A few years ago, Pablo Bustamante worked as a barber in Santiago’s traditional Franklin neighborhood. One of the most widely circulated images from that time shows him cutting hair in a very modest bathroom, where he began earning a living when he was barely a teenager.
Few imagined that this young man would end up walking the most important runways in Europe.
Driven by his passion for modeling, Pablo decided to try his luck outside his home country, Chile. He first traveled to the United States, where he discovered he had the potential to work as a model, although he was unable to pursue it due to immigration issues. Later, he arrived in Barcelona and, after several years of effort, survived by cutting hair while trying to make his way in the fashion industry.
For a long time, opportunities were scarce. He even came to live on very little money and accumulated debts while attending unsuccessful castings. However, he never gave up on his goal.
With discipline, training, and perseverance, his career began to take off, leading him to sign with European agencies and take part in major campaigns. The big break came when he was selected to walk for Dolce & Gabbana, one of the greatest milestones of his career, sharing the stage with renowned international figures.
Today, Pablo says that every obstacle was worth it and hopes to return to Chile to share his experience and inspire other young people who dream of making their way in modeling.
Sometimes, an old photograph is enough to remember how far someone can go when they decide not to give up.