Ariel Winter "struggled for many years" with her confidence.
Ariel Winter
The 19-year-old actress has admitted it was "a really long journey" to be able to find her self-confidence, and says she's now hoping to use her platform as a star to help empower other people in her position and give them someone to "look up to".
She said: "Well, I struggled for many years with my own confidence with myself. It was a really long journey to find that confidence, and I think it's really important because there are tons of young girls, young boys, people that are older than me, that don't really have a lot of people to look up to that are outspoken about things like that."
"And I thought, you know, I went through so much at a young age, I was criticised for everything -- the way I looked, the way I dressed, what I said. And I thought for a while that if I changed the way I was that people would accept me. I tried, and they still didn't."
And the 'Modern Family' actress says she doesn't waste her time thinking about the "negative comments" that speaking out will get her, as she's more interested in helping those who need it.
Speaking on American television programme 'The View' on Tuesday (07.03.17), Ariel said: "So that's what I try and tell people is, 'Do what makes you happy,' and that is ultimately going to be the best thing for you. I just feel like regardless of the negative comments I'll get for speaking out, it matters so much more to me the positive feedback that I get, that I'll take those negative comments and it doesn't matter. I'm just happy to help."
Meanwhile, Ariel recently opened up about her breast reduction surgery, saying she doesn't miss her 32F boobs as they brought her so much negative attention when she was trying to grow up as a teenager in the spotlight.
She said in January: "Growing up in the spotlight was quite possibly the worst for my self-esteem.
"I had a hard time finding confidence within myself. When I started, I had a completely different body than what happened overnight at 12 years old. I was stick thin, I had no chest, I had no butt - I had nothing. I was totally flat, and I was so sad about it.
"Then automatically, overnight, my body changed drastically. I was a D cup and had a bigger butt, and my waist was expanding. Everything was getting bigger. I automatically got this hate and judgment online.
"If I went to the Emmys, or if I even went to the grocery store, there would be an article the next day being like 'Ariel Winter [had] her boobs out at this event!' Just really negative things that weren't helpful for me."
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