Vanessa Minnillo: 'I was bullied at school'

Vanessa Minnillo has spoken about being bullied and the insecurities that plagued her in high school.

Speaking to students at a youth-mentoring event in Silver Spring, Maryland, the TV personality revealed that her former classmates used to tease her about her looks.

"My lips - I see beautiful lips now - but people made fun of me for that. They made fun of me for the colour of my skin… I didn't have perfect hair; I never had good shoes," the 30-year-old explained to the students.

She continued: "When I was your age, I was at the most critical point in my life. I was miserable. I was internally a very sad, sad girl. I was on the cheerleading squad, and I was the president of my class. I cried myself to sleep every night."

The Miss Teen USA offered words of encouragement to the young audience.

"You were all born with a unique gift that nobody else has. And that's what makes you beautiful," she added.

The event was part of First Lady Michelle Obama's celebration of Women's History Month.

Minnillo is engaged to singer and TV host Nick Lachey. She recently announced that she and Lachey are not ready to have children.