EXCLUSIVE: Ariel Winter Talks Young Fame, Is Praised for Confidence by Co-Stars Sofia Vergara, Julie Bowen

Ariel Winter is continuing her message of body positivity! The 19-year-old Modern Family star stepped out with her co-stars on Wednesday at a TV Academy event for the ABC comedy, wearing a revealing gown embellished mini-dress with lots of cutouts.

The look is just one of many that Winter has been rocking in the past few years that embraces her curves and promotes body positivity.

WATCH: EXCLUSIVE: Ariel Winter Turns Heads in Bedazzled Mini Dress at 'Dog Years' Premiere, Says She's Game for a 'Modern Family' Spinoff!


“The show helped me a lot,” the actress told ET’s Nischelle Turner. “I was surrounded by so many great people that were really supportive of me and really, you know, wanted me to thrive. And told me all the time that they believed in me and thought I should be confident and all those things.”

She went on to note that her success at a young age was difficult to adjust to at first adding, “We were criticized a lot. And I was criticized especially being the youngest girl out of the cast. And it was definitely hard.”

Winter’s on-screen mom, Julie Bowen, expressed her admiration for Winter and talked about the young actress’ confidence.

“I'm always like, ‘Why are you showing so much of your body?’ and then she's like, ‘Why not?’” Bowen told ET. “She knows exactly who she is. She knows exactly, and I've watched so much negativity bounce right off her, and I'm like let me learn from you.”

Winter’s other co-star, Sofia Vergara also praised her and the other former child stars in the cast, saying, “She's great. She's a great actress, she's super professional. We love her on set. She has never given us a reason to be upset. It's fantastic, actually, all the kids on the set are like amazing role model to all kids because they behave really nice.”

MORE: Ariel Winter Gets Adorable New Puppy With Boyfriend Levi Meaden -- See the Pics!


As for what Winter would say to young girls struggling with their own body confidence?

“Well, first of all, the way we are is beautiful,” she said. “I mean, that's who we're supposed to be, you know? And also, at the end of the day, the only person you should be trying to make happy is yourself and not other people. And I think that that's the most important lesson we've all had to learn throughout the years. It’s definitely that pleasing yourself is most important before anybody else.”

For more from Winter, watch the clip below!

Related Gallery

Ariel Winter's Most Risque Selfies