She was discovered by a modeling agent while sitting in a café and since then she has appeared in numerous fashion editorials and walked the runway for the likes of Ralph Lauren, Emmanuel Ungaro and Alberta Ferretti and starred in campaigns for Versus and Roberto Cavalli.

Padma Lakshmi is also an accomplished writer and the author of Easy Exotic for Miramax Books for which she won the International Versailles Event for best cookbook by a first time writer.  The book is a low calorie, low fat ethnic cookbook and is currently in its second printing in soft back.  She has contributed to magazines such as American Vogue, Gourmet and Harper's Bazaar.

Padma Lakshmi, already known internationally as an actress and an award-winning writer, is now the host of the top-rated TV series called Top Chef.