5 Absolutely Breathtaking Images of SI Swimsuit Model Padma Lakshmi

The cooking show host, activist and best-selling author makes her debut in the magazine later this month.

Ananya Panchal | Apr 30, 2023

Padma Lakshmi was photographed by Yu Tsai in Dominica.

Yu Tsai/Sports Illustrated

Padma Lakshmi is the definition of a multi-hyphenate. The culinary personality, activist, best-selling author and mom can do it all. She makes her SI Swimsuit debut this month.

“I really thought that the Sports Illustrated ship had sailed for me, or the possibility of it, and I’d never done it before,” the 52-year-old says. “But I have never felt better about myself. I wouldn’t go back to my 20s if you paid me all the money in the world. I love where I am in my life, and no, my body’s not perfect by any means, but I don’t care. I feel like I have a very lucky, fruitful, productive life, and I hope that’s what [people] see when they see these pictures. I hope they see a full woman in all my facets and nuances, and also some contradictions.”

Lakshmi, who is the longtime host of the Emmy Award–winning Bravo series Top Chef and creator and executive producer of Hulu's Taste the Nation, was photographed by Yu Tsai in Dominica.

“Padma’s list of accomplishments is as stunning as she is and it’s an absolute honor to feature her in the 2023 issue,” gushes SI Swimsuit editor in chief MJ Day. “The importance of Padma’s presence here is multifold. She is here because she feels better than ever both inside and out. At 52, she has curated a life that represents who she authentically is: a powerful, beautiful, brilliant, accomplished woman in her prime. She can make the world look and listen and is here to remind us all that women can be all of these things and feel sexy AF. We will let the photos speak for themselves.”

Lakshmi immigrated to the U.S. from India with her single mom at the age of 4 and grew up in Los Angeles and New York, where she now lives with her daughter Krishna.

Below are five absolutely stunning photos of the model.