"I Tell Myself EveryDay, 'I Look Fabulous'"

You’ve seen Ariel Winter’s social media posts. (And you’ve read the sometimes hurtful comments.) Now listen to the Modern Family star share why she finds power in body positive thinking.

- Monica Rizzo

KEEPING QUIET IS NOT AN OPTION FOR ARIEL WINTER— ESPECIALLY WHEN IT COMES TO BODY BULLYING. OVER THE PAST SEVERAL MONTHS, THE 18-YEAR-OLD ACTRESS—A FREQUENT TARGET OF SHAMERS—HAS TAKEN TO SOCIAL MEDIA TO MAKE NOISE ABOUT THE NEGATIVITY. “EVERY TIME SOMEONE BULLIES ME ONLINE, IT GIVES ME A CHANCE TO RE-EMPHASIZE HOW IMPORTANT SELF-ACCEPTANCE IS,” SHE WROTE IN AN INSTAGRAM POST IN SEPTEMBER. ENCOURAGING PEOPLE TO ACCEPT OTHERS IS ALSO PART OF HER MISSION. EARLIER THIS YEAR, WHEN A NUDE SELFIE OF KIM KARDASHIAN DREW CRITICISM, SHE TWEETED IN THE REALITY STAR’S DEFENSE. “WHAT I FOUND SHOCKING WAS THAT PEOPLE FOUND THE PICTURE SHOCKING,” ARIEL SAYS. “SHE LOOKS GREAT. SHE’S HAPPY. SHE’S FLAUNTING IT. IT’S NOT HURTING ANYBODY. WHY IS SOMEBODY FEELING GOOD ABOUT THEMSELVES AND POSTING A PHOTO OF THEIR BODY SUCH A PROBLEM?”

If one thing can be said about the Modern Family star, it’s that she’s unapologetic AF. And that goes for her opinions and her fashion choices. Though she’s best known on-screen as middle child Alex Dunphy—a girl more interested in studying than style—in real life, Ariel goes all out. She’s rocked cheeky bikinis and a red-carpet gown that didn’t hide the scars from her 2015 breast reduction surgery, and when she graduated from high school in June, she proudly posted a picture of herself in a skin baring body-con dress. “I looked great in it, I loved it, and that’s all that matters to me,” she says. Many fans agreed, but not all of the comments on the post were positive. She finds the controversy silly, adding, “There are so many other issues in the world that are more important than my graduation dress showing a little underboob.”