| Susie Castillo | |
| Birth Place: | Methuen, Massachusetts, U.S. |
| Birth Date: | 27 October 1979 |
| Eye Color: | Brown |
| Hair Color: | Brown |
| Occupation: | Actress, model |
| Years Active: | 1996–present |
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.
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 and worked several jobs to defray her family's living and educational expenses.[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 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.
Castillo won her first pageant title in November 1997, beating over 40 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. She also won the Clairol Herbal Essence Award that year.[4] The pageant was won by Vanessa Minnillo of South Carolina.
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 and 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).
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]
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 launch 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.
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.
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 fertilization.[22]
| 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" |
| 2003 | Miss USA 2003 | Herself | Television special
| |
| 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 | 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 |