It’s not every day a star gets a statue in their hometown, especially one that stands 24 feet tall. But that’s exactly what happened for Sofía Vergara in Barranquilla, Colombia. The city honored its famous daughter with a massive tribute, a 7.3-meter statue that now graces her birth city.
Vergara, who turned 53 this July, shared her joy and gratitude about the statue on Instagram. She posted several photos for her fans to see on Saturday, July 12. Her message spoke volumes about her feelings for Barranquilla, the place where she grew up.
"Thanks to my beautiful Barranquilla for this gift!" Vergara wrote. She said she never thought her story, her work, and her dreams would make such a big mark on a land she loves so much. "I thank Barranquilla for all that I am," she added. The actress, famous for playing Gloria Delgado-Pritchett on the hit show Modern Family from 2009 to 2020, also shared that her hometown gave her "strength, will, and joy." She believes these qualities helped her achieve everything she has.
"This statue isn’t just for me," she expressed warmly. "It’s also for the people of Barranquilla, and for my family and friends who have always been there for me. I love you all so much! Toty ❤️🇨🇴.”
A Birthday Unveiling
The grand statue, crafted by local artist Yino Márquez, was actually revealed on Vergara’s 53rd birthday, Thursday, July 10. According to The Latin Times, the event was a big celebration. Barranquilla’s mayor, Alejandro Char, spoke during the unveiling.
Mayor Char proudly declared, "Barranquilla bows at your feet." He added, "We are telling the whole world: thank you for being who you are, thank you for being from Barranquilla." He also noted, "What better way to celebrate Sofía’s birthday than to honor her with this beautiful work? It shows her joy, charm, realness, and unique spirit."
Birthday Bliss in Sardinia
While Barranquilla celebrated her, Vergara herself was celebrating her birthday weekend in Sardinia, Italy. She enjoyed a party with close friends. She shared a photo on Instagram on Sunday, July 13, showing her with friends like Anastasia Soare, Valentina Micchetti, Norvina, and Luis Balaguer. Her son, Manolo González Vergara, 33, also joined the fun. (Manolo is Sofía’s son with her ex-husband, Joe González.)
Romance Rumors and Denials
Vergara’s birthday celebration comes after she sparked dating rumors with Tom Brady. They were recently spotted on Ritz-Carlton’s new superyacht, the Luminara, earlier this month. While neither Vergara nor Brady have publicly talked about their relationship, rumors started to fly.
One report from the Daily Mail claimed the former NFL star, who is 47, thought Vergara was "too old for him." However, Brady’s representative quickly shut down that claim. On Thursday, July 10, the rep told Us Weekly that Brady would "never say" such a thing. "Tom never said, nor would he ever say, anything like that," the rep stated. "It’s pure fiction."