The Do-It-Your self Manufacturing behind Padma Lakshmi “Style the Nation”

In “Style the Nation,” which debuted its second season this month on Hulu, Padma Lakshmi, the longtime host of the reality-television competitors “Prime Chef,” visits numerous immigrant communities all through the USA, not solely consuming their meals, however interviewing the individuals who make it.

A lot has been written about how the present is a radical departure for meals tv, with its capability to spotlight the best way historical past, reminiscence and trauma are woven by what we eat. Whether or not Ms. Lakshmi, 52, is breaking the Ramadan quick with Arab People in Dearborn, Mich., or making piroshky with a queer Ukrainian-American chef, she manages to shine a highlight on how politics and tradition sit downstream from meals. Its D.I.Y., documentarian model — not in contrast to earlier meals reveals from hosts corresponding to Anthony Bourdain — manages to keep away from turning these communities and their delicacies into objects of fascination.

Much less consideration has been positioned on her look on the present. Right here, in contrast to on “Prime Chef,” the previous vogue mannequin presents herself as she is: unfussily, with minimal hair and make-up, and with out a lot pageantry. In an edited interview, Ms. Lakshmi spoke about her clothes decisions, why she prefers to do her personal make-up and different aesthetic selections that go into making “Style the Nation.”

Do you suppose the tradition has modified in the best way we speak about girls, particularly girls of colour, on TV?

I’ve at all times been the identical. I’ve continued to attempt to create work for myself that’s fascinating to me — as a result of that’s the best blessing you possibly can hope for, to do the work that you simply love and receives a commission for it. However it did take individuals a while to catch up. Individuals are permitting me to be my full self, permitting me to be each an clever thinker and look good as nicely. These two issues aren’t mutually unique. The foundations for me as a lady on tv are fully completely different than they’re for my male counterparts. That may be a reality of life that I simply agree to simply accept and struggle in opposition to.

Do you suppose being a former mannequin — in different phrases, being thought-about historically stunning — made it simpler for the media to exoticize or stereotype you?

You don’t should be a vogue mannequin to know precisely what I’m speaking about or what that looks like. That’s true for company girls, for ladies in academia, girls in meals, girls in publishing.

In “Style the Nation” your look is fairly easy. Is that this intentional?

I wished the present to look completely different from “Prime Chef.” My job is to present my platform to all of our members to inform their tales as they see match. I additionally wished to be comfy. When you’ve seen “Prime Chef,” you realize that I’m in stilettos, I’m in a variety of tight sparkly clothes. However with “Style the Nation,” I wished to appear to be myself. I didn’t wish to stick out like a sore thumb in these communities the place I embed myself for a couple of week.

What had been the opposite issues that went into your wardrobe?

My wardrobe individual, Rachel Wirkus, doesn’t journey with me. As soon as we nail the episodes down, we glance up the climate round that point of the 12 months. And we guarantee that if I’m going fishing with former Cambodian gang members, which I did within the episode set in Lowell, Mass., that I’ve some tall gumboots. Although once I rewatched that episode, I joked that I seemed like I used to be out of an L.L. Bean catalog. However that’s by no means intentional.

You additionally put on a variety of flare denims.

I’m carrying flares as a result of we don’t have a sound division. Our sound man, Dimitri Tisseyre — who has completed virtually each episode with us from the start — is such a tyrant, however it’s solely as a result of he needs the present to be nice. He doesn’t wish to see that mic pack. So I’m carrying a belt round my ankle that has the mic pack. After which the wire is snaked from my ankle all the best way as much as my bra, the place the microphone is commonly hooked.

I assume you have got hair and make-up for the present?

My hair is finished by my longtime hairdresser, Jeanie Syfu, who travels with me. She’s going to usually plug her curling iron into {the electrical} socket subsequent to the air-conditioning controls on the entrance dashboard. For the primary episodes of the primary season we did have a make-up artist, who was beautiful, however I felt like there have been too many individuals on set. In documentary, the much less you disturb the surroundings you’re attempting to seize, the higher.

Did you discover a distinction while you lowered the variety of individuals within the room?

I did. You need to perceive, we’re driving round in solely three vans and a kind of vans is for our digital camera gear, after which an S.U.V., and that’s it. There are not more than 12 or 15 individuals at any given time on the highway with me. Behind my S.U.V. is my wardrobe.

You’ve come a great distance since being described by a critic as having “come-hither poses” on “Prime Chef.”

There aren’t any come-hither poses. I’m simply standing there.

I discover you put on the identical jewellery repeatedly on the present.

All the jewellery you see me put on, whether or not it’s a Rolex or gold hoops, is mine. I hold it quite simple. I often at all times put on the Saint Christopher medallion that was given to me by an outdated lover who handed away over a dozen years in the past. I additionally put on a three-stone necklace, which is one thing that my daughter and her father made for me a number of years in the past for my birthday. Dimitri [the sound person] and I’ve a relentless push and pull about that, as a result of he can at all times hear them jingling. However I don’t care as a result of in life you hear issues jingle.

I’m now remembering you took off your Rolex — and these are your phrases — “to fist” a pig you’re making ready to cook dinner within the episode set in Tarpon Springs, Fla., the place there’s a massive Greek neighborhood.

Sure, as a result of it’s a Rolex!

It may be difficult for ladies to decorate in a method that’s unobtrusive. We’re usually anticipated to look good. But when we gown down, that’s additionally remarked upon in a detrimental vogue.

Sure, that’s proper. How do you look good with out calling consideration to your self? All of us noticed that with E. Jean [Carroll]’s wardrobe lately in her trial in opposition to Donald Trump. I believed she was masterful in the best way she dressed. I can’t disguise the truth that I’m who I’m and have a Rolex in my wardrobe. However on the similar time, I simply wish to be very approachable. Horny and sensible, however easy.