Ariel Winter slams Internet trolls after negative comments

Ariel Winter has aimed a furious rant at Internet trolls after she faced a barrage of negative comments over a photo which showed the actress posing with her two young nieces.

The Modern Family castmember shared the image on her Instagram.com account on Friday (13Nov15), showing her on a boat in a bikini with her two young relatives, who are both wearing swimsuits and lifejackets.

A number of social media followers poured scorn on the 17-year-old star, suggesting the picture is inappropriate, but Ariel has now hit back at the Internet trolls.

She shared an image of a woman's legs emblazoned with words such as "provocative" and "w**re" and added in a caption, "Who knew that an innocent photo with my nieces would turn into this? The height of a girl's skirt or whatever she is wearing for that matter, does not imply what she is asking for.

"It sickens me to think at 17 years old, a photo of myself with my nieces is suggesting that I'm 'asking for it'."

Ariel, who underwent breast reduction surgery earlier this year (15), continued, "I typically never give power to the mean things people bravely say behind their computer screens on the Internet, but this is for the girls who are constantly bullied whether it be online or at school...

"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. Celebrate you and don't let anyone's comments allow you to think less of yourself. Us girls have to stick together!!!!!!"

Ariel recently spoke out about 'body shaming' after negative comments on Twitter.com compared her to pop star Ariana Grande. The actress wrote in a tweet to the singer, "Women should empower one another. Celebrate each other - you're all beautiful."