Though Padma Lakshmi is originally known as the first internationally successful Indian supermodel, she has since made a name for herself in many other ways.  As an actress, award-winning cookbook writer, TV host, designer and mother, Padma proves it's possible to have it all.

Discovered in 1990 at a cafe while studying abroad in Spain, Padma was an instant success, modeling for designers such as Ralph Lauren, Emanuel Ungaro and Alberta Ferreti.  She then became the face of Versus and Roberto Cavalli and appeared on the covers of Cosmo, L'Officiel India, and Newsweek.

Padma took a different turn in 1992, however, and wrote her first cookbook "Easy Exotic," which was later awarded the "Best First Book" at the World Cookbook Awards in 1999.  Though with her major in Theatre Arts, Padma could not deny her true passion for acting and in 2001 she landed a hosting job with Food Network and became the star of "Padma's Passport," where she cooked cuisine from all over the world.  She also hosted a documentary series entitled "Planet Food," allowing her to travel to places such as Spain and India.

On the big screen, Padma is known for her role as Geeta in Paul Mayeda Berges' 2005 film Mistress of Spices and as Princess Bithia in ABC's The Ten Commandments, which was the second highest rated television film in 2006.  She has also appeared in films in Italy and India.

It was also in 2006 that the busy lady landed her well-known job as host on Bravo's Top Chef.  Padma started with Season 2, and has been with the show ever since. Padma's talent on the hit TV show even earned her an Emmy nomination for "Outstanding Host for a Reality or Reality-Competition Program" in 2006, not to mention the show as a whole also received an Emmy nomination that same year for "Outstanding Reality-Competition Program."

As an established food expert, it was back to writing in 2007 for Padma with the publication of her second cookbook, Tangy, Tart, Hot & Sweet, which included over 150 recipes from around the world and some of her own personal memoirs.  In addition to her cookbooks, Padma has contributed to magazines such as Vogue, Gourmet, and British and American Harper's Bazaar.

More recently, Padma launched her very own jewelry line, "PADMA," at Bergdorf Goodman in New York in May 2009.  The line includes necklaces, earrings, bracelets and rings made in gold with precious and semi-precious stones, all inspired by her life in the West, America and Europe.  She is currently in her third collection.

But now days, it is her daughter, Krishna Thea - born on February 20, 2010 - that's keeping her extra busy.  The pregnancy was referred to as "nothing short of a medical miracle" by her physician, considering Padma's struggle with endometriosis for the past several years.  Due to her struggle with the condition, Padma co-founded the Endometriosis Foundation of America with Dr. Tamer Seckin to "provide hope to women suffering from the debilitating effects of Endometriosis and associated diseases."

With a hit TV show, her own jewelry line and now miracle daughter, it seems Padma really does have it all!