Jennifer Hawkins has defended Donald Trump after a video of an awkward exchange between the pair in front of a live audience emerged.

Appearing at the Birdcage at the Derby Day race in Melbourne on Saturday in her role as Myer ambassador, the former Miss Universe said Trump had respected her after she won the beauty pageant, which he owned at the time.

"Sure, I've seen what's been going on in the news, but really what is there for me to say other than that he respected me during that time in my life and I have a lot of respect for him because of that... that's really all I have to say about it," she said.

Hawkins made the comment after the video of the Republican presidential nominee was widely reported on in Australia and the United States.