Jeff Steinberg/David Tonnessen, PacificCoastNews.comAriel Winter doesn't appear to be letting her real-life family drama dampen her spirits.
The 14-year-old Modern Family star and sister Shanelle Gray were all smiles Sunday at the Studio City farmer's market in L.A. The sisterly outing happened just two days before a hearing on Gray's petition to become Ariel's permanent guardian is set to take place.
Earlier this month, Ariel was removed from mother Chrisoula Workman's care following allegations that the teen had been subjected to physical and emotional abuse. Workman denies these allegations and claims Gray is trying to cash in on her younger sibling's fame.
Workman told E! News she was blindsided by Gray's filing. "The more I put my foot down and not let her go party with his friends, she'd attack me," Ariel's mom said. "And this last week, I knew something was going on but I didn't know what. She was hitting me, calling me dirty names...She was telling me she was going to make me pay, and she has. She made me pay. And not only that, my little girl is beautiful, smart and talented, and she's going to mess up her life right now."
Ariel's relationship with 19-year-old Cameron Palatas was a point of contention between the mother and daughter, but Ariel and her older boyfriend have since broken up.
Tomorrow a decision will be made about what's best for Ariel in terms of her permanent guardian.