The most surprising thing I learn aboutAriel Winterduring our conversation is that shes never ordered anything from Amazon.
Winter has been living in the spotlight for her entire adolescence.
She was just a preteen when she started playing smart, sensible middle child Alex Dunphy onModern Family.
Stylist: Michael Mann Makeup: Kip Zachary Hair: Charles Dujic
She went through puberty and struggled with her new body.
She waslegally emancipatedfrom her mother in 2015, following claims that her mother was emotionally and physically abusive.
Last year, she had abreast reduction surgerythat she describes as an overwhelmingly positive experience.
Talking to Winter, its easy to forget that shes only 18 years old.
Shes still acting onModern Family, and plans toattend UCLAstarting next fall.
She loves Chrissy Teigens Snapchats, and couldnt live without InstagramDrakes account is a particular favorite.
Shes watchingGame Of Thronesright now, and her ultimate binge-watching favorite isHouseshes seen the whole series multiple times.
Growing up in the spotlight was quite possibly the worst for my self-esteem, she says.
I had a hard time finding confidence within myself.
I was stick thin, I had no chest, I had no buttI 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.
Just really negative things that werent helpful for me.
Winter has been acting since she was seven, and has been homeschooled since the second grade.
She doesnt like the term child star, because it comes with so many negative connotations.
And, at this point in her life, shed rather be seen as an adult.
You are who you are.
Its not going to change.
Love yourself for who you are.
People are going to hate regardless of what you do.
You could conform to everything they say, and theyre still going to find something to pick.
Or you could be yourself and be happy and not listen to what they say.
I didnt even really need to.
It was that quick and painless.
Literally I sat in the center and I was nervous about it.
You know, I want to go to this recovery center, because Im nervous.
The first night, I could have gone home.
I woke up, I felt great.
She says the experience barely bothered her.
They are part of me and I’m not ashamed of them at all.
:)"
“That really disturbed me, and made me incredibly upset,” she says.
I wish people would see that."
Right now, Winter says shes at peace with the past, and focused on the future.
As for whats next on the journey:Modern Family, college, and her day-to-day life.
She hopes to major in political science, and dreams of becoming a federal prosecutor.
Shes reading the CNN app every day.
And shes focusing on her most important role, which is just being herself.
Additional reporting by Haley Goldberg.
Stylist: Michael Mann Makeup: Kip Zachary Hair: Charles Dujic
