[3] Shelton then went on to the Miss Universe contest in Miami, Florida in July where she placed first runner-up to Marisol Malaret of Puerto Rico.

[5] During her reign, Shelton traveled across the United States and internationally, including visits to Japan, Spain, Portugal, Brazil and Puerto Rico.

She starred in the feature film Blood Tide alongside legendary stage and screen actors José Ferrer and James Earl Jones.

Shelton made frequent guest appearances on television series such as Fantasy Island, The A-Team, T. J. Hooker, The Fall Guy, Cheers, The Love Boat, Riptide, and Get a Life.

[9] During 2012, Shelton made a guest appearance on the newly revived Dallas – she portrayed her old character Mandy Winger for J.R. Ewing's memorial service.

Shelton married Vici Castro, a Cuban exile in 1971, less than a month after passing-on the Miss USA title.