Swimsuit

8 SI Swim Photos of Padma Lakshmi That Capture Her Natural Beauty

The TV personality and best-selling author posed for this year’s magazine in Dominica.

Cara O’Bleness

Padma Lakshmi was photographed by Yu Tsai in Dominica. 

Entrepreneur, television host and philanthropist Padma Lakshmi posed for the 2023 SI Swimsuit Issue in Dominica, where she worked with photographer Yu Tsai.

Lakshmi’s list of professional and personal accomplishments is incredible: she’s a New York Times best-selling author, creator of Hulu’s Taste the Nation and mom to her teenage daughter, Krishna, whom the 52-year-old has called “the most important and biggest thing” in her life.

“She sees me having fittings all day long,” Lakshmi told SI Swimsuit of her daughter. “She sees me in glam before every event. She’s acutely aware of [the modeling] world and is interested in it. I don’t want her to put that much focus on what she looks like. I try to tell her that your appearance is one part of you. Beauty is skin deep, but dumb and boring are to the bone.”

Lakshmi’s styling on location in the eastern Caribbean island was inspired by Mother Nature. Thus, the former Top Chef host wore bikinis with natural textures and colors, from sea shells to earthy green tones. 

Below are eight of our favorite photos from Lakshmi’s SI Swimsuit feature in Dominica this year that capture her natural beauty at its finest.

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Padma Lakshmi was photographed by Yu Tsai in Dominica. Swimsuit by Toxic Sadie Swimwear.

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Padma Lakshmi was photographed by Yu Tsai in Dominica. Swimsuit by PatBO.

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Padma Lakshmi was photographed by Yu Tsai in Dominica. Swimsuit by NAVY RAY.

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Padma Lakshmi was photographed by Yu Tsai in Dominica. Swimsuit by Tropic of C. Bracelets from model’s own collection.

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Padma Lakshmi was photographed by Yu Tsai in Dominica. Swimsuit by Heidi Fish.

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Padma Lakshmi was photographed by Yu Tsai in Dominica. Swimsuit top by NAVY RAY. Swimsuit bottom by Lola & Lamar.

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Padma Lakshmi was photographed by Yu Tsai in Dominica. Swimsuit by NAVY RAY.

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Padma Lakshmi was photographed by Yu Tsai in Dominica. Swimsuit by Toxic Sadie Swimwear.

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Published
Cara O’Bleness

CARA O’BLENESS

Cara is a trending news writer/editor for Sports Illustrated Swimsuit. A passionate writer and editor with more than 10 years of experience in print and online media, she loves storytelling and believes that words have the power to change the world. Prior to joining the team, Cara worked as a writer and editor across a number of content verticals, including food, lifestyle, health and wellness, and small business and entrepreneurship. In her free time, Cara loves reading, spending time with her family and making her way through Michigan’s many microbreweries. She is a graduate of Michigan State University's School of Journalism.

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