Wellington, Dec 16 (ANI): Reality television host Tyra Banks is said to have broken down in tears in front of a star-studded crowd during the launch of a new beauty campaign at an Auckland waterfront restaurant.

Banks, 36, gave a speech about her stay in New Zealand and discussed the importance of embracing all kinds of beauty, encouraging young women to love themselves inside and out.

Clad in a bright purple wrap-around dress, Banks spoke of her passion for recognising all kinds of beauty and became visibly emotional.

“I apologise for the emotion but I am my mother’s daughter and my mama cries at everything,” Stuff.co.nz quoted her as saying.

The luncheon, billed as the “first ever Global Beauty Inside and Out summit,” featured numerous media and Kiwi celebrities including Lucy Lawless, Keish Castle-Hughes, Suzanne Paul and Robyn Malcom.

A local Kapa Haka group performed several songs at the luncheon and presented a greenstone necklace to Banks. (ANI)