Padma Lakshmi and Kristin Cavallari Share Stories of Being Bullied as Children and Adults

Padma Lakshmi and Kristin Cavallari have a lot in common with anyone who was bullied when they were growing up or experienced it as adults. Lakshmi told People that she was physically hurt, teased and called names when she was a kid.

“The one time in my life I felt like I didn’t fit in was every time I had to move schools,” the Top Chef host said. “I went back and forth a lot between New York and India and it was hard to fit in. Sometimes I got teased — teased for what I brought to school for lunch, teased for my name, teased for how I looked. It was really hard when you’re growing up and you just want to fit in and be like someone else." She continued, “I can even remember their names ... When I was in seventh grade it was Sylvia, when I was in eighth grade it was Patty,” she recalled. “One time somebody crushed an egg on my head and punched me in the face. It was horrible. I used to be called giraffe and it just makes you feel so, so alone and so scared.”

Well, look at her now, Sylvia and Patty!

Cavallari said she is bullied daily as an adult, via social media.

“People always say stuff to me on Instagram and you just have to remember that people who are going to comment [stuff like that], they’re obviously coming from an insecure place,” she told People. “When you’re happy with your life and everything’s cool, you’re not going to go and try to put someone else down. So just remember: It’s not about you, it’s about them, and all you have to do is block them and delete the comments.”