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\n Related: <\/span>Ariel Winter Through the Years: \u2018Modern Family\u2019 and More<\/span><\/a>
\n\t\t<\/h3>\n<\/p><\/div>\n\n\t\t\tYoung Hollywood royalty! Ariel Winter rose to fame on ABC\u2019s beloved sitcom Modern Family, but her role as Alex Dunphy was hardly her first go-round. By the time the Virginia native landed the role of Phil (Ty Burrell) and Julie Dunphy\u2019s (Julie Bowen) middle child, she had already appeared in shows including ER, Bones, Nip\/Tuck [\u2026]\t\t<\/p>\n<\/div>\n
Winter told the outlet, \u201cGrowing up in the entertainment industry, I\u2019ve been the girl we are trying to save. It\u2019s vital to me to help protect young women from the experiences I endured in my own life<\/a>.\u201d<\/p>\nWinter grew up in the limelight, playing Alex Dunphy on Modern Family<\/em><\/a> from 2009 to 2020. She was only 11 when the show premiered. As she grew up<\/a> and her body started to develop, Winter was heavily scrutinized.<\/p>\n\n![\"Ariel](\"https:\/\/www.usmagazine.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/06\/Ariel-Winter-Dresses-Up-as-12-Year-Old-Girl-to-Catch-Online-Predator-IG-2.jpg?w=1000&quality=86&strip=all\")
<\/div>SOSA\/Instagram<\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\u201cIt was just everywhere,\u201d Winter told People<\/em><\/a> in May of the negative remarks. \u201cIt was every headline I read about myself. Like, grown people writing articles about me saying how I looked terrible or pregnant or like a fat slut. I mean, I was 14. It totally damaged my self-esteem.\u201d<\/p>\nThe actress \u2014 whose sister, Shanelle Gray<\/strong>, became her legal guardian<\/a> after Winter accused her mom, Chrisoula Workman<\/strong><\/a>, of physical and emotional abuse during her Modern Family<\/em> days \u2014 recalled being a \u201cvictim of grooming online and IRL and CSA [child sex abuse]\u201d before finding her voice and a safe place<\/a> for herself. (Winter\u2019s mom has denied all allegations of abuse.)<\/p>\n\u201cTechnically, yes, I\u2019m a survivor. I\u2019ve gone through some s***,\u201d Winter told People<\/em>. \u201cBut a lot of people have gone through some s***. Calling me a survivor takes away from what I\u2019m here for, which is to help others and shine a spotlight on those that need it. More than anything, I want my story to be that she uses her platform for good. My journey to figuring things out and healing is now through helping other people. That\u2019s all I care about.\u201d<\/p>\nWinter explained to the Daily Mail<\/em> on Friday that it is a lot of work to catch predators, and although you \u201csee a lot of dark things\u201d during the investigations, it\u2019s worth it.<\/p>\n\n![\"Ariel](\"https:\/\/www.usmagazine.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/06\/Ariel-Winter-Dresses-Up-as-12-Year-Old-Girl-to-Catch-Online-Predator-IG-1.jpg?w=1000&quality=86&strip=all\")
<\/div>SOSA\/Instagram<\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\u201cThis whole experience has been heartbreaking because I think of how young these girls are and they\u2019re being approached by much older men,\u201d Winter confessed.<\/p>\n
Even with the scary side to the project, Winter is happy that she has been able to do her part with SOSA. \u201cI like working with SOSA because it\u2019s women helping women and I\u2019ll do it as long as I can,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n
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Winter grew up in the limelight, playing Alex Dunphy on Modern Family<\/em><\/a> from 2009 to 2020. She was only 11 when the show premiered. As she grew up<\/a> and her body started to develop, Winter was heavily scrutinized.<\/p>\n \u201cIt was just everywhere,\u201d Winter told People<\/em><\/a> in May of the negative remarks. \u201cIt was every headline I read about myself. Like, grown people writing articles about me saying how I looked terrible or pregnant or like a fat slut. I mean, I was 14. It totally damaged my self-esteem.\u201d<\/p>\n The actress \u2014 whose sister, Shanelle Gray<\/strong>, became her legal guardian<\/a> after Winter accused her mom, Chrisoula Workman<\/strong><\/a>, of physical and emotional abuse during her Modern Family<\/em> days \u2014 recalled being a \u201cvictim of grooming online and IRL and CSA [child sex abuse]\u201d before finding her voice and a safe place<\/a> for herself. (Winter\u2019s mom has denied all allegations of abuse.)<\/p>\n \u201cTechnically, yes, I\u2019m a survivor. I\u2019ve gone through some s***,\u201d Winter told People<\/em>. \u201cBut a lot of people have gone through some s***. Calling me a survivor takes away from what I\u2019m here for, which is to help others and shine a spotlight on those that need it. More than anything, I want my story to be that she uses her platform for good. My journey to figuring things out and healing is now through helping other people. That\u2019s all I care about.\u201d<\/p>\n Winter explained to the Daily Mail<\/em> on Friday that it is a lot of work to catch predators, and although you \u201csee a lot of dark things\u201d during the investigations, it\u2019s worth it.<\/p>\n \u201cThis whole experience has been heartbreaking because I think of how young these girls are and they\u2019re being approached by much older men,\u201d Winter confessed.<\/p>\n Even with the scary side to the project, Winter is happy that she has been able to do her part with SOSA. \u201cI like working with SOSA because it\u2019s women helping women and I\u2019ll do it as long as I can,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n You have successfully subscribed.<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/div><\/div>\n<\/div><\/div>Thank You!<\/h3>\n
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