Ariel Winter describes how hard it was to accept her body when she literally grew up on TV

Ariel Winter just got very real about her struggles with body acceptance while growing up in the spotlight as Alex Dunphy on Modern Family.

Ariel started on Modern Family when she was 11 years old which, as many of us don’t ever want to remember, is an awkward time for a young girl. To make things worse, internet bullies constantly attacked her body type, as she told New York Magazine.

Thankfully, Ariel has taken the hate and turned it into positivity — she’s now an outspoken advocate for women choosing to love their bodies.

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Working with Sofia Vergara, her Modern Family co-star, helped her to change her attitude.

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“Working with Sofia Vergara and growing up with her was great, because she was, you know, a really amazing, curvy role model for me,” Ariel explained. “She helped me learn to accept the way I looked and love it and dress for it, and feel good about myself.”

That confidence radiates from Ariel on red carpets nowadays. She is the definition of SLAY.

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The 18-year-old actress also recently teamed up with Dove for their #SpeakBeautiful campaign, encouraging women to support and empower themselves and each other.

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Speak beautiful to yourself and others all day, every day, ladies!