Susie Castillo Crowned Miss Usa 2003 During Live Telecast
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The 23-year-old delegate from Lawrence, Massachusetts was crowned at the conclusion of the 52nd Anniversary broadcast on the NBC Television Network from the Municipal Auditorium in San Antonio, Texas. Susie is an actress and model who has won many awards at Endicott College and the first Hispanic delegate from Massachusetts.
Actress and model Daisy Fuentes and Billy Bush, Access Hollywood correspondent, hosted the live telecast. The celebrity panel of judges was comprised of TV/radio host Brooke Burke; Tampa Bay Buccaneers defensive tackle Warren Sapp, actor Mekhi Phifer, supermodel Melania Knauss, Days of Our Lives actress Kristian Alfonso, former Miss USA Gretchen Polhemus Jensen, makeup artist Vincent Longo, and astronaut John Blaha.
During the two-hour event, the delegates competed in three categories, including swimsuit, evening gown, and interview. During these competitions the "Top Five" finalists were selected before the crowning. Shauntay Hinton, Miss USA 2002, crowned her successor at the conclusion of the two-hour primetime telecast, before an estimated worldwide viewing audience of more than 200 million.
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First Runner Up: Michelle Arnette, Miss Alabama USA 2003, will assume the duties of MISS USA 2003 if the titleholder is named MISS UNIVERSE 2003, or for some reason cannot fulfill her responsibilities.
Second Runner Up: Nicole O’Brian, Miss Texas USA 2003
Rest of Top Five:
Elisa Kathleen Schleef, Miss Michigan USA 2003
Beth Hood, Miss Tennessee USA 2003
Rest of Top Ten:
Tashina Brooke Kastigar, Miss Indiana USA 2003
Anna Rebecca Hanks, Miss South Carolina USA 2003
Alina Ogle, Miss New Mexico USA 2003
Alicia Malia Michioka, Miss Hawaii USA 2003
Star Williams, Miss Oklahoma USA 2003
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Congeniality Award: Breann Pariott, Miss Washington USA 2003. The award reflects the respect and admiration of the delegate’s peers, who voted for her as the most congenial, charismatic and inspirational participant.
The New Miss USA
At 23 years old, Susie Castillo is committed to erasing ethnic, cultural, and gender stereotypes. The second Miss Massachusetts USA and the third ever Latina woman to become Miss USA, Castillo was the second member in her family to graduate from college when she received a Bachelor’s Degree in Interior Architecture and Design from Endicott College in 2001. Castillo flourished at school and received numerous academic accolades including the prestigious Capstone Award, an honor that is given annually to one graduating senior in recognition of their senior thesis.
A former delegate in the 1998 Miss Teen USA Pageant, the Lawrence, Massachusetts native plans to be a positive role model for young females in both the English and Spanish speaking communities. "I would like to be an inspiration to the Latin-American community. I'm living proof that through hard work and dedication, no goal or dream is too great to be achieved," said Castillo.
Having been raised by a single mother in a low-income neighborhood, she understands the obstacles females encounter in society, and is committed to educating young women about the importance of maintaining positive self-esteem and self worth.
"I am especially proud that despite the fact that I’m a product of divorced parents and come from a low-income community, I’ve defeated the odds. Of my many childhood friends, I was the only one who graduated from high school and college, and now I am pursuing my dreams," said Castillo. "Thanks to my mother, who worked multiple jobs to pay for my education. She is my role model and source of inspiration, and through all her hard work, I am a well-balanced individual who holds strength both in mind and body."
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After experiencing first-hand the affects of a parent’s abandonment, this exotic beauty is also committed to preventing those experiences from happening to future generations of children. When in Massachusetts, she volunteers at organizations such as HAWC (Help for Abused Women and their Children), the Lawrence Girls Club and Latinas Against Sexual Assault.
A professional model since the age of 15, Castillo has graced the pages of many Teen Magazines and has appeared in many ad campaigns. In her spare time, this self-proclaimed food critic enjoys listening to salsa and merengue music with her large extended family. (Her grandmother had 19 children giving Susie many aunts, uncles, and cousins!).
TV Ratings Best in 4 Years
NBC's telecast of "Miss USA 2003" has generated the annual event's highest adult 18-49 rating in four years, with a 57 percent increase over the 2002 "Miss USA" results. Last night's telecast was also up by 50 percent in overall total viewers, 65 percent among adults 18-34 and 147 percent among teens.
The powerful "Miss USA" numbers helped NBC achieve its fourth consecutive Monday victory among adults 18-49, its longest Monday winning streak of the season.
"Miss USA" lifted NBC to a close second-place finish for its time period among adults 18-49 and won the slot among adults, men and women 18-34 and teens.
According to updated in-home viewing figures from Nielsen Media Research, the 52nd annual "Miss USA" competition (4.4 rating, 11 share among adults 18-49, 11.4 million viewers overall) attracted the event's highest 18-49 rating since 1999. Last year's telecast from a Friday telecast on CBS had 7.6 million viewers overall.
The Miss Universe Organization, producers of the Miss Universe, Miss USA and Miss Teen USA Pageants, is a Donald J. Trump and National Broadcasting Company, Inc. (NBC) partnership.
Photos courtesy Miss Universe L.P., LLLP.
-- March 25, 2003