Winter said her social media account was flooded with negative comments after she posted a photo in a bikini with her nieces

Ariel Winter Hits Back at Body Shamers: What a Girl Wears Does Not Imply She's 'Asking For It'

Ariel Winter didn’t hold back after she received a barrage of negative comments on a photo with her nieces.

Winter shared an image of the back of a woman’s legs, which are marked like a ruler with words like “provocative” and “slut” to allude to an association between hemlines and perception, on Saturday in response.

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“Who knew that an innocent photo with my nieces would turn into this?” Winter, 17, wrote. “The height of a girl’s skirt or whatever she is wearing for that matter, does not imply what she is asking for.”

The photo in question, posted Friday, showed a bikini-clad winter posting with her two young nieces on a boat. Winter’s bikini was bandeau style, and the little girls were both wearing hats and life vests.

“It sickens me to think at 17 years old, a photo of myself with my nieces is suggesting that I’m ‘asking for it,’ ” Winter continued.

The Modern Family star, who had breast reduction surgery earlier this year, said she doesn’t usually “give power” to mean things said about her on the Internet, but felt inspired to speak out for other girls who have been bullied. “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,” she wrote. “Celebrate you and don’t let anyone’s comments allow you to think less of yourself. Us girls have to stick together!!!!!!”

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Winter has been outspoken about body shaming before. Earlier this month, after negative comments on social media compared her to Ariana Grande, the actress reached out to the pop singer in support.