Padma Lakshmi

Padma Lakshmi hosted and judged Bravo's *Top Chef* for 19 seasons. She became the show's iconic host starting in its second season in 2006, staying with the culinary competition until 2023. Her tenure helped the show win multiple Emmy Awards.

While *Top Chef* itself won an Emmy for Outstanding Culinary Series, Padma Lakshmi was nominated multiple times for Outstanding Host for a Reality or Competition Program. Additionally, she created and hosted the Hulu docuseries *Taste the Nation*. *Taste the Nation* won a James Beard Award in 2021.

Padma Lakshmi is a bestselling author of both cookbooks and a memoir. Her memoir, *Love, Loss, and What We Ate*, details her life as an immigrant and her experiences in the culinary world. She also authored the critically acclaimed children's book *Tomatoes for Neela*.

Lakshmi is a prominent advocate for women's health and immigration rights, co-founding the Endometriosis Foundation of America. She has also served as an Ambassador for the ACLU, focusing on immigrant rights. Her advocacy heavily influences her docuseries *Taste the Nation*.