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The 12th edition of the Platino Awards, held in Madrid, delivered unforgettable moments. The biggest night for Ibero-American film and television turned into a star-studded celebration. One of the evening’s biggest surprises was the appearance of Sofía Vergara, who, alongside Enrique Cerezo, presented the honorary award to her close friend, Eva Longoria.
Vergara made a quiet but powerful entrance at the Platino Awards, skipping the red carpet and appearing without any announcement. When she took the stage to honor Eva Longoria, the mood shifted. Her speech was raw and emotional, becoming one of the standout moments of the night. It wasn’t just a tribute to a friend — it was a reminder of the strength and influence of Latina talent. Sofía and Eva, both major names in Hollywood, first captured audiences playing iconic Latina roles: Sofía as Gloria in Modern Family and Eva as Gabrielle Solis in Desperate Housewives. Together, they showed the world that Latina power in entertainment isn’t the future — it’s already here.
Both women stay deeply connected to their roots and haven’t forgotten where they come from. At 50, Longoria recently shared with ¡HOLA! magazine, “I’m very excited about this new decade. It’s a time to look back, be grateful for the beautiful life I’ve had, and dream about what’s still to come.”
During her speech, Vergara praised Eva Longoria, saying she truly deserves both the award and the life she has built. As always, the Modern Family star made the crowd laugh, while Eva got emotional.
"I went to Hollywood; all I wanted was to be Eva Longoria, even though she is younger than me."
The jury awarded the Platino Honorary Award to Longoria, recognizing not only her career as an actress but also her work as a producer and director and her efforts to spotlight the Latino community through her projects. On Saturday, the Texas-born actress, of Mexican and Asturian descent, spoke about the honor: “I feel very honored and very proud to see how wonderful we are and what we represent.” She also said the award fills her with “deep humility and gratitude” and made a point to highlight “the talent across this group of countries.” She recalled how, from a young age, she had cherished “the dream of proudly representing my roots and specifically honoring the women of my culture.”
Longoria spoke about who she dedicated the award to and reflected on the importance of her husband, José Bastón, and their son, Santiago, in her life. She shared how their support and love have been a constant source of strength throughout her career and how they continue to inspire her both personally and professionally.
Longoria receiving the award from Vergara was one of the most special moments of the night. The two share a close and genuine friendship, with many memories both in the spotlight and in their private lives. Just days before the ceremony, they were seen out enjoying Madrid’s nightlife with Eiza González, María Bravo, and Vicky Martín Berrocal. They also recently attended a Broadway show together, where they ran into Gloria Estefan. Beyond their acting careers, Sofía and Eva share a deep commitment to promoting Latino culture. In 2021, both were appointed to the advisory board of the future National Museum of the American Latino in Washington, D.C.