Padma Lakshmi, born on September 1, 1970, in Chennai, India, is an Indian-American author, model, activist, producer, and television host. She immigrated to the United States at the age of four and grew up in New York City and California. Lakshmi's early life was marked by challenges, including a severe illness and a car accident that left her with a prominent scar on her arm. She graduated from William Workman High School in California and later attended Clark University. Lakshmi gained fame as a model in the 1990s and transitioned to television, becoming the host of the cooking competition show *Top Chef* in 2006. She has also created and hosted the docuseries *Taste the Nation*, which explores the food culture of immigrant communities in America. Lakshmi has been recognized for her work with multiple Emmy nominations and has authored several cookbooks. In her personal life, she was married to author Salman Rushdie from 2004 until their divorce in 2007. She has a daughter named Krishna Thea Lakshmi-Dell, born in 2010, with businessman Adam Dell. Lakshmi is also known for her advocacy work, particularly regarding endometriosis awareness.