Born
in New Delhi in 1971, Padma Lakshmi spent
most of her adolescence in the United States. From a very young
age Padma knew she was
beautiful. In fact, she recalls having worn her first seductive
dress at only 9 years old. It was always her dream to be a model.
Her mother, however, insisted that Padma
Lakshmi get a college degree first, telling her that if she was beautiful
at
17,
she'd be beautiful at
21, with a degree in hand. Around this time, Padma got into a serious
car accident, which left a 7-inch scar on her right arm. This would
become her signature feature, that curious imperfection that makes
her all the more lovely and exotic.
Padma Lakshmi attended Clark University in Massachusetts
and got a BA in theater arts. Her last semester of college was spent
in Spain, where she
landed her first modeling job. She also caught the attention of Helmut
Newton, a photographer notorious for his stylish female nudes. Giant
fashion mags like Vogue, Elle and Glamour rushed to get her decadent
body in their pages as well.
After graduating, she moved to Italy for a few years, where she
co-hosted the TV show Domenica in Rai. She also trekked across the
international runways for such labels as Versace, Armani and Ralph
Lauren. While trotting the globe, Padma, an unabashed foodie, picked
up and compiled low-fat recipes from every imaginable country. Her
amassed culinary adventures culminated in Easy Exotic: A Model's
Low-Fat Recipes from Around the World, a cookbook that became a bestseller.
In her frequent returns to her subcontinent home, Padma starred
in two Bollywood films, Caribbeans and Sandokan: The Darkness and
the Light. She became so recognized in India, that American studios
tried to capitalize on her talents. She was cast as Sylk in the 2001
box-office bomb Glitter, with Mariah Carey. That same year, she guest-starred
in an episode of the Star Trek spin-off Enterprise.
In 2003, Padma Lakshmi starred
in her biggest Bollywood flick yet: Boom, the story of three Indian
supermodels
caught in
a diamond heist.
But sadly for her, this movie tanked as well. But box-office success
(or the lack thereof) proved no hindrance to the model's love life.
She started dating Booker Prize-winning author Salman Rushdie, with
whom she created a cinematic partnership.
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Fashion
Model Heidi Klum
18 years old and still in high school, Heidi
Klum came across an ad for a model competition in her area while
reading a magazine. While she was intrigued by the idea, she never
even dreamed of the possibility of entering, much less of winning. Heidi
Klum Bio and Pictures |
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Supermodel
Adriana Lima
Adriana Lima was discovered while shopping at a local mall at the age of
13. At the age of 15, she entered and finished in first place in Brazil's
Ford Supermodel of the World Search. Adriana
Lima Bio and Photos |
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Swimsuit
Model Marisa Miller
Marisa Miller ( full name Marisa Lee Miller
) was born on August 6, 1978 in Santa Cruz, California and she
is a buxom American supermodel who first gained attention when
she appeared in the 1997 premiere issue of Perfect 10 magazine. Marisa
Miller Photo Gallery |
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Sexy Model
Carmen Electra
Perhaps more famous for her physical attributes
than for her talent, Carmen Electra managed to parlay a stint as
an MTV game show hostess into a career as a TV and movie actress.
Carmen left her performing arts high school with plans to become
a singer. Carmen
Elecra Bio and Photos |
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Swimsuit
and Spokesmodel Brooke Burke
After signing with prestigious model and
talent agencies, Brooke Burke graced the covers of several magazines
and appeared in a few commercials. But her big break occurred in
1997 when she landed the coveted spot as host of E! Entertainment
Television's travel show Wild On. Brooke
Burke Pictures |
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Danielle
Lloyd Model
From the age of 16 Danielle loved modelling, frequently entering
competitions in and around Liverpool so upon finishing her academic studies,
she decided to pursue a career in modelling and also train as a beautician. Danielle
Lloyd Bio and Photo Gallery |
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Swimsuit
and Fashion Model Petra Nemcova
Her first American TV appearance was on
the Late Late Show with Craig Kilborn, where the smitten host (who
announced his love for her and British singer Dido) predicted that
she would make the cover of Sports Illustrated's Swimsuit Issue
in 2003 and he was right. Petra
Nemcova Bio and Photos |
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Model Alessandra Ambrosio
Ambrosio was born in Erechim, Brazil,
a small town in the south. As an early teen, she enrolled in
a modeling class and subsequently was entered in the Elite modeling
agency's 1996 Look of the Year competition. Though she did not
win, she was offered an Elite contract one year after.
Alessandra Ambrosio Bio and Pictures |
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Miranda Kerr Swimsuit
and Lingerie Model
In 2006, Miranda Kerr broke into the United
States market when she signed a lucrative cosmetics contract with
Maybelline New York. The campaign ran in a series of internationally
sold women's beauty magazines, including Cosmopolitan, CLEO and
Elle. Miranda
Kerr Bio and Photo Gallery |
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Elle Macpherson Fashion
and Swimsuit Supermodel
At age 17, planning to follow in her stepfather's
footsteps, Elle enrolled to study law at Sydney University. Before
starting college, she visited the United States with the intent
of spending her gap year modeling in order to pay for her university
education. Elle
Macpherson Biography and Pictures |
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Gisele Bundchen Fashion
and Swimsuit Model
In September 2000, the Rolling Stone magazine
had, for the fourth time, a model in its cover. After Claudia Schiffer,
Cindy Crawford and Laetitia Casta, there was Gisele Bundchen. The
fourth model ever to be in a Rolling Stone cover.
Gisele Bundchen Bio and Photos |
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