Sofia Vergara
Colombian-American
Actress + Comedian + Producer + Model
Instagram: @sofiavergara
Colombian-born Sofia Vergara never intended to be a comic actress. Instead, she went to dental school, but left two semesters shy of graduating with a degree from Colombia University in order to become a TV host.
Prior to this, Sofia was discovered by a photographer on a beach in Colombia, which would lead her to numerous offers of modeling and television work, including her first appearance in a Pepsi commercial, that gained popularity in Latin America by the time she was 17. Soon after, Sofia followed cultural tradition – marrying pretty young and becoming a teenage mom at the age of 19. But by 20, she was a divorcée and a newly single mother.
Trying to forge on with life, Sofia continued her acting career, but would be stricken with the murder of her old brother, due to a failed kidnap attempt. So by her mid-20s, Sofia decided to leave behind this unrest in Colombia to pursue modeling and show business in Miami, Florida.
Since coming to the U.S., Sofia’s success has been a direct result of her resilience and determination to succeed. From obtaining the leading role in The Three Stooges: The Movie in 2011, to starring in a mix of short and long-term roles such as Baywatch, My Wife and Kids, Punk’d and Entourage, Sofia’s most popular role to date is the character Gloria Delgado-Pritchett, on ABC’s Modern Family since 2009.
As of September 2016, Forbes classified Sofia as the highest paid actress in television (at $43 million), which can be attributed to her serious cash earnings from Modern Family, major endorsement contracts and talent management company, LatinWE, she co-founded in the mid-90s to offer Spanish-speaking talent to popular brands.
Interesting fact: Sofia is friends with superstar singer Shakira, who was also born in Barranquilla, Colombia.
Sources: Vanity Fair and Forbes