her daughter.
Padma Lakshmi, co-founder of EndoFound, shared her endometriosis story on April 3 at the 45th annual Simmons Leadership Conference, hosted by Simmons University at the John B. Hynes Veterans Memorial Convention Center in Boston. According to…
Padma Lakshmi was diagnosed with endometriosis in 2006, after experiencing symptoms for 23 years — and she’s been advocating for people with the condition ever since. About one in ten people born with a uterus have endometriosis,…
Blossom Ball 2019WEDNESDAY, MAY 8TH - Cipriani Wall Street Padma Lakshmi, we'd like to welcome to the stage with a little 'This Joy'. We're going to take us off with 'This Joy'. But we need Padma. (singing) What a beautiful group. What…
credit: Instagram/SophieMonk Sophie Monk is #1in10. The Australian-born model/actress, who recently hosted the reality dating show Love Island Australia, is using her social media to raise endometriosis awareness and recently revealed her endo…
On Friday, Sept. 28 a hand-picked selection of 20 gynecologists, scientists, engineers, and entrepreneurs will converge on the campus of Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) where they will each make a presentation at the Fourth Annual Open…
Dating as a perfectly healthy woman comes with enough challenges, but playing the dating game with endometriosis can be an absolute nightmare. Celebrities like Lena Dunham and Halsey to Julianne Hough, Jaime King, and Padma Lakshmi have all…
Padma Lakshmi would like to remind women everywhere that the fiercest fashion statement they can make this season is speaking up about their health— especially when it comes to endometriosis. The author, model, actress, and TV host…
credit: Mark Von Holden for SheKnows Actress Gabrielle Union got candid about her reproductive health struggles at the #BlogHer2018 Creators Summit conference in NYC on Aug. 8. The We're Going To Need More Wine author, 45, who has…
The push for #LetsTalkPeriod will continue into 2019. Although over 7,600 petitioners rallied their support behind The Endometriosis Foundation of America's #LetsTalkPeriod campaign via a Change.org petition, Bill A. 10763 didn't pass…
UPDATE: Although the New York State Legislative Session ended on June 20, you can still sign the #LetsTalkPeriod petition and let lawmakers know that endometriosis should be a necessary part of education in New York state. Sign This…
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Outspoken endometriosis advocate and singer Halsey is on a mission to one day become a mother—and she recently revealed she plans to start that journey at any moment thanks to modern-day medicine. "I’m 23 years old, and I’m…
This story originally appeared on Variety.com When Padma Lakshmi was finally diagnosed and treated for endometriosis she was relieved, “but then I got angry” she said from the Variety Power of Women stage.…
ESPN sportscaster Molly Qerim is known for her energetic and magnetic on-air presence as a host of one of the networks' hottest shows, First Take—and now she's opening up about just how hard it can be to do her job. In a recent interview,…
- Good evening. And welcome to the ninth annual Blossom Ball. I'm Padma Lakshmi, I'm a co-founder here at the Endometriosis Foundation of America, and I'm so sorry that I can't be with you all tonight. My heart is with you in this room. This…
- Tonight we honor the amazing artist and activist Halsey. Halsey is somebody I've known for a few years now, and I've watched her grow, not only as a singer-songwriter climbing the charts with various hits, but finding her own voice for other…
Padma Lakshmi and Lena Dunham joined other women with endometriosis in filming a powerful call to action that debuted at the Ninth Annual Blossom ball this week. The video portrays the many faces of endometriosis, reminding us all that this…
Halsey has found her modern-day fairy godmother. The singer reveals that she and EndoFound Co-Founder Padma Lakshmi recently bonded over their shared experiences with having endometriosis, a chronic reproductive disease that affects at least…
The revolution will be televised! Ten years ago, Dr. Tamer Seckin and Padma Lakshmi joined forces to found The Endometriosis Foundation of America. Back then, endometriosis was hardly a headline, and the Blossom Ball galas were still…
When Halsey, 23, accepted The Blossom Award at the 2018 Blossom Ball in NYC last night, she didn't hold back in her 10-minute-long acceptance speech. The singer tearfully detailed her endometriosis journey and revealed that the miscarriage…
The Endometriosis Foundation of America has named singer Halsey as its 2018 Blossom Award recipient. The 23-year-old singer has not only proven herself as a hitmaker but as a fearless endometriosis advocate whose contributions to endometriosis…
NIH's Summer Issue of Medline Plus Features Padma Lakshmi and Endometriosis This quarterly publication of NIH and the Friends of the National Library of Medicine brings timely information on health topics to patients and helps explain how NIH…
WebMD has announced the nominees for the 2016 WebMD Health Heroes People’s Choice Award- and we were thrilled to find out that our very own Padma Lakshmi has been nominated! The annual WebMD Health Hero Awards recognizes…
Endofound.org Blossom Ball 2016 8th Annual Blossom Ball Padma Lakshmi Good evening everyone. I want to welcome everyone to the 8th Annual Blossom Ball. I am very excited about tonight because for the first time we are not only honoring…
We are already half way through Endometriosis Awareness Month, and with 17 days left, we need your help more than ever to Paint The Town Yellow and spread endometriosis awareness! This March, we hope to raise $10,000 to continue…
