Vanessa Minnillo attended a benefit called Step Up & Step Out for the female empowerment charity, Step Up Women's Network. While at the event, she talked about the importance of female role models in her own life.

"I didn't have my real mother growing up. My dad was always there, but there is something about a woman's touch,” Vanessa, who was raised by her father from a young age when her mother and new husband moved to Turkey, told In Touch. "So I've literally drawn from so many women in my life, and I was fortunate enough to be able to have that.

I'm still like a little girl who cries at night and has a fork in the road and says — does she go left? Does she go right? I need someone's guidance and yet, I have also helped guide others," she added.

I never knew that about Vanessa; I can't imagine growing up without my mother! She's done well for herself, though, hasn't she?

Although Vanessa was open about her past, she wasn't so open about her relationship with Nick Lachey. When congratulated on the reunification, Vanessa reportedly laughed and said "Thank you!" and left it at that.

Photos by INF