Padma Lakshmi - “We Can Buy You Beauty, We Can't Buy You Smarts”

Padma Lakshmi wears a rather well-plumed hat. The 47-year-old food expert, actress, The New York Times best-selling author, television personality and entrepreneur, the India-born Padma Lakshmi has now collaborated with beauty giant MAC Cosmetics, to produce a unique India-inspired capsule collection

- Aarti Kapur Singh

“People come in different shades and shapes” “I have always believed that anyone who is unconventional in appearance can be attractive. MAC celebrates everyone – they promote campaigns with people and models, who may not be viewed as pristine or feminine, but have more prominent features, be a bit older, or a scar on their arm, like me! They connect with someone, who may consider themself to be a misfit, and that made me want to be a part of their beauty message. Those of us, who are never going to t into that narrow mould of what is deemed desirable and attractive, have been silently waiting for this moment. We know that all sizes are beautiful, all complexions are intriguing, and anything that is ‘perfect’ or ‘ flawless’ is often actually pretty boring!”

“Inspired by my experiences”

“While growing up and during my travels, I have experienced varied cultures, faces and ideas. I have been mesmerised by paintings, streets, food and so many things that I wanted this collection to speak to all of them. Personally, I always do make-up an hour before I need to be on the carpet. The make-up looks better when it mixes with the oils of your skin. I always carry a lip balm and a pencil. If you line your lips, put on a balm and blot it, your lips will have a stain instead of looking made up.”

“The idea of India is how I define beauty”