Susie Cintron Castillo (born January 6, 1980 in Methuen, Massachusetts), is a beauty queen who has held the Miss USA title and who has competed in the Miss Teen USA and Miss Universe pageants. She is also a presenter on the MTV television show Total Request Live.

Background

Castillo's parents were divorced when she was a child. Her father is Dominican and her mother Puerto Rican. After her father abandoned the family, her mother moved to Lawrence, Massachusetts where she worked multiple jobs in order to cover living and educational expenses for her family. She was greatly influenced by her Puerto Rican heritage though in many past interviews she has stated that she considers herself both Puerto Rican and Dominican.

By 1996, at the age of 16, Castillo had already become a professional teen model appearing in many teen magazines and commercial advertisements.

Upon graduating from Methuen High School, she enrolled at Endicott College and in 2001 earned her Bachelors Degree in Interior Architecture and Design. She was awarded the Capstone Award, an honor which was bestowed upon her in recognition of her senior thesis.

Beauty Pageants

Miss Massachusetts Teen USA

Castillo won her first pageant title in November 1997 when she beat over forty other contestants to became Miss Massachusetts Teen USA 1998. 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 President Bill Clinton's speech regarding his relationship with Monica Lewinsky.

Castillo placed 13th in the pageant.[citation needed] She also won the Clairol Herbal Essence Award that year. The pageant was won by Vanessa Minillo of South Carolina.

Miss Massachusetts USA and Miss USA

In November 2002, Castillo participated in the Miss Massachusetts USA Pageant held at the Bridgewater State College in the town of Bridgewater and won the title. Castillo was the states first Latina titleholder. She went on to compete in the Miss USA 2003 pageant held in San Antonio, Texas on March 24, 2003. Castillo won the Miss USA title in the nationally televised event, becoming Massachusetts' second titleholder, and the fourth former Miss Teen USA titleholder to win the pageant. She was the first woman with Dominican-Puerto Rican ancestry to win the title.

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 top fifteen semi-finalists but did not make the top ten cut. She placed 13th overall, like her placement at Miss Teen USA. The pageant was won by Amelia Vega of the Dominican Republic

This was the first time in the history of the Miss Universe pageant that two women of Puerto Rican descent participated at the same time representing different countries. Puerto Rico was represented by Carla Tricoli. Contrary to popular belief, it was not the first time two Dominican women have participated in the Miss Universe pageant simultaneously. In 1997, the pageant had two women of Dominican ancestry participating in the pageant, one representing the Dominican Republic and the other representing Italy (Denny Méndez).

After the Crown
Susie 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 is now a regular Music Television (MTV) VJ and host of TRL, and helped with the launch of Mi TRL on MTV Tr3s in September 2006. Another TRL host is Vanessa Minnillo, who won the Miss Teen USA pageant Castillo competed in 1998.

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.[citation needed]

On Saturday 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, Leslie proposed to Castillo during an appearance on talk show On-Air With Ryan Seacrest in April 2004, just prior to Castillo passing on her crown during the Miss USA 2004 pageant.

In 2007, Castillo became a spokeswoman for Neutrogena. Castillo's work for Neutrogena includes serving as the "virtual host" of the company's promotional web site, The Big Blush.

Castillo is currently the host of ABC Family's new reality TV series, America's Prom Queen.