Ariel Winter is in a happy, healthy relationship—and she doesn’t care what anyone else has to say about it.
In a recent interview with Refinery29, the Modern Family star opened up about her relationship with her boyfriend Levi Meaden, 29, after revealing earlier this month that the two are living together.
“I’m happy, and whatever people want to say, they can say,” said Winter, 19, who first sparked relationship rumors with Meaden last fall. “I don’t understand why someone would even comment on our situation at all. I don’t think it’s that big of a deal.”
VIDEO: Ariel Winter’s Style Evolution
“There are tons of people of all ages that live with their boyfriend. There are tons of people that live with their girlfriends, [and] tons of people that don’t live together and are super happy,” she continued. “But I’m super happy in the arrangement that we have. We love living together. It’s just great.”
Winter also credited Meaden for being one of the reasons she’s so comfortable in her own skin.
Click Here: South Africa Rugby Shop
“I have to say he is the most incredible person I’ve ever met and that I’m so lucky to be with him,” she said. “He’s always complimenting me and making me feel special and beautiful.”
“We went grocery shopping today, and I was in, like, a weird T-shirt that I kind of hate and my semi-pajama pants, and he still took the time to tell me that I look pretty,” she added. “Even when I do feel bad about myself, he’s just there to support me and pick me back up when I’m feeling down.”
And in the age of social media, Winter has become a pro at deflecting her haters or body shamers.
“I went through a lot of hate online, so I tried to change myself for a really long time,” she explained. “But people just kept hating on me no matter what I did.”
“I decided that instead of pleasing these other people, I’ll just spend that time pleasing myself,” she said. “Those people are going to be rude to me regardless of what I do, so I should just try and be happy with what I am.”
RELATED: Ariel Winter Claps Back at Haters Who Criticized Her Modern Family Screening Look
Modern Family returns to ABC this fall.