Ariel Winter, known for her role as Alex Dunphy on Modern Family, has opened up about her decision to leave Los Angeles to build a new life following a traumatic childhood and intense public scrutiny. Winter spoke about the challenges that came with fame while starring on the iconic ABC sitcom.
Winter began acting at age four and faced relentless body shaming and online bullying, which deeply affected her self-esteem. She also endured familial trauma – child services removed her from her mother’s custody at age 14 due to abuse allegations. She gained emancipation at 17.
Winter was just 14 during the show’s early seasons, making the harsh spotlight and negative attention even harder to cope with.
“It 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 s*ut. I mean, I was 14,” Winter said. “It totally damaged my self-esteem.”
“No matter what I was going through, I was a target,” she added. “It made it very difficult to look at myself in the mirror and go, ‘I love this version of me.'”
Healing Outside L.A.
Seeking healing and privacy, Winter moved out of Los Angeles with her boyfriend, actor Luke Benward. She embraced a quieter life involving cooking, caring for six dogs, and pursuing new creative passions like producing and podcasting.
Additionally, she has become an advocate against online sexual abuse. Inspired by her own past experiences, she is involved with the group SOSA (Safe From Online Sex Abuse). SOSA helps protect young people from predators online.
Despite being a trauma survivor, Winter prefers to be known for using her platform to support others. She states that her focus is now on helping people and making a meaningful impact.
Winter said that she has “gone through some shit” but she wants to “shine a spotlight on those that need it.”
Hollywood stars are openly discussing their experiences with trauma and mental health challenges. This stems from a mix of rising mental health awareness and greater societal acceptance. This is a cultural shift that values authenticity and vulnerability in the spotlight.
