Pepe Barroso

Pepe Barroso is a Spanish model and actor from Madrid whose route to an international career began on the football pitch. A goalkeeper in Atlético de Madrid’s youth academy, he joined UCLA’s soccer program in 2014, combining university studies with sport while developing his modeling career in Los Angeles.

Fashion was already part of his family history. His father founded Don Algodón, and photographer Bruce Weber first photographed Pepe as a child. In a 2017 interview with Vanity Fair España, Pepe recalled approaching Weber again at an Armani event in Los Angeles.

“He hadn’t just remembered me; he invited me for a photo shoot the following day,” he said, translated from Spanish. University remained a priority, with the American system allowing him to pursue his education alongside football.

Advertising established a continuing relationship with Armani. Pepe appeared in Giorgio Armani’s Made to Measure campaigns before joining the house’s spring-summer 2020 campaign, photographed by Viviane Sassen. He also starred opposite Stella Maxwell in Pepe Jeans’ spring-summer 2018 advertising, photographed by Emma Summerton.

Magazine work included Men’s Health España and Vanity Fair España, followed by collaborations with JuanKr for Risbel and Esquire México.

Acting developed during his university years, when Pepe enrolled in a course before returning to Spain to pursue screen work. Roles in 45 RPM and High Seas preceded international productions including Gran Turismo and the Roman drama Those About to Die. His work in Spanish and English drew on the bilingual life he had built between Madrid and California.

Discussing Those About to Die in an interview with Madmen Magazine, Pepe described the camaraderie of living alongside fellow cast members in Rome and the value of learning on set. “I’ve realized that with every project you film, you grow,” he said, translated from Spanish. He saw that experience as preparation for the next assignment, with each production adding practical confidence to his training.