Padma Lakshmi Says She’s Leaving ‘Top Chef’ After 20 Seasons as Host and Producer
- The Emmy-winning producer says she will focus on her Hulu show “Taste the Nation,” and “other creative pursuits.”
Padma Parvati Lakshmi Vaidynathan is at her peak professionally and personally. She is one of the most bankable television personalities in the U.S. today. At 52, she never looked better when she was featured in the Sports Illustrated recently. “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,” she said about her modeling in swimwear.
Attesting to her commanding position to move on to other “creative pursuits,” Padma Lakshmi announced on Friday that she will be leaving the popular and highly successful reality show, Top Chef, on Bravo. After 17 years and 20 seasons, she is leaving the show that has garnered global audience.
“Having completed a glorious 20th season as host and executive producer, I am extremely proud to have been part of building such a successful show and of the impact it has had in the worlds of television and food,” the chef, author, model, and television host, wrote on Twitter and Instagram.
“After 17 years, many of the cast and crew are like family to me and I will miss working alongside them dearly. I feel it’s time to move on and need to make space for Taste the Nation, my books and other creative pursuits,” she added, referring to her new show on Hulu.
An NBCUniversal spokesperson told Deadline, “Her impact on the Emmy, James Beard and Critics’ Choice Award-winning series is undeniable. We are grateful to Padma for being a consummate host, judge and executive producer, and for bringing her ingenuity and exceptional palate to each episode where she ate every bite of food on the series for over 17 years and 19 seasons. She will always be part of the Top Chef and the NBCUniversal family and has a seat at the judges’ table anytime.”
ChatGPT sums up saying, “In the realm of culinary arts, there are few personalities as captivating and influential as Padma Lakshmi. A woman of extraordinary talent, beauty, and empowerment, Padma Lakshmi has transcended boundaries, both culturally and professionally, to become a global icon.”