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Susie Castillo

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Susie Castillo
Castillo in 2007
Born (1979-10-27) October 27, 1979 (age 45)
Methuen, Massachusetts, U.S.
Occupation(s)Actress, model
Height5 ft 8 in (1.73 m)
Spouse
Matthew Leslie
​
(m. 2006)​
Beauty pageant titleholder
Title
Years active1996–present
Hair colorBrown
Eye colorBrown
Major
competition(s)
Website
  • www.susiecastillo.com

Susie Castillo (born October 27, 1979) is an American actress, TV host, model and beauty pageant titleholder who won Miss USA 2003. She competed in the Miss Teen USA and Miss Universe pageants. She pursued a career in the media, making various television appearances and hosting shows such as MTV's Total Request Live as a VJ.

Early years

Castillo was born in Methuen, Massachusetts, to a Dominican father and a Puerto Rican mother who were divorced when she was a child. After her father abandoned the family, her mother moved to Lawrence, Massachusetts, worked several jobs in order to defray living and educational expenses for her family.[1] She was greatly influenced by her Puerto Rican heritage, though she has stated she considers herself both Puerto Rican and Dominican.[2]

By 1996, at the age of 16, Castillo had already become a professional model appearing in many teen magazines and commercials. Upon graduating from Methuen High School, she enrolled at Endicott College, and in 2001 earned a bachelor's degree in Interior Architecture and Design. She received the Capstone Award in recognition of her senior thesis. She is a member of Kappa Delta sorority.[citation needed]

Pageantry

Miss Massachusetts Teen USA

Castillo won her first pageant title in November 1997, when she beat over forty other contestants to become Miss Massachusetts Teen USA 1998.[3] Castillo's sister titleholder, Miss Massachusetts USA 1998 Shawnae Jebbia went on to win the Miss USA title in February the following year.

Castillo represented her state in the Miss Teen USA pageant held in Shreveport, Louisiana on August 17, 1998. Although the pageant was usually broadcast live, that year's telecast was delayed due to a speech by then-President Bill Clinton regarding his relationship with Monica Lewinsky.[4] She also won the Clairol Herbal Essence Award that year.[4] The pageant was won by Vanessa Minnillo of South Carolina.

Miss Massachusetts USA and Miss USA

Castillo in 2004

In November 2002, Castillo participated in the Miss Massachusetts USA Pageant held at Bridgewater State College in the town of Bridgewater, and won the title.[5] Castillo was the state's first Latina titleholder.[6] She went on to compete in the Miss USA 2003 pageant held in San Antonio on March 24, 2003.[7] Castillo won the Miss USA title in the nationally televised event, becoming Massachusetts' second titleholder, and the fourth former Miss Teen USA state titleholder to win the pageant. She was the third Hispanic to win Miss USA after Laura Harring in 1985 and Lynnette Cole in 2000. In addition she was the first woman with Dominican ancestry to win the title as well as the second woman with Puerto Rican ancestry to win after Lynnette Cole.

As Miss USA, Castillo represented the Miss Universe Organization, making appearances for charities throughout the United States. Her "sister" 2003 titleholders were Amelia Vega (Miss Universe, of the Dominican Republic) and Tami Farrell (Miss Teen USA, of Oregon).

Miss Universe

Castillo traveled to Panama City, Panama, to compete in the Miss Universe 2003 pageant in May. Her national costume was "Wonder Woman". Castillo placed among the 15 semifinalists. She placed 13th overall, like her placement at Miss Teen USA.[8] The pageant was won by Amelia Vega of the Dominican Republic. Contrary to popular belief, it was not the first time that two Dominican women or two Puerto Rican women participated in the pageant's history because the contestants that represented Italy (Denny Mendez) and the Dominican Republic in the 1997 edition were both of Dominican ancestry and the contestants that represented USA (Lynnette Cole) and Puerto Rico in the 2000 edition were both of Puerto Rican ancestry.[9]

Film and television

Castillo at the 2007 Tribeca Film Festival

Castillo has made guest appearances on the following shows: On-Air with Ryan Seacrest (April 5, 2004), My Wife and Kids (October 5, 2004), where she was cast as Sharon, Half & Half (October 18, 2004) cast as Shaunie. In August 2005, Castillo co-hosted the Miss Teen USA 2005 pageant alongside Passions actor Galen Gering. The event was won by Allie LaForce of Ohio.

