When the pandemic hit and my wife was laid off (while pregnant), she hit the couch to rewatch some of her favorite series, as well as binge the entire Marvel universe, only to be rivaled by the Fast and the Furious franchise. One show that she began a stretch of was Top Chef. Bravo’s cooking competition-themed show has been around for close to two decades now, but I had never taken the time to engage with it. As I was working from home, I would pass through the living room and sometimes found myself sitting on the arm of the couch for 20 minutes at a time as this beautiful Indian-American woman named Padma would describe food.
Chances are you know who know Padma Lakshmi is so I am not going to give you a rundown on her life. But what I found fascinating about her was the poise she carried and her relationships with the contestants of the show. Most competition shows create a hierarchy of the hosting team where their short-lived success dies out in a few seasons. But I truly believe that Padma’s care and compassion for the people in the competition are what sets her and the show apart. With a history of the show dating back to the times of 4:3 on your TV set, they're in a league of their own for cooking competitions.
I find Padma to be truly inspirational as a host and leading the show (the only person who tastes everything!) since I was in high school. Her humanitarian efforts do not go unnoticed either!
(C) Vanity Fair