Susie Castillo

In 2003, Puerto Rican and Dominican, Susie Castillo, became the third Latina ever to win the Miss USA Pageant, prompting People en Espaol to name her one of the 25 Most Beautiful, and launching her career in entertainment. With a strong presence and personality, Susie quickly emerged as one of television's most recognizable faces, being named to Maxims Hot 100 List in 2008 and Complex Magazine's 50 Hottest Dominican Women in 2011.

In 2010 Susie co-hosted the NBC series, School Pride, executive produced by Cheryl Hines. As co-host and designer on the show, Susie used her Interior Architecture and Design degree from Endicott College to give neglected public schools a much-needed facelift and empower communities across the country to help change America's broken public education system.

Susie's poise in front of the camera has led to many other high-profile hosting gigs, most notably as a correspondent for Entertainment Tonight from 2014-2015. Susie's other hosting credits include CBS Sports Arthur Ashe Kids Day, NBCs Superstars of Dance, produced by Nigel Lythgoe and Simon Fuller from American Idol, guest host on Live! With Regis and Kelly, and the live telecast of the Miss USA Pageant, to name a few.

Inspired by her young MTV fans, in 2007, Susie accomplished one of her biggest dreams when her first book, "Confidence is Queen: The Four Keys to Ultimate Beauty Through Positive Thinking," was published by Penguin.

As an actress, Susie portrayed "Mercedes Hernandez" throughout Season 5 of Tyler Perrys hit TBS sitcom, House of Payne. She also guest-starred on several TV shows, including the hit ABC shows Castle and My Wife and Kids, as well as UPNs Half and Half. Susie has also appeared in Hallmark Channel's A Holiday Engagement 2011, and feature films Underdog (2007), More Than Stars (2012), and Summer of 84 (2018)

In addition to her personal projects, Castillo has also joined up with 2004 Miss USA winner, Shandi Finnessey, to start a blog and YouTube channel. Pageantology101 offers their pageant and entertainment industry expertise, while hoping to inspire others to be confident, supportive, empowered and health-conscience individuals.

Susie currently resides in Los Angeles where she spends much of her spare time supporting her favorite non-profit organizations that support young children and animals, like The Humane Society, The Art of Elysium, and I Am That Girl. Susie lives a green lifestyle, recycling, eating locally-grown, organic foods, conserving water and energy in her home, and using earth-friendly products whenever possible. She is passionate about animal welfare, health and nutrition, and offers guidance and advice on those topics in her blog, Casa de Suz.

Always an athlete (she played division 3 volleyball at Endicott College in MA), Susie enjoys playing beach volleyball, golfing, snowboarding, running, throwing around the football, supporting her Boston sports teams, and playing with her dogs.