Home / Arts and Entertainment / Padma Lakshmi's Intimate Revelations: From Modeling Escapades to Cooking Collaborations
Padma Lakshmi's Intimate Revelations: From Modeling Escapades to Cooking Collaborations
10 Nov, 2025
Summary
- Padma Lakshmi opened up about her sexuality in her 2016 memoir
- She had a brief affair with a woman during her modeling days in Europe
- Lakshmi and Top Chef winner Melissa King have been spotted getting cozy
In 2025, Padma Lakshmi, the 55-year-old Top Chef host, has been making headlines for her revelations about her sexuality and her close friendship with chef Melissa King.
Back in 2016, Lakshmi opened up about her experiences in her memoir, "Love, Loss and What We Ate." She recalled having a brief affair with a woman during her modeling days in Milan and Paris, saying, "I'm not sorry. It was a beautiful experience."
Now, Lakshmi's relationship with King, the winner of Top Chef season 17, has sparked speculation. The two have been spotted together at various events, with King even referring to Lakshmi as "Gomez Paddams" in a recent Instagram post. Lakshmi has described King as someone whose cooking she has always admired and someone she enjoys spending time with.
Despite Lakshmi's past relationships with men, including her marriage to Salman Rushdie and her romance with the late billionaire Teddy Forstmann, her openness about her sexuality and her close bond with King have captivated the public's attention.
