Padma Lakshmi is more confident in her 50s.

Padma Lakshmi, the renowned Top Chef alum, recently opened up about her body confidence at age 53, stating, "I feel so much more in control of myself." This insight reveals her empowerment and comfort in her body.

Padma shared in an interview with Today.com on May 31 that she feels more confident and empowered to flaunt her curves now than ever before. "When I was young and I modeled, nobody pointed fingers at me for wearing sexy things," she said. "But every once in a while, if I post a sexy picture, they'll be like, 'Oh, why do you have to exploit yourself in that way? You're such an accomplished person.'"

The 53-year-old author and TV host embraces this criticism. "I don't care who is ashamed for me," she asserted. "That's their hang-up, it's not mine. I feel more sexy. I'm in sexual prime, I feel so much more in control of myself."



For Padma, her body confidence is more than just skin deep. "Is my body physically as in shape and perfect as it was when I was modeling at 23? Absolutely not," she admitted. "My body is also part of who I am. It's the vessel that contains my soul, my hopes, my dreams."

Padma also emphasized the importance of accepting the natural changes that come with aging. "I'm so much more [of] a whole person," she said. "I have a resume, I've published books, I've done TV shows, I have tried to do my part, and my advocacy. And I would rather have the body I have, or even my future body, which will continue to deteriorate and sag and grow in places I don't want and atrophy in places that you don't want. But that's OK. I accept all versions of myself."

This acceptance allows her to focus more on her intellect than her physical appearance. "Sometimes you've got to choose between your ass and your intellect," she candidly stated. "And I choose my intellect. It will last a lot longer under the best of circumstances."

Credit: Us Mag