Padma Lakshmi is revealing her holiday magic. The 54-year-old “Top Chef” alum shared the ingredients for a magical Christmas with her 14-year-old daughter Krishna. “Wearing pajamas and building gingerbread houses,” Lakshmi exclusively told The Post at Vulture Fest. “Decorating the tree and making cider.” The model shares Krishna with her ex Adam Dell and has been open about motherhood and her close bond with her daughter.
“I took her off social media, and I have controls on her phone,” Lakshmi admitted to Today in May, noting that she’s sure Krishna uses other people’s phones to scroll online. “It’s challenging, as any parent knows, to counter all the influential forces that target a child’s mind, whether you’re male or female,” said the food expert. “It’s harder for girls, of course, but I try to address that.” Reflecting on her career, Lakshmi acknowledges the potential challenges for her only child.
“She also has a mother who does fittings and tries to fit into Emmy dresses. She also has a mother who’s in Sports Illustrated,” she continued. “That’s not easy for her. And I’m very aware of that.” Lakshmi said she tries to keep Krishna away from that world. “I have kept her as far from this as I can. Because there’ll be time for her to experience it,” she noted. “But I need her to focus on her education, her talents, and her skills as a musician or whatever she chooses for her own life.”
Lakshmi reiterated her views while speaking to People earlier that month. “I’m strict about some things and not so strict about others like bedtime [as] she’s 14,” she explained to the outlet. “But I was very strict about ensuring she had a good diet the first four to five years of her life, and I won’t tolerate her being disrespectful to adults.” The TV star continued, “She’s not [disrespectful], but our Asian culture shows itself in things like that — respecting traditions like taking off your shoes before entering the house, and addressing elders as uncle and auntie.”
Lakshmi had a tumultuous relationship with Dell from 2009 to 2021. She initially kept the paternity private, but found the media speculation about who the father was “mortifying.” “It was certainly uncomfortable when the press started snooping around in various countries — not just America, but in India, England, Australia,” she recalled on People’s “Me Becoming Mom” podcast in 2021.
Today, the mother-daughter duo are closer than ever, with Lakshmi wishing her daughter a happy birthday in a heartfelt tribute. “My dear sweet girl! I can’t believe it’s been 13 years since I gave birth,” she wrote in part on Instagram in 2023, alongside a video montage of the pair. “Willing yourself into this world, you’ve been the greatest joy of my life. Of course I love you with all my heart but I also really like you! You have a wicked sense of humor. There’s no one I’d rather spend time with, no one I’d rather laugh with or cry with.” Lakshmi concluded the sweet post, “Light of my life, you keep me grounded and sane and never let me take myself too seriously. Happy 13th birthday to my favorite teenager!!”
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