Modern Family star Ariel Winter has hit out at body shaming after receiving hateful comments on one of her Instagram photos. Posing with her two nieces on a boat, Ariel looked happy and healthy in the Instagram snap - but felt the need to address some of the negative comments users were writing underneath.
She wrote that no outfit can suggest a girl is "asking for it" and wrote the following underneath a photo of the derogatory labels girls can face next to a hemline of their skirt.
"Who knew that an innocent photo with my nieces would turn into this?" she began. "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.. "
Ariel continued: "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!!!!!"
Winter has spoken up about the importance of being body positive in the past, telling US GLAMOUR about the comments she received before she had breast reduction surgery.
"We live in a day and age where everything you do is ridiculed...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."
Winter also stuck up for her friend Ariana Grande when an Instagram user said she was sexier than Grande because "curves are sexy and sticks aren't". She responded with this:
“I especially believe in today’s world we all need to stick together — I believe in EMPOWERING other women and not putting them down. I celebrate everyone for who they are because that is what makes them beautiful. You ARE beautiful.”
Go Ariel Winter for speaking out about body positivity.