Padma Lakshmi’s 6 Most Fascinating Bikini Photos From Dominica

The author, television personality and mom was featured in the 2023 SI Swimsuit Issue.

Cara O’Bleness | Dec 5, 2023

Padma Lakshmi was photographed by Yu Tsai in Dominica.

Yu Tsai/Sports Illustrated

While many people know Padma Lakshmi as the former host of Top Chef, the creator of Taste the Nation and a New York Times best-selling author, around here, we enjoy referring to her as a 2023 SI Swimsuit model. The 53-year-old was photographed by Yu Tsai in Dominica for this year’s magazine.

Lakshmi, who previously worked as a model in her 20s, told SI Swimsuit that the opportunity came knocking at just the right time, as her self-confidence was at an all-time high.

“I love where I am in my life and know my body is not perfect by any means, but I feel beautiful. I feel like I have a very lucky, fruitful, productive life,” she stated. “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. 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.”

With a great grasp on the concept of beauty, Lakshmi hopes to pass her mindset on to her teen daughter, Krishna.

“She’s acutely aware of [the modeling] world and is interested in it,” she told SI Swimsuit. “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.”

Below are a few of our favorite photos from Lakshmi’s eastern Caribbean feature in which both her inner and outer beauty shine through.

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

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

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

Padma Lakshmi was photographed by Yu Tsai in Dominica. Swimsuit by Ola Vida.

Padma Lakshmi was photographed by Yu Tsai in Dominica. Swimsuit by Initial S Paris. Necklace from model’s own collection.

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

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Published Dec 5, 2023

CARA O’BLENESS

Cara O’Bleness is a writer and editor on the Lifestyle and Trending News team for SI Swimsuit. Prior to joining SI Swimsuit in 2022, she 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, O’Bleness 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.