Ariel Winter, one of the young stars of the hit ABC show Modern Family, opens up in a new essay about some of the experiences she underwent before deciding to undergo breast reduction surgery. Sharing intimate insight into her very personal choice, Ariel Winter–who is just 18–seems years ahead of her time.

.@arielwinter1: Breast reduction surgery changed my life https://t.co/nwhGH4iwWe

— TIME.com (@TIME) February 24, 2016

Winter was criticized after she attended the recent SAG Awards, wearing a dress that showed the scars from her breast reduction surgery.

“Women are already over-sexualized, and I grew into my body so young. I was 13, 14 years old, and I looked 19,” Ariel Winter writes in an essay for Motto, a new website from the editors of Time.

“Suddenly, people didn’t want to talk about my job–they just wanted to talk about my cleavage,” the actress continues. “I’d go to awards shows and the next day see everyone on the Internet telling me I shouldn’t look like this and dress like that. The conversation became about my looks instead of my talent and work–everything that I didn’t want.”

Ariel Winter admits, however, it wasn’t social pressure that ultimately prompted her to decide to have breast reduction surgery.

“People may find it hard to believe, but when I got my breast-reduction surgery last year, it wasn’t because of the mean comments online,” she says. “It wasn’t because I didn’t like how I looked. Having so much weight on my frame was affecting me psychologically. I was uncomfortable and unhappy. I chose surgery because of how I felt, not because of what anyone else thought.”

Ariel Winter pens essay on breast reduction https://t.co/CDTi51gyvS pic.twitter.com/cbPIFPTWpF

— People Magazine (@people) February 25, 2016

Ariel Winter sets such a fine example for young women everywhere. Confident and poised, she has grown into a very beautiful, talented, and self-assured actress, who isn’t afraid to speak her mind and stand up for what she believes.