Padma Lakshmi feels sexier than ever at the age of 53.
Padma Lakshmi is feeling happy and confident
The model is feeling happy and confident in her 50s, and Padma believes that she's currently in her "sexual peak".
She told Us Weekly: "I’m at my sexual peak. Let’s just say what it is. I am. And I feel great about that.
"I don’t care what anybody thinks. I don’t care what my mother thinks, unless she’s very supportive."
By contrast, Padma "lived in fear" during her younger years.
She explained: "I come from a very conservative South Indian family. I was terrified that my grandfather was going to see those Helmut Newton pictures. But I am free of all that. I just didn’t meet their expectations at all."
Padma has launched a new lingerie line with Bare Necessities, and she's determined to spread a message of positivity.
The model shared: "I want them to feel happy and confident and comfortable. No matter how beautiful you look, if you’re not comfortable, you won’t look beautiful.
"I want people to reach for these things, wear it, feel good, and then go on and do the things that are really important in life, like falling in love, doing the projects they want to, being with their kids, dancing till midnight."
Meanwhile, Padma has admitted that some of her success feels "surreal".
The model - who was previously named one of TIME 100’s Most Influential People - told the New York Post newspaper's Page Six Style column: "I feel surreal.
"I’ve just been so tired that I haven’t really had time to process it. But I’m very thankful that people love ['Taste the Nation with Padma Lakshmi', her TV show] and I’m really honoured about the Time 100 thing."
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