Mindy Kaling Reveals Snack That Gets Her Through Fashion Shows (Exclusive)

Mindy Kaling likes to indulge her sweet tooth to ease her nerves at fashion shows.

While chatting with PEOPLE at Tory Burch Spring/Summer 2026 show at New York Fashion Week on Monday, Sept. 15, the Running Point star, 46, revealed that she brings candy to snack on while spectating the runway from the audience.

“No matter how nervous you get, there’s candy in your bag. And that’s true tonight,” she says.

Her go-to sweets? Sour Patch Kids.

Kaling also shared who her dream fashion show front-row seat neighbors would be.

“I think Colman Domingo because he is just so chic. Zendaya because she’s also just gorgeous. These are people that I’m just thinking about how stylish they are. My mom was incredibly stylish, so I would’ve loved it for her to be there. And she had a great sense of humor,” she tells PEOPLE, referring to mother, Swati Chokalingam, who died of pancreatic cancer in 2012.

“Tory [Burch] doesn’t really sit front row since she’s a designer, but I would love to sit next to Tory. And there’s Kate Hudson, who’s so fun and so fashionable,” Kaling continues.

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“And then these two actresses who were in my new [Hulu] show, [Not Suitable for Work], named Avantika and Ella Hunt,” she adds. “They’re so chic and fun and just easy to talk to.”

At Monday’s runway show, Kaling was surrounded by stylish fellow guests in the front row, including Jessica Alba, Ciara, Emma Roberts and Naomi Watts. The Office alum made a striking statement in a Tory Burch brown knit collared midi dress topped with an animal print coat.

“I feel gorgeous,” she tells PEOPLE of her look. “I love layers. So this outfit is really giving. And I just feel like fall is officially here because of the Tory show.”

As summer wound to an end, Kaling recently gave fans a peek into her “transitional wardrobe,” joking that it was “chaotic.” In an Aug. 15 Instagram slideshow, she modeled a series of outfits and accessories — from dresses and heels to denim shorts and western boots.

“Is it summer? Is it fall? Am I at the resort or hard at work? I am transitional dressing and it’s chaotic, guys,” the actress and mom of three wrote in the caption.