The 18-year-old actress praised Vergara for being a "curvy beautiful woman," reported ET online.
"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 said.
The young star has been criticised in the past for posting sexy Instagram picture but she doesn't see what the big deal is.
"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...I don't think it's crazy," she said.