Women We Love!

Independent, Successful, Sexy, South Asian, North American Women whom we love – Whew! (And in no particular order of course!)

 

1)      Padma Lakshmi 

 Just recently conducted an interview with Padma, and I have to say she is so incredibly down to earth, sweet, and humble, I don’t care what anyone says!

A cook at heart, writer of her own cookbooks, owns her own Jewellry line called ‘Padma’, is the host of the reality show Top Chef, is there anything that this woman doesn’t do?? Oh yes, I forgot to mention model;)

 

2)      Saira Mohan

Saira Mohan was also recently interviewed by one of the host’s that works alongside myself at the station.

Although successful for many years prior in New York City, she was launched into international fame in 2003 after Newsweek put her on the cover with the headline “The Perfect Face”. She is actively involved with product endorsements worldwide. She is married, and has a son named Romen Alexandre.  She was ranked #91 on the Maxim Hot 100 Women of 2002. (Wikipedia)

 

3)      Frieda Pinto

Before starring in SlumDog Millionaire Pinto anchored the international travel show, Full Circle on Zee International Asia Pacific in English between 2006-08. Pinto was also featured in several television and print advertisements for products such as Wrigley’s Chewing Gum, Škoda, Vodafone India, Airtel, and DeBeers. Pinto modeled for four years and appeared in runway shows and magazine covers. She learned acting from The Barry John’s Acting Studio in Andheri and was trained by her mentor Barry John.  After six months of auditions, she received a call to audition for Slumdog Millionaire. As we all know, Pinto auditioned for Danny Boyle and was short-listed and finally selected to star in the incredible Oscar Winning Movie Slumdog Millionaire. (Wikipedia)

 

4)      Lakshmi Menon

‘Lakshmi Menon is an Indian model. Best known for her work with Givenchy, she’s not the traditional Bollywood beauty. Armed with a degree in developmental sociology and a habit of always telling the truth, Lakshmi Menon is the kind of woman who was sorely missing from your school debate team. Known around the industry for her deep stare and her pout, these trademarks eerily match her sometimes-pessimistic views.

Books like The Great Gatsby are part of a relaxing (and rare) day off, along classical music and the blues. When she’s not running four times a week to keep her high-priced 5’10” body in shape, she’ll slip on a sundress and chill at her quiet Goa hillside house.’ – askmen.com

 

5)      Anoushka Shankar

 I saw this beautiful woman perform live alongside her very talented father Ravi Shankar. The sounds that come out of her sitar are undescribable, you honestly have to catch her live in concert to experience first hand what I had the honor of experiencing.

Shankar began training on the sitar with her father as a child, gave a public performance at the age of thirteen, and signed her first record contract at 16.

She released her first album, Anoushka, in 1998. Later, in February 2000, Shankar became the first woman to perform at The Ramakrishna Centre in Kolkata. Both Shankar and her half-sister, Norah Jones, were nominated for Grammy awards in 2003. (Wikipedia)

 

6)      Norah Jones

 Norah Jones was born in Brooklyn, New York on March 30, 1979 to Sitar maestro Ravi Shankar and Sue Jones.

She once said, “My mom had this eight-album Billie Holiday set, I picked out one disc that I liked and played that over and over again.” (Wikipedia) And clearly, the rest is history. Very talented. Very gracious. You should pick up one of her albums if you ever get a chance, it’s definately worth listening to.

 

7)      Persis Khambatta

Khambatta began modeling at the age of 13. At age 15, Khambatta became Miss India in 1965, dressed in off-the-rack clothes she bought at the last minute.

She participated in the Miss Universe 1965 pageant, but did not achieve much success in Bollywood or other Indian movie industries, partially due to her relatively Western looks, which appeared unconventional for most Indian audiences. She later entered the world of international movies.

Khambatta became a model for companies such as Revlon. In 1975, she had small roles in Conduct Unbecoming and The Wilby Conspiracy. She went on to a brief movie career that included the role for which she is most recognized, as navigator Lieutenant Ilia in Star Trek: The motion picture. (Wikipedia)

 

8)      Lisa Ray

 Lisa Ray was finishing high school in Canada with aspirations of majoring in Journalism at University when a celebrated fashion magazine approached her to model for them, and she ended up on the cover. This catapulted her into a state of instant celebrity. Her high-profile career got her noticed by Indian filmmakers, but she refused many offers until the offbeat _Kasoor (2000)_, which received a considerable amount of attention. Indian-Canadian director Deepa Mehta then cast her as the lead in the lighthearted romantic comedy Bollywood/Hollywood (2002), which went on to be a huge success in Canada. She subsequently moved to London to study acting and concentrate on a serious career in the performing arts. After graduating from drama school she was reunited with Deepa Mehta in the critically lauded Water (2005/I). She has since carved out a challenging variety of characterizations- everything from a farm girl to a femme fatale- which is a testament to her adaptability and desire for challenge. (IMDb)

 

9)      Sarah Shahi

 Aahoo Jahansouz  also known as Sarah Shahi (born January 10, 1980) is an American actress of Spanish-Iranian descent. A former NFL Cheerleader, Shahi was named #90 on the Maxim magazine “Hot 100 of 2005” list; she moved up to #66 in 2006. Sarah is married to actor Steve Howey whom she met on the set of Reba in 2004. She has starred in The L Word and in Life. (Wikipedia)

 

 

10)   Parminder Nagra

Parminder Nagra, who scored with audiences and critics alike as a soccer-playing English teenager in the surprise hit film “Bend It Like Beckham,” joined the cast of “ER” as third-year medical student Neela Rasgotra in a decidedly less athletic role.

“She’s somebody who seems astute, very hardworking and keen to learn,“ said Nagra. “I’d also say that I am somebody who is hardworking and keen to learn — although I do have my lazy days!”

Nagra was born and raised in Leicester, England but her family is originally from the state of Punjab in India. She admits that she had no formal acting training but that it was something she fell in to.

“I didn’t even know if I wanted to become so involved with the business,” said Nagra. “Because it was more of a gradual thing, my parents got used to it.” – And we’re glad they did, we simply adore you Miss Nagra;)

 

-Sonya