I first discovered Sofia Vergara in 2003, when I saw her on the Howard Stern Show, as she was promoting her film CHASING PAPI. She was not a big star in America at the time, and this was the first time that I had seen or ever heard of her. But after watching that interview I was instantly a fan. This was the early days of the internet for me, I’d only gotten my first PC a year before, and I was still on dial-up back then, but I remember quickly scanning the internet looking for all I could find about her. Thankfully, there were LOTS of pictures available. She had been a model for several years, and so there were many photos of her in her late teens and early twenties in various poses.

Although even then I thought that the more recent pictures looked better, Sofia is that rare woman who actually got sexier as she got older.

I also would scroll Youtube for clips of her on Fuera de Serie, a Latin American TV show she used to host. I could never understand what she or anyone else was saying, but who cares? And since then I’d follow her career, she’d pop up on a sitcom now and then, like THIS hilarious bit on MY WIFE AND KIDS, and get small roles in films, and I always try to check them out. Yes, I even watched that God-awful SOUL PLANE, just because she was in it.

It’s funny how, over the years, my interest in her became a well-known joke amongst my online friends. I’ve actually had folks post pictures and articles of her on my Facebook page, just because they knew I’d be interested. Also when it was announced that she’d gotten engaged, I had folks posting things like “Sorry, man,” and “Are you alright?” But it’s all good. I’m just happy to see all the success she’s having now, thanks to her role on Modern Family, which is still one of my favorite shows. It may have taken almost 10 years, but I’m glad to see that the rest of America is now discovering what I already knew. It’s also impressive that in an industry where actresses can be considered washed up at 35, she turned 40 last year and is now the highest paid actress on television. So congratulations to her!