Sofia Vergara, 53, Looks Ageless 17 Years After Her “Modern Family” Debut
At 53, Sofía Vergara remains one of the most recognized faces in television. Nearly two decades after her debut on Modern Family, her career is still going strong.
Vergara’s rise did not begin in Hollywood. She was discovered by a photographer while walking on a beach in Colombia as a teenager. Soon after, she appeared in a Pepsi commercial that aired across Latin America. She later studied acting and slowly built her résumé in television and film.
Everything changed in 2009 when she was cast as Gloria Delgado-Pritchett on Modern Family. The ABC sitcom became a massive hit and ran for 11 seasons. Her role as Gloria made her a global star. She earned multiple Primetime Emmy nominations between 2010 and 2013. According to Forbes, she became the highest-paid woman on U.S. television in 2012, earning $19 million that year. By 2015, Forbes estimated her annual income at $28.5 million.
Sofia Vergara at 53-years-old 📸 pic.twitter.com/ifxnLWephb
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Modern Family did more than give her awards attention. It turned her into a household name. She landed major endorsement deals, appeared on magazine covers, and received a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame in 2015. The show helped her build a brand beyond acting. She launched clothing lines, a furniture collection with Rooms To Go, eyewear, fragrances, and later her beauty brand Toty in 2023. In 2024, she introduced Dios Mios Coffee, focused on supporting female Colombian coffee growers.
After Modern Family ended in 2020, Vergara moved into new roles. That same year, she joined America’s Got Talent as a judge and has stayed on the panel for multiple seasons. Two of her “golden buzzer” picks later won the show, which kept her in the spotlight with a new audience.
In 2024, she received a major career milestone. She earned a Primetime Emmy nomination for playing Griselda Blanco in the Netflix series Griselda. The nomination made her the first Latina born in a Latin American country to be recognized in that lead actress category. She lost to Jodie Foster but joked afterward that she had been “robbed” for the fifth time.
Her personal life has also made headlines over the years. She was married young and has one son, Manolo. She later married Joe Manganiello in 2015, and they divorced in 2024. She became a U.S. citizen and has spoken openly about surviving thyroid cancer in her twenties. She once shared the pain of watching her brother struggle with addiction, saying, “To see somebody dying over 10 years, little by little, that’s the worst punishment.”
Modern Family clearly shaped Vergara’s career. It gave her financial power, global fame, and business leverage. Before the show, she was building momentum. After it, she became one of the most influential Latina actresses in Hollywood. It opened doors in film, television, and business that continue to benefit her today.
Modern Family was the turning point that transformed Sofía Vergara from a working actress into a global brand. Few sitcom roles have had that kind of long-term impact. What do you think about her journey and how the show changed her career? Share your thoughts in the comments.