Sofia Vergara Caved In to Racial Stereotypes

Sofia Vergara of Modern Family, recently seen on the red carpet for the VMAs and the Stand Up to Cancer red carpet, covers Self October 2010. There’s a bunch of commentary around the interview she gave, specifically on her coming to terms with her bewbs (you have her mother to thank for stopping her getting a reduction as a teenager). I care less about her body shape and more about a quote I found a little disturbing. Make of it what you will, but I was a little saddened by the blithe way in which she described dying her naturally blonde hair in order to become a more obvious ‘hot Latina’ type for Hollywood execs.

She explains that without dark hair no one knew how to cast her, because she had light hair and an ‘accent’ and we all know those things go together on pain of death. Oh, and yes, I know this is par for the course and so are more drastic changes… however, that doesn’t really make these expectations okay.

On her hair color: “I’m a natural blonde, but when I started acting, I would go to auditions, and they didn’t know where to put me because I was voluptuous and had the accent… but I had blonde hair. The moment I dyed my hair dark, it was, ‘Oh, she’s the hot Latin girl.’ I loved it. Being brunette toned me down a bit.”

On discomfort with her chest at age 13: “I wanted surgery. I told my mom, ‘As soon as I’m older, please take these boobs away.’ She said, ‘Sofia, shut up. When you’re 18, it will be different.’ ‘I was like, ‘Why would I want these huge tits?’ I’m a 34 DD. It’s hard to dress. No matter what I wear, I look like a stripper.’”
On her current feelings about her breasts: “I’m grateful I have them, and honestly, they’ve helped me a lot in my career. And I’ve always felt sexy.”