From pageant runner-up to telenovela star: the multifaceted career of David Zepeda

Countries & Cities · Published 2 October 2026 Swipe more like this →

In short: Born in Nogales, Sonora, David Zepeda has navigated a diverse career spanning modeling, singing, and acting. From securing a runner-up position in an international pageant to winning prestigious TVyNovelas awards, his journey reflects the high-stakes world of Latin American television and music.

David Zepeda's ascent in the entertainment industry began with a significant milestone in 2000. On September 29 of that year, he represented Mexico at the Manhunt International pageant in Singapore, where he finished as the first runner-up, following Australia's Brett Wilson.

Transitioning into acting, Zepeda became a staple of the telenovela genre. His versatility is evidenced by his ability to play both protagonists and antagonists. In 2007, he starred as the main protagonist in the Venevision production Acorralada. By 2009, he shifted roles to play the main antagonist in Carla Estrada's Sortilegio, a performance that earned him the Best Male Antagonist award at the 28th TVyNovelas Awards. He continued this trend in 2010, playing the antagonist Alonso Peñalvert in Nicandro Díaz's Soy Tu Dueña.

His success as a leading man was further solidified in 2012, when his role as Damián Arango in Abismo de pasión earned him the Best Lead Actor award at the 31st TVyNovelas Awards. Beyond acting, Zepeda has expanded into music, releasing his debut studio album, Volverte a Enamorar, in July 2013. He followed this with his second album, 1+1=1, on April 12, 2016, which marked his debut as a songwriter. His career has also seen him cross into American television, making his Telemundo debut in the second season of La Doña, which was released in January 2020.

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