Leadership

The Empowerment Academy

Executive Director

Darcy Castro

Darcy created the Empowerment Academy because she deeply understands, first-hand, the significant positive impact pageantry can have on the lives of women of all ages. In 1995, she watched her first pageant and began to see herself in a new light, ready to set goals and strive for experiences she once thought herself not worthy of. She won her first Miss America Scholarship Program local pageant the following year, and the experience transformed her life. It motivated her to pursue other scholarship and academic opportunities, and graduate college with honors, debt-free.

After four years as a local titleholder, she went on to become a local executive director in the Miss America system. In her program’s inaugural year, her very first local titleholder went on to win Miss America! Being a part of the support team for Katie Harman, Miss America 2002, gave her a unique view of pageantry that has deeply influenced her roles as director, judge, competitor and pageant industry business owner.

In 2018, Darcy took the vulnerable step to return to the pageant stage as a competitor in her 40s and ascended the ranks to win her first national title in 2019, and has continued to compete, gaining valuable insight that fuels her pageant-industry business. She created the Empowerment Academy to bring her years of experience in all facets of pageantry and her firm grasp of its benefits, along with her impressive professional acumen, to be a leader to women across the spectrum to help them set and achieve their goals.

Darcy Castro Productions LLC is the parent company of the Empowerment Academy. By trade, Darcy is a freelance public relations consultant, journalist and event host.