Castillo worked as a MTV VJ and host of TRL, and helped with the launch of Mi TRL on MTV Tr3s in September 2006. She also played the role of Mercedes Hernandez in the TBS show Tyler Perry's House of Payne in a select number of episodes in season 5.

In 2008, Castillo hosted the ABC Family reality television series, America's Prom Queen.[10] With Michael Flatley, she is the co-host of the NBC dance-competition series Superstars of Dance in 2009.[11] Castillo co-hosted the 2008 Arthur Ashe Kids’ Day on August 23 at the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Canter in New York City. Nickelodeon's Quddus was Susie's co-host.[12]

Castillo was a host of the school renovation reality series School Pride, which aired on NBC in 2010. She also appeared in the 2011 film A Holiday Engagement. In 2023, Castillo portrayed Principal Ramirez in The Really Loud House.

Modeling

In 2007, Castillo became a spokeswoman for Neutrogena.[13] Castillo's work for Neutrogena includes serving as the "virtual host" of the company's promotional web site, The Big Blush. She also signed on as the brand ambassador for Charlotte Russe (retailer) and Gossip Girl stylist, Eric Daman, who is going to help her design her own line influenced by her Latino heritage.[14] In 2013, Castillo began appearing as 'Becky', a hand model, in Palmolive's Soft Touch dish soap commercials.

Personal life

On October 7, 2006, Castillo married Matthew Leslie in a quiet ceremony in Ipswich, Massachusetts. The two met shortly after Castillo won Miss Massachusetts Teen USA,[15] Leslie proposed to Castillo during an appearance on the talk show On-Air With Ryan Seacrest in April 2004, just prior to Castillo passing on her crown during the Miss USA 2004 pageant.[16] During her spare time Castillo does volunteer work for HAWC (Help for Abused Women and Children), the Lawrence Girls Club and for the Latinas Against Sexual Assault.[17]

On April 27, 2011, Castillo issued a statement attacking the U.S. Transportation Security Administration (TSA), alleging that she had been groped and touched inappropriately four times during the enhanced pat-down. She released a blog post and video describing the experience,[18] and created an online petition demanding an end to the "enhanced" pat-downs.[19]

Castillo is a vegan[20] and posed nude for a PETA anti-fur campaign, stating that she had always loved animals. Castillo urges the beauty pageant industry to stop awarding fur coats as prizes while exposing animals to unnecessary torture "in the name of fashion".[21]

She was diagnosed with endometriosis, Castillo later discovered that her anti-Müllerian hormone levels had plummeted as a result of the procedure, Doctors informed her she had a 16% chance of conceiving even with in vitro fertilisation.[22]

Filmography

As actress

Film and television
Year Title Role Notes
2004 My Wife and Kids Sharon Episode: "Class Reunion"
2004 Half & Half Shaunie Episode: "The Big Don't Leave Me This Way Episode"
2007 Underdog Diana Flores Film
2008–2009 House of Payne Mercedes Hernandez 11 episodes
2011 Castle Nadine Espinoza Episode: "Heartbreak Hotel"
2011 Holiday Engagement Lindsay Television film
2011 The Heartbreaker Linda Film
2012 More Than Stars Iris Film
2012 Hollywood Jack Gloria Short film
2014 Electric Slide Robin Film
2015 Kidnapped: The Hannah Anderson Story Colleen Ryan Television film
2018 Summer of 84 Brenda Woodworth Film
2020 Long Lost Sister Tina Film
2020 The Tribe Murders Sadie Short film
2022 Paloma's Flight Rita Moses Television film
2023 The Really Loud House Principal Ramirez Episode: "Better Together"

