Padma Lakshmi Sizzles in SI Swimsuit Debut

Padma Lakshmi's Sports Illustrated Swimsuit debut is officially here. The Top Chef star is set to appear in the 2023 edition of the magazine for the first time.

The multi-hyphenate Lakshmi is best known for hosting and executive producing Top Chef, but she got her start as a model in her 20s. In the years since, she's authored multiple cookbooks and a best-selling children's book; hosted and executive produced Hulu's Taste the Nation; become a mother; earned an Emmy nomination; launched EndoFound, a philanthropic organization for women suffering from endometriosis; and much more.

The 52-year-old star spent a day in Dominica with photographer Yu Tsai to capture the SI Swim images. Lakshmi said she hopes the photos shows women they should embrace their body at any age.

“I want everybody to see this pictorial and understand that sometimes a whole new phase that’s even more exciting than anything you’ve ever experienced before can happen well over 40," she said to the magazine. 

Lakshmi explained how she feels better than ever at this point in her life. "My thighs may have been leaner, and my boobs were probably slightly higher in earlier parts of my life, but I have never felt better about myself," she said. "I hope they see a full woman in all my facets and nuances and some contradictions. I wouldn’t go back to my 20s if you paid me all the money in the world.”

You can check out her full spread over at SI Swim.