Celeb: Willowy model-turned “Top Chef” host Padma Lakshmi, who on Thursday visited Capitol Hill on business related to another line on her resume — that of the founder of the Endometriosis Foundation of America.…
BY LOLA PELLEGRINO Padma Lakshmi is a visible woman: as a model, as the perennial host of Top Chef, as a writer of cookbooks and style columns. She's used this power to co-found a nonprofit, the Endometriosis Foundation of America, to bring…
by via korinmiller November 17, 2015 Women with endometriosis often have to suffer in pain for years before receiving a proper diagnosis. (Getty Images) Endometriosis is a painful disorder in which tissue that normally grows inside…
7th Annual Blossom BallMonday, April 13th, 2015A Gala Evening Celebrating the work of the Endometriosis Foundation of America Welcome to the set of the annual Blossom Ball. I want to thank all of you for coming this evening and this beautiful…
Endofound’s Sixth Annual Medical Conference: Ending Endometriosis Starts at the Beginning Obviously we are really thrilled with Endofound by the success of the ENPOWR Project has shown and we wanted to bring you here to celebrate a little…
“I learned to cook at the elbow of my mother and grandmother, but never ever thought I could have a career in food,” Padma Lakshmi said last month during a talk at Cherry Bombe magazine’s Jubilee conference. We all know how…
As a young girl, Padma Lakshmi suffered from undiagnosed endometriosis so severe, she tells PEOPLE, "I had to stay home several days a month from school. I missed a week of my life for 23 years." TheTop Chefhost, 44, reveals her symptoms…
Endometriosis effectively exiled Padma Lakshmi from her life, one week a month, every year, for over 20 years. She’s a college-educated, professional woman living in a major city with access to the best doctors and health insurance. Despite…
The View guest co-host Padma Lakshmi told her personal story about being diagnosed with Endometriosis on the Friday, February 20th, 2015 episode of The View. This prognosis is one that leads a lot of women to get a hysterectomy,…
As part of the 92nd Street Y’s Health & Wellness series, and in conjunction with Endometriosis Awareness Month, Endofound co-founders, Padma Lakshmi and Tamer Seckin, MD, will be speaking to raise awareness of endometriosis. Padma…
New York, New York (PRWEB) March 06, 2014 Top Chef’s host Padma Lakshmi joins a guest list of notable New Yorkers and celebrities, including Honorary committee members Susan Sarandon and Deborah Harry along with Fátima Ptacek (Dora…
F&W's #FOODWINEWOMEN series spotlights top women in food and drink in collaboration with Toklas Society. Follow the hashtag on Twitter (@foodandwine). In honor of the Top Chef Boston finale airing next week, star host Padma Lakshmi reveals…
You will forgive the hoarseness of my voice. I see many faces that were there last night and I want to thank everyone for coming to the Ball and also say welcome. It is exciting for us to do this Patient's Day today because it is important…
Good afternoon and thank you all for coming. I am the other co-founder of the Endometriosis Foundation. I know that both Tamer and I share the view that we could not do this conference, or any of the other endeavors that Endofound is currently,…
Nurses Conference 2013 - Padma Lakshmi I want to thank everyone for being here especially on this chilly, fall Saturday. I want to thank Mady Schuman and welcome her as the new Executive Director and thank all the people that are involved in…
Padma Lakshmi and State Senator Jeff Klein have teamed up once again to talk about our teen’s health. The Teen Health Awareness Campaign aims to raise awareness of alcohol and substance abuse, obesity, and endometriosis among New York’s…
We are so grateful to everyone who made our Fifth Annual Ball a smashing success... We looking forward to seeing you again next year! Thanks to Bennet Cobliner & Wire Image for providing photography services. To view photos available for…
Endometriosis Foundation of AmericaEndometriosis 2013Padma Lakshmi Without further ado I am going to introduce Padma who is the co-founder with Tamer Seckin of the Endometriosis Foundation of America. Good afternoon and thank you for joining…
Endofound co-founder Padma Lakshmi visited the New York State Senate this month and participated in the Teen Health Awareness press conference hosted by State Senator Jeff Klein. Senator Klein and his colleagues are developing a Teen…
Lunch & Learn with Padma LakshmiNurses conference 2012 – Padma Lakshmi My Personal Journey How many people were here last year? All right, well, you can hear my story again then. It comes out a little different every time, so hopefully…
On September 29, Endofound hosted our Second Annual Lunch & Learn with Padma Lakshmi, “Consider Endometriosis: Tools for Nurses to Recognize Symptoms, Behavioral Patterns and Emotional Repercussions of the Disease in Young Women…
Endofound Co-founder Padma Lakshmi speaks out about her own endometriosis diagnosis and a partnership with Kiehl's to raise endometriosis awareness.Padma’s re-imagination of the famous Kiehl's mascot, Mr. Bones, will go up for auction…
Endometriosis Foundation of AmericaBlossom Ball – 2012Padma LakshmiWow! How much is that going to cost me? Anyway, thank you Tyra, enough about me but thank you Tyra. Just for being here first all, damn! I have known her for 20 years…
Endometriosis Foundation of AmericaMedical Conference – 2012Endometriosis: My JourneyPadma LakshmiIt is my pleasure to introduce Padma Lakshmi. She is the co-founder of the Endometriosis Foundation of America together with Tamer Seckin.…
