'You don't know what I'm going through': Tyra Banks, 41, breaks down in tears as she complains about social media grillings over having children amid fertility heartbreak

By Heidi Parker For Dailymail.com and Mike Larkin For Dailymail.com

Published: 10:24 EST, 16 September 2015 | Updated: 02:57 EST, 17 September 2015

It has only just emerged she is struggling to start a much-wanted family with her Norwegian photographer boyfriend.

And Tyra Banks broke down on tears on television as she hit out at social media bullies who constantly demand to to know why she has not had any children

The 41-year-old, who has had failed IVF treatments, made the emotional proclamation after her FABLife co-star Chrissy Teigen brought up the subject of her own fertility troubles as she bids to have a family with husband John Legend.

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In tears: Tyra Banks broke down as she complained on FABLife that people were grilling her about having children on social media when she was struggling with her fertility

Tyra said: 'I'm so tired of seeing on my social media, "why don't you have kids, why don't you have kids?"

'You don't know, you don't know what I'm going through. You have no idea.'

She then explained how she had been certain she would have a large family for her whole life, and was shocked when it did not turn out that way.

The former model said: 'For a long time, it was so funny, I was 23-years-old, I used to tell myself "in three years I'm going to have kids."

Struggling: She waved away the tears in her eyes as she tried to get her point across to the aduience

Emotional: The model was struggling to maintain her composure as she made the powerful proclamation

'It's not so easy': She explained she had been sure she would have a large brood all of her life

'Then I turned 24, "in three years I'm going to have kids." Every single year I just kept saying that.

'And then after a while it's like, now I want to, it's not so easy.'

After saying that she started to cry, and tried to stop the tears by fanning her eyes.

She spoke out after Chrissy brought up the subject, revealing she too was having problems as she tries to start a family with her pop star husband John Legend.

The 29-year-old said: 'I will say honestly John and I were having trouble. We would have had kids five, six years ago if it happened.

Starting a debate: Chrissy Teigen got the ball rolling when she explained she had fertility problems of her own

Family woes: The model said she and husband John Legend would have had children years ago if they had not had problems

'Stop asking': Chrissy said people should show more tact before asking people if they are going to start a family

Not-so-FABLife: Chrissy and Tyra shared their problems with their fellow panelists

'But my gosh it's been a process. We've seen fertility doctors and once you open up about those things to other people you learn that a lot of other people in your life are seeing these people and they have this shame about it

'So anytime somebody asks if I'm going to have kids I'm just like, "one day you're going to ask that to the wrong girl who is really struggling and it's going t be really hurtful to them and I hate that. Stop asking me.'

Tyra had earlier revealed she and beau Erik Asla, 50, were having problems to People on Wednesday.

The Tyra Presents The FABLife host said she suffered 'traumatic moments' due to failed IVF treatments.

Her personal journey: Tyra Banks, seen here in July, revealed to People that she has been struggling with fertility as IVF treatments have not worked

'It's really difficult,' the Sports Illustrated cover girl allowed. 'I've had some not-so-happy, traumatic moments.' 

Banks said that when she turned 40, she felt like she wanted to have children with her Norwegian photographer boyfriend, who she has been with for two years.

'The one thing that I was not happy about in my life was that I did not have kids,' she said. 'Since I was 24, I used to say every year, "I will have kids in three years."'

The man in her life: The TV icon has been dating beau Erik Asla, 50, for two years; here they are seen in May

A new show: In addition to America's Next Top Model, Banks will be hosting FABLife; here she is seen in August in LA

But work got in the way.

'My business is very entrepreneurial and I kept trying to find time for it to happen,' the Vogue star added.

'Then when you're like, "I'm just going to do it," it's not so easy.'

The ex: The former Sports Illustrated cover girl with John Utendhal in Mexico in 2011

The catwalker - who last dated John Utendhal - teared up to a People reporter, it was added, as she described her heartbreak.

But she still holds out hope for a flock of kids.

'I don't just want one child,' said the TV icon. 'I'd love a litter. Maybe they'll be running the family business. I do want a legacy.' 

Known for taking a stand: The Vogue favorite defended her curves on the cover of People after she had been called fat

Also in her interview, Tyra touched on aging.

'So many women are scared to get old,' the LA native said. 'But I look forward to getting old with my man. Age isn't a bad thing. It's not the number on the paper, it's the face in the mirror.'

The beauty also admitted she is now 168 pounds and happy.

'It's a weird dance,' she said of keeping her weight just right. 'When I was at my healthiest, about five years ago, I was thin, but I felt conflicted, like it wasn't the best example to show women.

'I'm the girl who said, "Kiss my fat ass." I'm the thicker runway model. Sometimes I feel like my body doesn't belong to me.'

Making the rounds: Banks was also seen on The Kelly & Michael show in NYC this week

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