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'Modern Family' Star Ariel Winter Powerfully Responds To Body Shamers

“Modern Family” star Ariel Winter continues to be a body positive inspiration.

After receiving a barrage of hateful comments on an Instagram photo in which she posed with her two young nieces on a boat while wearing a bikini, the 17-year-old shared a message reminding girls that no clothing can suggest they’re “asking for it.”

“This is for the girls who are constantly bullied whether it be online or at school,” she wrote in the caption to an Instagram photo showing the derogatory labels women face at every possible skirt hemline. “You are not asking for anything because of what you are wearing — you are expressing yourself and don’t you ever think you deserve the negativity as the consequence to what you are wearing — YOU ARE BEAUTIFUL.”

✌ ️✌ #mynieces #lovethem #fbf

A photo posted by Ariel Winter (@arielwinter) on Nov 13, 2015 at 8:24am PST

Who knew that an innocent photo with my nieces would turn into this? The height of a girl’s skirt or whatever she is wearing for that matter, does not imply what she is asking for. It sickens me to think at 17 years old, a photo of myself with my nieces is suggesting that I’m “asking for it”. I typically never give power to the mean things people bravely say behind their computer screens on the Internet, but this is for the girls who are constantly bullied whether it be online or at school.. You are not asking for anything because of what you are wearing- you are expressing yourself and don’t you ever think you deserve the negativity as the consequence to what you are wearing- YOU ARE BEAUTIFUL. Celebrate you and don’t let anyone’s comments allow you to think less of yourself. Us girls have to stick together!!!!!!

A photo posted by Ariel Winter (@arielwinter) on Nov 13, 2015 at 9:37am PST

Winter has faced bullying about her body in the past. After getting a breast reduction earlier this year, the star opened up to Glamour about comments she’d received before the surgery.

“We live in a day and age where everything you do is ridiculed,” Winter said. “The Internet bullies are awful. I could post a photo where I feel good, and 500 people will comment about how fat I am and that I am disgusting.”

After the procedure, Winter revealed that it had relieved her of both emotional and physical pain.

“This is how I was supposed to be,” she said.

Props to the star for speaking out about her struggles for the benefit of all the young women facing similar issues.

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