The Aussie teen reminds young girls to 'love who they are' in ET interview.
Bindi Irwin admires Ariel Winter's work in promoting body confidence. In an exclusive interview with ET, the Dancing With the Stars champion praised Winter for encouraging young girls to “love who they are.”
WATCH: Bindi Irwin Looks Nearly Unrecognizable in Grown-Up Selfie
"We follow each other on Instagram and Twitter and she's an amazing person," Bindi told ET’s Lauren Zima just ahead of her 18th birthday last Sunday. "I love her so much because she has got to be one of the strongest women that I know. You look at what she posts and just as an individual she's a lovely being - she's a girl with a message!"
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What Bindi appreciates about the Modern Family star is her commitment to inspiring others. "I think that what's delightful is she does inspire so many young girls just to love who they are," she explained. "I think that we share that message so completely because we all get caught up in trying to be like each other — and that's kind of this ideal, and we all try to live up to this ideal — but really it's an individual thought of what beauty is. You have to love who you are and know that you are beautiful and own it."
Bindi noted that it’s important to love yourself, "no matter how you look."
"If you have curves, you have to own it - and if you have been born to be able to pull off that bikini really well you have to just enjoy it and love your body and love who you are as an individual -- not only for girls, but for guys as well," she shared. "I see a lot of young men who are really trying to fit that box - and they have to live their lives and be true to to who they are."
READ: Bindi Irwin Is Adorably Entering Her 'Rebellious' Phase
The teen conservationist also shared why being grateful for your body is so important. "We all have to..be thankful for the bodies that we've been given because our bodies, they carry our souls!" she said. "So we have to love them and take care of them, and I love that Ariel Winter is just so involved with preaching that message and preaching to everybody that you have to ...just love whatever body you've been given."
Despite losing her father, Steve Irwin, as a child, Bindi hasn't let tragedy shake her positive outlook on life. Watch the video below to relive some of her most inspiring moments.
