Who is the girl in the new NFL Pepsi commercial?
Unveiling the young face lighting up the gridiron campaign
(By Carmichael Phillip)
The new Pepsi + NFL “Gladiator” campaign: context & visuals
Pepsi’s recent NFL ad campaign, titled “Make Your Gameday Epic,” presents a cinematic spectacle: NFL stars as gladiators, a grand colosseum, and grand stakes set to a reimagined version of Queen’s “We Will Rock You.”
In the theatrical spot, rapper Megan Thee Stallion appears as an “Empress,” leading the dramatic pageantry and musical overture.
Given the scale and the number of figures, viewers naturally wonder: “Who is that girl in the NFL Pepsi commercial?”
If by “girl” you meant a young actress or model in the background or one of the featured female faces, available information suggests that the primary female star is Megan Thee Stallion.
Let’s dig further into what we know, what is uncertain, and how this campaign’s casting is structured.
Megan Thee Stallion: the leading female presence in the ad
In most articles and analyses of the campaign, Megan Thee Stallion is highlighted as the central female figure.
She is credited as starring in the ad, delivering a new rendition of “We Will Rock You” and directing its energy as Empress overseeing the gladiatorial spectacle.
The Hollywood Reporter and People both published pieces emphasizing her role: “Megan Thee Stallion stars in a new Pepsi campaign … as Empress Megan” in the Gladiator-inspired NFL commercial.
Similarly, an advertisement video titled “NFL Pepsi Commercial Spotlights ‘Gladiator II’” presents Megan Thee Stallion alongside NFL stars Travis Kelce and others.
Thus, if your memory of the “girl in the commercial” was the prominent female figure commanding the campaign, that is almost certainly Megan Thee Stallion.
Are there other “girls” or female figures in the commercial?
While the campaign centers on Megan, large ensemble ads often include background performers, extras, or cameo faces that may catch viewers’ attention. Public coverage, however, does not confirm the identities of lesser figures.
The public narrative does not name any teen girls or younger actresses in the visual foreground, apart from the major cast. The press and marketing materials focus squarely on the NFL stars and Megan.
Given how much media attention the campaign got, if a separate young girl or emerging talent was a major cameo, it likely would have been singled out. But I found no credible source identifying a “girl in the background” as a distinct star.
That said, when people later reference “that girl in the Pepsi NFL spot,” they often may mean Megan, especially if they’re not familiar with her name.
Why Pepsi chose Megan Thee Stallion & how the casting works
Pepsi’s campaign is designed as a cultural spectacle — combining football, music, and cinematic storytelling. The brand revives a familiar trope of gladiator imagery from past Pepsi ads (e.g. 2004) and updates it with modern cultural figures.
Megan Thee Stallion’s inclusion gives the ad star power, creative identity, and a bridge between the worlds of sports and music culture. Her role as Empress gives her visual dominance in the campaign.
That said, the campaign also pivots on major NFL names: Travis Kelce, Josh Allen, Derrick Henry, Justin Jefferson appear amid the gladiatorial spectacle.
The casting approach is about spectacle, dual fandom (music + football), and visual storytelling. It’s less about featuring a breakout unknown girl and more about leveraging culture and celebrity.
Thus, the “girl” you noticed might be Megan herself — or, if you saw a younger face, perhaps a background actor — but available sources do not confirm any such secondary performer in this campaign.
Reception: public interpretation & misattribution
Because the ad is so large-scale and dense with imagery, many viewers might recall “a girl” or “a woman” and not realize it was Megan Thee Stallion. Some may even search generically to find “who is that girl in the Pepsi NFL ad?”
Reddit users have celebrated the campaign, saying things like: “Omg our girl got a NFL X Pepsi commercial.” In that context, “our girl” refers to Megan.
Given how dominant her presence is in press coverage, I believe many who ask the question are referring to Megan but don’t remember her name.
Another point: In Pepsi’s previous campaigns, there was a “Pepsi Girl” — Hallie Eisenberg — famous in the 1990s for being the face of Pepsi commercials. She is sometimes remembered in pop culture scholarship.
But she is not involved in this current NFL campaign.
So when people mention “the girl in the Pepsi NFL spot,” they sometimes conflate with earlier Pepsi ad lore, but in this case, it’s Megan Thee Stallion.
What we still don’t know: gaps & uncertainties
There remain a few uncertainties around exactly who else might appear:
Uncredited secondary performers: If there are background actresses or dancers, they may be uncredited in public sources, so their names are not widely known.
Region- or edit-specific versions: Some cuts of ads are tailored for local markets, which might include extra faces not in the main version.
Your memory vs. what you saw: The “girl” you recall might be from a short cut, a teaser, or a behind-the-scenes angle that isn’t the main aired version.
If you have a screenshot, timestamp, or clip, I could help identify whether an alternate version or minor actor was present.
Conclusion: Most likely it’s Megan Thee Stallion
After reviewing available data and media coverage, the “girl” that viewers ask about in the new NFL Pepsi commercial is almost certainly Megan Thee Stallion — she is the only female prominently credited and discussed in connection with that ad.
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