Modern Family star Sofia Vergara, celebrating her 51st birthday in Italy, is up about what it’s like to be 51 and what it’s meant for her.

Sofia Vergara, who celebrated her 51st birthday with her “best friends” on a luxury Italian vacation, poked fun at herself in an Instagram image in which she’s seen on a patio with her makeup-free, perfect skin, the ocean in the backdrop.

The Colombian-American actress captioned the image in Spanish, “Waking up here on my 51st birthday! Still healthy, with dreams and energy (my knees are already hurting), but with a great will to live! Thank you so much for your messages!!”

The lovely actress, who appears to be relatively youthful, joked about her knees and how it feels to be aging!

Celebrity friends chimed in, wishing her a happy birthday and commenting on her hilarious post. “I love you, Sofia,” writes model Heidi Klum. “I consider myself fortunate to have you in my life. Happy Birthday,” said comedian Howie Mandel, prompting him to respond, “Happy Birthday. @heidiklum is so lucky to have you in her life.”

Manolo shared a charming film reel of photographs last year, beginning with a picture of herself as a toddler.

“Happy forty-ten!!!!” writes Manolo in English. I love you so much, Ma, that you will be even better in the following 40+10 years!!!!!!!”

The former CoverGirl model shared photos from her birthday celebrations in Italy. She can be seen enjoying gelato in a car, brunching with friends, blowing out firecracker candles on a cake, and being serenaded at her birthday dinner in other posts. Her spouse, Joe Manganiello, was conspicuously absent from the festivities. Some admirers were concerned about his absence’s impact on their marriage.

But Vergara wasn’t going to claim the day for herself. Vergara used her birthday celebrations to express love and wish her blonde chihuahua, Bubbles, a happy birthday.