Los Angeles: Actress Ariel Winter has praised her actress Sofia Vergara for being a "curvy beautiful woman" and a "wonderful role model".

"I really had the greatest opportunity to have some wonderful role models, especially Sofia Vergara. Working with a curvy beautiful woman that everybody looked up to and loved the way she looked... That was my inspiration to move forward and accept myself because that's what matters," Winter told etonline.com.

The 18-year-old actress has been criticised in the past for posting racy Instagram images but she doesn't see what the big deal is.

She added: "I don't really think I'm telling myself, 'You should post this, you shouldn't post that'. I feel like I'm just having fun. I like my fans to see what I'm doing. Everybody is so hyped up on the fact that I post photos where my butt's out. It's a butt. Everyone has a butt. I don't think it's crazy.

"It's like, 'Let me live! I'm enjoying my life, you're enjoying your life, you should be posting your butt if you like it, too!' I'm not going to fight with someone on my Instagram that tells me they don't like my outfit or I should put my butt away. I'm sorry you think I should put my butt away, but just unfollow me."

Meanwhile, Winter also clarified that she is not in a relationship with fellow actor Sterling Beaumon and has been "single for a little while now".

"We've been best friends for 10 years. We're not dating. We see each other every day but no, we're like literally best friends... I've just kinda like been single for a little while now. I've enjoyed it, and if something happens, it happens," she said.