Instagram | @padmalakshmi

Padma Lakshmi Celebrates Her 50th Birthday With Stunning Bikini Selfie

Who doesn't love to take pictures on their birthday? Whether you're celebrating the presents or cake or company you received on your special day or you just want to share yourself looking good, it's pretty standard to take a lot of pics on the day that's all about you.

If you look like Padma Lakshmi, absolutely no one can blame you for sharing a sizzling selfie.

Padma is best known as the host of *Top Chef*, but she's had a very full career.

Padma is a model, author, activist, and host who has published three cookbooks and a memoir, won an Emmy for her hosting skills, and recently premiered her own show, Taste The Nation on Hulu.

She's definitely kept busy!

Padma was born on September 1st, 1970.

Instagram | @padmalakshmi

That meant that this year, Padma was celebrating a pretty big milestone of a birthday — she turned 50!

Padma marked the occasion in a pretty impressive way by sharing an absolutely stunning bikini shot on her Instagram.

"Birthday thoughts," she captioned the photo.

Instagram | @padmalakshmi

"This year has been a mix of misery and elation.

The whole world was swallowed up by the plague In March. We were lucky but so many weren’t and I felt an impending doom, a creeping anxiety I could not shake," she wrote in the post.

"I cannot ask for anything more. I am truly blessed: a loving and attentive partner, a child that continues to be a miracle every day and work that I am proud of and fully engaged by with people I love."

Instagram | @padmalakshmi

"I am today very lucky. But I am also a product of the toil and troubles my younger self endured. And I thank that version of me," she added.

We hope Padma had a fantastic birthday, and took some time to relax — she's definitely earned it!