One of the hosts of Top Chef Padma Lakshmi appeared on The Late Show with David Letterman yesterday. Padma was born in India but grew up in New York City. She attended theater school to study acting and started modeling to pay off her college loans. In her first movie role, she had to gain 20 pounds for the part. Afterwards, she had to lose it for her modeling career. And that’s how her first cookbook came out, “Easy Exotic.” The book did so well and that got her involved in cooking shows on TV.

Perhaps the most shocking part of the interview was when Padma revealed a 7-inch scar between her shoulder and elbow which she got from a serious auto accident when she was 14 years old. She was very self-conscious of it early in her modeling career, but now is proud of it and wears it as a badge of honor. She showed the scar to the camera.

Season 6 of Top Chef begins in September and will take place in Las Vegas. Padma says she gains weight every season of Top Chef.

Padma Lakshmi on the Late Show with David Letterman