Padma Lakshmi, at an exact 5ft 9 (175.3 cm), embodies the ideal model height that has defined her striking presence in fashion and television. Her statuesque frame commands attention on runways and as host of Top Chef, where she towers barefoot over many, reaching six feet with heels as she once noted.
Born into a Tamil Brahmin family, this Indian-American author, actress, and activist leveraged her 5ft 9 stature for a glamorous career, from modeling gigs to Emmy-nominated hosting and bestselling books like Taste.