Padma Lakshmi Celebrates Her 55th Birthday in Tiny Pink Bikini

Padma Lakshmi is celebrating turning 55 by hitting the beach! 

“I’m so grateful for this last year around the sun,” the Top Chef star wrote in an Instagram post on Monday, Sept. 1. 

Lakshmi shared a photo and video of herself at the beach wearing a dark pink bikini while playing in the water. The first slide showed her smiling in knee-deep water as the waves crashed into the back of her legs. 

Then, in the second slide, the model and television host laughed as she played with her chihuahua, Divina, as she ran away from the waves.

“It’s been productive professionally and also very moving to watch #Littlehands start high school and continue to blossom,” Lakshmi continued, a reference to her 15-year-old daughter Krishna’s childhood nickname.

“I’ve been pivoting and plotting the next phase of my life — and it’s here now,” she added later in her caption.  

Lakshmi continued, “As I celebrate this birthday, I’m so thankful I’m about to create a new show, all my own, with amazing people around me working hard to bring you something that’s entertaining, engaging, and informative.”

She also revealed that she’s on the way to releasing her eighth book. 

“So this coming year will be full of blessings too. I couldn’t have done any of this without you all cheering me on. Thank you, and happy birthday to me!” the America’s Culinary Cup star said. 

Birthday or not, Lakshmi is known for strutting her stuff. 

In an all-new interview with the mother-daughter duo, who are Vogue India‘s September cover stars, Lakshmi confessed that she has her daughter’s seal of approval when it comes to wearing skin-baring outfits.

According to the author, her teen is “always telling me to dress more provocatively.” 

For Lakshmi’s Pirelli Calendar debut last fall, the proud mom told PEOPLE exclusively that she’s bringing up Krishna to own her femininity. 

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“I want her to see womanhood in all its stages, so I’m very free with my body at home. I’m also very honest and blunt with her, but I always have been in an age-appropriate way,” the Sports Illustrated model said.

Lakshmi later added, “I’m here to tell younger women that you shouldn’t be afraid of aging. You shouldn’t be afraid that time is running out. You should know that it just gets better and better and better because you learn from life. You become experienced.”