EXCLUSIVE: Gigi Hadid Breaks Down Over How Lyme Disease Has Personally Affected Her Family
Gigi Hadid is walking off the runway and into the MasterChef kitchen for charity.
The 20-year-old model guest stars on MasterChef Celebrity Showdown, where she will compete against fellow supermodel Devon Windsor for a charity close to her heart: the Global Lyme Alliance for Lyme Disease.
In an exclusive clip, Gigi gets emotional when addressing her personal connection to the disease, which her mother Real Housewives of Beverly Hills star, Yolanda Foster was diagnosed with in 2012.
WATCH: Yolanda Foster Says Ongoing Battle With Lyme Disease Is A Nightmare
“My mom, sister and brother are all affected by lyme disease,” she tells judges Gordon Ramsay and Christina Tosi.
“Not enough people know what Lyme disease is and the dangers of being bitten by an insect,” she adds, fighting back tears. “For that on it’s own is amazing but with [the cash prize of] $25,000, we can help with finding a cure. It can help so much.”
In October, Yolanda first revealed that her other two children -- Bella and Anwar Hadid – also have the disease, while accepting an award at the Global Lyme Alliance Gala in New York City.
Gigi spoke with ET at the event about the medical challenges her family is facing, and she teared up then when recounting their struggle.
"I'm the only one in, of my siblings, my mom and my family that hasn't been affected by Lyme disease," Gigi shared, getting choked up. "It's been really hard for me because I'm the only one that doesn't really understand it."
WATCH: Gigi Hadid Fights Back Against Body Shamers
"What's been hardest for me is just trying to find a way to be their hope and kind of be a strength for them even with the disease that I can't understand fully because I haven't been through it," Gigi added.
For more from Gigi and her family’s ability to maintain a close bond in spite of their medical struggles, watch the video below.
You can catch Gigi on MasterChef Celebrity Showdown, Monday January 18 at 8/7c on Fox.