Susie Castillo (born October 27, 1979) is an American actress, TV host, model, and beauty pageant titleholder who won Miss USA 2003.

[citation needed] Castillo won her first pageant title in November 1997, beating over 40 other contestants to become Miss Massachusetts Teen USA 1998.

Although the pageant was usually broadcast live, that year's telecast was delayed due to a speech by then-President Bill Clinton regarding his relationship with Monica Lewinsky.

She also played the role of Mercedes Hernandez in the TBS show Tyler Perry's House of Payne in a select number of episodes in season 5.

[11] Castillo co-hosted the 2008 Arthur Ashe Kids' Day on August 23 at the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Canter in New York City.

[13] Castillo's work for Neutrogena includes serving as the "virtual host" of the company's promotional web site, The Big Blush.

She also signed on as the brand ambassador for Charlotte Russe (retailer) and Gossip Girl stylist, Eric Daman, who is going to help her design her own line influenced by her Latino heritage.

[16] 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.

[17] On April 27, 2011, Castillo issued a statement attacking the U.S. Transportation Security Administration (TSA), alleging that she had been groped and touched inappropriately four times during the enhanced pat-down.

Castillo urges the beauty pageant industry to stop awarding fur coats as prizes while exposing animals to unnecessary torture "in the name of fashion".

[21] She was diagnosed with endometriosis; Castillo later discovered that her anti-Müllerian hormone levels had plummeted as a result of the procedure; Doctors informed her she had a 16% chance of conceiving even with in vitro fertilization.