Padma Lakshmi from "Top Chef" wears a mask that reads "bans off our bodies" while at the Houston Women's March Saturday, October 2, 2021. 

Rain didn’t stop thousands of protestors, including ‘Top Chef’ hosts Padma Lakshmi and Gail Simmons, from showing up to publicly denounce Texas’ Sept. 1 abortion ban during Saturday's Houston Women’s March.

Lakshmi and Simmons took a pause from filming the culinary competition's latest season to march with protesters from Discovery Green to the steps of City Hall in downtown Houston, joining protestors in chanting “my body, my choice” and “vote Abbott out."

Padma Lakshmi and Gail Simmons of “Top Chef” lead march to City Hall #houstonwomensmarch pic.twitter.com/E3uX0CL43M

In their speeches, the hosts shared their personal stories about how abortion access has—and continues to—impact their lives. Lakshmi told the crowd her mother had once received an abortion at Planned Parenthood after suffering severe injuries in a car accident.

“At that time, not only could my parents not afford another child, but her body could not physically sustain another pregnancy,” Lakshmi said. “It’s out of love for me that they made the difficult decision to do what was right for our family and it’s out of love for my mother and all families that I stand here today, ready to fight.” 

Padma Lakshmi and Gail Simmons from "Top Chef" march alongside Houston City Councilwoman Letitia Plummer during the city's women's march. 

Lakshmi said the restrictive Senate Bill 8, which outlaws abortions after six weeks of pregnancy and makes no allowances for instances of rape or incest, comes with “horrific consequences,” particularly for victims of sexual abuse. Lakshmi told the crowd she herself had been raped at the age of 16. 

“My only saving grace was that I didn’t become pregnant,” Lakshmi said. “I know how sexual violence can make people feel powerless and this bill is a knife in the heart to those very same people.”

Simmons told the crowd she initially had mixed feelings about filming the latest season of “Top Chef” in Houston because of Texas’ voter rights restrictions and the passage of SB 8, but said the city’s stance on these issues contradicted the state’s and it was important to show support to the local community. 

Gail Simmons from "Top Chef" said she was initially skeptical about filming the show's newest season in Houston because of Texas' restrictive Senate Bill 8. 

“I know that Houston is a deeply diverse and vibrant place,” Simmons said. “I know that my beloved restaurant industry, let alone the women of Houston and all of Texas, need our support now more than ever and that personally choosing to back out of coming here would only serve to hurt the local people and the local economies that I set out in my career to uplift and stand behind.”

Mayor Sylvester Turner, who attended the march, applauded "Top Chef" for continuing to film in the Bayou City, adding he finds most people in Houston and Harris County are opposed to bills like SB 8.

“Politics are not the same throughout the state of Texas,” he said. “If you end up closing the door on the state... the very same people that you’re trying to lift up, you continue to push down. For 'Top Chef' to join in speaks volumes about them but at the same time it's about the city of Houston. We're a very inclusive city and what hurts one hurts us all."

Padma Lakshmi from "Top Chef" marches alongside protesters at the Houston Women's March.

Both Lakshmi and Simmons said they are worried about Roe v. Wade being overturned in the Supreme Court, but plan to continue using their platform and status to take a stand and inspire others to share their voice.

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Padma Lakshmi from "Top Chef" opened up about her past sexual abuse during the Houston Women's March. 

Padma Lakshmi and Gail Simmons from "Top Chef" joined the Houston Women's March.

Padma Lakshmi from "Top Chef" called out Gov. Greg Abbott during a speech at the Houston Women's March.

“I think a lot of people in Texas feel like their voice doesn’t matter because of voting rights and because of a lot of different laws, not just SB 8,” Lakshmi said. “A rally like this serves to unify people who are really passionate about their civic rights.”

“Texas has set a precedent and a lot of states could fall along with it if we don’t make this an issue of national crisis and demand action at the highest levels of justice,” Simmons said.  “The most I can do is make sure people know where I stand and that I will support them.” 

Lakshmi said she had a message to share with Gov. Greg Abbott. 

“I think Abbott should take Biology 101,” Lakshmi said. “I think he should understand how women’s bodies work, how reproductive cycles work and I think he should stay out of women’s bodies. You have no right to decide what happens to my body.”

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Ariana Garcia joined Chron in 2021. Previously, she was a community news and breaking news reporter for the Austin American-Statesman. She enjoys binge-watching anime and films makeup tutorials in her spare time.