As herself

Year Title Role Notes
2003 Miss USA 2003 Herself Television special; Competing as Miss Massachusetts USA and crowned Miss USA 2003
2003 Miss Universe Television special; Competing as Miss USA and placed in the Top 15
2004 The Swan Judge Episodes: "The Swan Pageant: Part 1" and "The Swan Pageant: Part 2"
2004 101 Most Unforgettable SNL Moments Commentator Television special
2005 MTV Spring Break: Cancun 2005 Host
2005 Miss Teen USA 2005
2005–2006 Total Request Live 17 episodes
2006 Underworld: Evolution - Inside the Action Television film
2006 Your Movie Show Episode: "Gridiron Gang"
2006 Laguna Beach: The Real Orange County Episode: "Live After Party"
2006–2007 The Challenge 3 episodes
2006–2007 The Real World Episodes: "Fun, Sun and Now Totally Done: The Real World Key West Reunion" and "Welcome to the Mile High Club: The Real World Denver Reunion"
2007 MTV Goes Gold: New Year's Eve 2007 Television special
2007 Road Rules Episode: "Road Rules 2007 Viewers' Revenge Launch Special"
2007 Ghost Rider: Inside the Action Television film
2008 The Real World Awards Bash Television special
2008 America's Prom Queen 6 episodes
2008 Arthur Ashe Kids' Day 2008 Television special
2009 Superstars of Dance Co-host 5 episodes
2010 School Pride 7 episodes
2014–2015 Entertainment Tonight Herself / Correspondent 3 episodes
2017 Zee Made in America Expert Episode: "Episode #1.10"
2017 National Puerto Rican Day Parade Host Television special

See also

References

  1. ^ Mechling, Lauren (April 11, 2003). "Miss USA, The Donald, and Me". New York Sun.
  2. ^ Castillo, Susie, "My 'Mass.' Mania" Archived 2007-09-26 at the Wayback Machine, New York Post June 6, 2007.
  3. ^ Macdonald, Christine (January 25, 1998). "Teen Titleholder Reflects New Latino Culture". Boston Globe. p. 11.
  4. ^ a b "South Carolina contestant wins title" (Press release). Associated Press. August 18, 1998.
  5. ^ "There She Is". Boston Globe. December 5, 2002.
  6. ^ Beard, David (February 9, 2003). "There He Is, the Boyfriend". Boston Globe.
  7. ^ Badger, T.A. (March 24, 2003). "Miss Massachusetts Crowned Miss USA 2003". Associated Press.
  8. ^ Szaniszlo, Marie (June 4, 2003). "Lawrence friends: Castillo will always be our beauty queen". Boston Herald. p. 3.
  9. ^ Me!, It Is (September 29, 2008). "MISS UNIVERSE: MISS UNIVERSE 2003". Retrieved April 24, 2018.
  10. ^ "America's Prom Queen". Freeform.com. Retrieved April 24, 2018.
  11. ^ Bracchitta, John. "Susie Castillo to co-host 'Superstars of Dance' with Michael Flately", Reality TV World, December 11, 2008
  12. ^ Arthur Ashe Kids’ Day Archived 2008-07-15 at the Wayback Machine
  13. ^ Radsken, Jill (March 14, 2007). "Face time: Methuen beauty queen Castillo to star in Neutrogena TV campaign". Retrieved March 26, 2007. [dead link]
  14. ^ "Susie Castillo Interview" Kidzworld.com. Retrieved on 2009-04. 07.
  15. ^ Schorow, Stephanie (June 3, 2003). "No contest; Pageant spotlight hasn't eclipsed boyfriend's love for Castillo". Boston Herald.
  16. ^ Nelson, Julia (April 7, 2004). "PEOPLE // After reign, Miss USA will become a Mrs". The Orange County Register. p. 1.
  17. ^ "The Susie Castillo Picture Pages". www.superiorpics.com. Retrieved April 24, 2018.
  18. ^ Castillo, Susie (April 27, 2011). "My TSA Pat Down Experience". Archived from the original on April 29, 2011. Retrieved May 12, 2011.
  19. ^ Dover, Elicia; Alicia Tejada (May 9, 2011). "Susie Castillo, Former Miss USA, Protests Airport Pat-Down in YouTube Video". Archived from the original on May 13, 2011. Retrieved May 12, 2011.
  20. ^ "In-Depth with Loving the Silent Tears MC: Susie Castillo (Vegan)". GodsDirectContact.org. 2012. Retrieved June 1, 2018.
  21. ^ Malec, Brett (June 13, 2013). "Miss USA Winners Pose Naked in Sexy New PETA Ad". E! Online. Retrieved June 1, 2018.
  22. ^ Dahlgren, Kim. "Former Miss USA Susie Castillo says that after 4 years and multiple miscarriages, she's ready to talk about struggling with infertility". Insider. Retrieved September 7, 2023.
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Awards and achievements
Preceded by Miss USA
2003 		Succeeded by
Preceded by
Latoyia Foster
 Miss Massachusetts USA
2003 		Succeeded by
Maria Lekkakos
Preceded by
Jessica Gregory
 Miss Massachusetts Teen USA
1998 		Succeeded by
Jill Donahue
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