Susie Castillo

Susie Castillo (born October 27, 1979) is an American actress, TV host, model and beauty pageant titleholder who held the Miss USA title and 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. She was greatly influenced by her Puerto Rican heritage, though she has stated she considers herself both Puerto Rican and Dominican. 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. Beauty pageants