Sofia Vergara has been on our television screens for as long as we can remember. She has become a staple figure in the Hollywood scene, and an actress that is not to be toyed with. She has proven herself to be quite feisty, in all the best ways - something that has made the public fall in love with her over and over again.

Vergara was born and raised in Barranquilla, Colombia and talks about her Colombian heritage quite frequently. While modelling and acting was not her first choice, it turned into the only choice when her career took off at just 19 years old.

The actress officially made her move over to the United States in the late 90s, where she instantly became a household name. Since then, Sofia has scored a number of major projects including 'Modern Family' and her success with Covergirl. While we know a lot about the star now, we don't know too much about her childhood. With that being said, here are 18 shots of a younger Sofia Vergara.

18 Strike A Pose

Sofia Vergara was born and raised in the beautiful city of Barranquilla, Colombia, where it appears even as a kid she was destined to be a famous star. The actress can be spotted wearing a blue, white and red dance costume of sorts with the photo being snapped mid-performance!

17 Party Dress Ready

It appears a young Sofia Vergara was no stranger to costumes! The star can be spotted wearing this white and red ensemble as she poses beside her younger siblings. Vergara comes from a rather big family, being the eldest of four siblings, all of which have remained very close throughout one another's lives.

16 Sisterly Love

As mentioned, Sofia Vergara is one of four siblings, and the actress has spoken openly regarding her relationship with her brothers and sisters, and has mentioned how close they all were and still are! Sofia is posing alongside her younger sister wearing the notorious sailor costume we spotted her in before.

15 First Photoshoot

While we know Sofia Vergara for her acting roles, mostly on ABC's 'Modern Family', the Colombian born star originated as a model! While she was discovered on a beach in Colombia at 17, Sofia dabbled in modelling from a young age. The actress posted this shot to her Instagram of her very first photoshoot at age 11 in Barranquilla.

Related: 20 Surprising Facts About 'Modern Family's' Sofia Vergara

14 High School Days

Sofia Vergara has discussed her childhood openly in a number of interviews, talking about her high school experience as a less than favourable one. The actress was reportedly picked on and teased a lot throughout her time in high school all because of her shape. She remembers being taunted for looking different than all the other girls, which is never a fun experience.

13 Graduation

Despite her tumultuous high school experience with bullying, Sofia Vergara still graduated with her head held high. The actress feels education is extremely important, particularly in Colombia, so she takes pride in having received her high school diploma and graduating alongside her best friends.

12 Prom

Speaking of best friends, Sofia Vergara had herself a tight-knit group of girls that she could always rely on. Prom might not be as big of a deal in Colombia as it is in the United States, but Sofia recalls going all out for her big night in her white gown, and judging by the photo, she was all smiles!

11 Modelling Days

It didn't take much time after high school for Sofia Vergara to be discovered. The actress was reportedly seen on a beach in Colombia where she was scouted by a modelling agency, and the rest is history. Her modelling career instantly took off and Sofia was posing for major magazines, ad campaigns and commercials all throughout Colombia.

Related: 16 Pics Of Sofia Vergara Before 'Modern Family'

10 Wedding Day

While her modelling career was successful, it came to a halt when Sofia Vergara met her then-boyfriend turn husband, Joe Gonzalez. The two got married back in 1991 when Sofia was just 19! While it might seem young today, this was a common age in the 90s in Colombia. With that being said, she looked stunning in her wedding gown.

9 Motherhood

Only a year into her marriage with former husband, Joe Gonzalez, Sofia gave birth to her only son, Manolo. Sofia speaks about being a mother at a young age and has no regrets whatsoever. She and Manolo have an exceptional relationship and have even been spotted together in a number of her commercials for Head & Shoulders, Pepsi and Covergirl.

8 Family Throwback

Sofia Vergara takes pride in her family, and rightfully so! While her marriage to Joe Gonzalez ended in 1993, Sofia remained close with him for the sake of their child. The two made the decision to separate, amicably that is, as Sofia's career had skyrocketed, requiring her to travel a lot more.

7 Mommy Duty

Despite the model's career becoming a very successful one, Sofia never let her work come in the way of being a mother. She and ex-hubby Joe Gonzalez, co-parented Manolo along with help from both of their families while Sofia was gaining major notoriety throughout Colombia has a model and actress.

6 Family Time

As time passed, Sofia Vergara was not a household name across the entire country of Colombia. The star had been featured in massive campaigns, commercials, and Colombian based TV shows, including a number of telenovelas. Despite her growing success, she also prioritized family, and to this day, considers family the most important thing to her.

5 Headshots

As Sofia Vergara's career was no growing across South America, it was time for some updated headshots. It is no secret that Sofia photographs well, which made the reason behind her success quite clear. She was and still is a natural beauty, who to this day claims she has never had any fixer-uppers whatsoever.

4 Commercial Work

It was not long before Sofia Vergara was appearing in American advertisements now, including her Miller Lite campaign back in the early 2000s. The actress officially moved to the United States back in 1998, where she and her family would now live, all due to her career taking off immensely.

Related: 18 Photos Of Sofia Vergara That Her Cast Mates Don't Want Us To See

3 Natural Blonde

While we know the actress as a brunette on ABC's 'Modern Family', and a handful of other shows and films Sofia Vergara has played in, but one thing many would be surprised to find out is that she is a natural blonde! The actress has dyed her hair for most of her career, but when it comes down to her roots, she is all blonde.

2 Interview In Colombia

As mentioned, Sofia Vergara is a natural blonde, which can be spotted in this interview with the actress. Not only is she naturally a blonde, but Sofia also discussed during this clip that she also wanted to be a dentist, and went to dentist school for over two years before she eventually dropped out.

1 Blonde To Brunette

As her career took her to lengths she'd never imagined, Sofia Vergara made the permanent decision to dye her hair brunette, and continue her modelling and acting career in the United States. The star has gone on to play in one of the biggest television shows in ABC history, countless films, and has been named the face of a number of esteemed cosmetic brands. It is safe to say that she truly worked her way to the top!

Next: The 10 Worst Roles On Sofia Vergara's IMDB Page (5 She Should Go For)