Gigi Hadid Gets Emotional About Her Family's Struggle with Lyme Disease on MasterChef

(Image credit: Getty Images)

By Mehera Bonner published 19 January 16

Supermodel/Burger Enthusiast, Gigi Hadid, won MasterChef's Celebrity Showdown on Monday night, and gave her $25,000 check to The Global Lyme Alliance for Lyme Disease.

The cause is close to Gigi's heart due to the fact that three of her family members have Lyme disease—including her sister, model Bella Hadid. "My mom, sister and brother are all affected by Lyme disease," Gigi told Chef Gordon Ramsay as she fought back tears. "Not enough people know what Lyme disease is and the dangers of being bitten by an insect."

CALL ME MASTER CHEF HADID!All the lymies out there @LymeAlliance this one's for YOU! Thank you @MASTERCHEFonFOX 💚🏆 pic.twitter.com/VryENIACNdJanuary 19, 2016

Gigi went on to tell ET that it's hard being the only person in her family who doesn't fully understand Lyme disease, saying "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."

$25,000 will certainly go a long way to help find a cure, so high-five to Gigi for winning MasterChef with what has to be the most delicious-looking burger of all time.

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Mehera Bonner