Helio Castroneves: Guest Judge, 2011 Miss Universe Pageant

Helio Castroneves said it plainly: "Brazil is in right now. We're going to have the World Cup in 2014, the Olympics in 2016, and to be hosting the Miss Univ…" — and Premier Guide Miami was in the room when it happened.

Natalie Morales (NBC's Today) and Andy Cohen (Bravo's Watch What Happens: Live) co-hosted the 2011 Miss Universe Pageant live from Credicard Hall in São Paulo, Brazil on September 12 (9 p.m. ET) on NBC. The two-hour television event — with a live Spanish simulcast on Telemundo — featured contestants representing approximately 90 countries competing in swimsuit, evening gown, and interview categories. Miss Universe 2010 Ximena Navarrete of Mexico crowned her successor at the conclusion of the telecast. Three-time Indianapolis 500 winner and Dancing with the Stars champion Helio Castroneves served as a guest judge. He spoke with Premier Guide Miami's Judith Wallace ahead of the broadcast.

PREMIER GUIDE MIAMI: This is your first time judging a beauty pageant. Are you excited?

HELIO CASTRONEVES: Well, I have to be honest — this is an amazing opportunity. I'm really, really excited to be judging, first of all. I'm just super excited and hopefully I'll do a good job.

PREMIER GUIDE MIAMI: What does it mean for you to know that your home country is hosting such an event?

HELIO CASTRONEVES: Brazil is in right now. We're going to have the World Cup in 2014, the Olympics in 2016, and to be hosting the Miss Universe shows that we're getting better and better with events. And for sure, Brazil has beautiful taste and beautiful women, and I do believe it's quite an honor to have the country hosting a big event like Miss Universe. And for me especially it's fantastic just to go back and have this opportunity to help choose the right person. It's quite an honor.

PREMIER GUIDE MIAMI: Both the Miss Universe competition and car racing are competitive. What does it take to win a highly competitive competition like this?

HELIO CASTRONEVES: Being a race car driver, being an athlete, you've got to be focused, you've got to be determined. And I fully understand that all the contestants, all the ladies, are going to do a pretty good job. They're working really hard — their hair, makeup, eating the right things. I believe it's going to be the whole package. It's not about only one thing, to be beautiful, but also you've got to represent well, you've got to be presentable, and things like that.

PREMIER GUIDE MIAMI: What is your judging style?

HELIO CASTRONEVES: The theme of this year is interesting because everybody's talking about not only representing well for HIV and AIDS education — they've got to research and legislation. Miss Universe serves as a role model and you've got to look for that kind of scenario. People just sometimes think about the model look, the picture, and "Oh, this one looks fantastic," but it's not only one thing. In fact, I was talking even to Adriana, my wife, and she said, "You've got to look for something that is actually the whole package." And it's true, because she's going to be representing so many things — beauty, tradition, accomplishment — and that's what I'm going to be looking for. So hopefully when I'm judging I'm going to be able to see that, and it'll be pretty exciting.

PREMIER GUIDE MIAMI: You had great chemistry with Julianne Hough on Dancing with the Stars and were constantly around beautiful women. Will that experience help in judging the Miss Universe pageant?

HELIO CASTRONEVES: In my case with Julianne, certainly she has quite the package. She's beautiful, she's smart, she could dance, she had a great personality — and that's one of the biggest points, the great chemistry between us. Nothing happened between us. A lot of people think that something happened, but no — we just became good friends, and I do feel she played really well on the show. And for me, being around Dancing with the Stars with beautiful ladies and seeing each one of the personalities, I think it's going to help as well while judging down there in Brazil. Certainly it's going to help me to pick the right one.

PREMIER GUIDE MIAMI: Do you accept the role as a role model — people constantly looking up to you because of what you do?

HELIO CASTRONEVES: Being a race car driver, an athlete, I do represent a lot of important companies and names, so you do get to represent well, speak well, judge. Even sometimes you get a little bit nervous because something happens and you still have to make sure that you don't do anything that jeopardizes that image. Plus, you have kids looking up to you. When you're racing, a lot of kids come up and say, "I like you the way you are," and things like that. So for me, a role model is representing all these characteristics, and it's extremely important in our business to be a good one. I try to just be myself, but obviously in a way that I can represent great companies so that people look after them.

PREMIER GUIDE MIAMI: What is your advice to these women in the competition?

HELIO CASTRONEVES: Being I'm still learning being a father — my little girl is only 20 months — I hope to do what my parents did. Certainly to compete you've got to work, dedicate, so that you can achieve the success. In this case, for example, in the Miss Universe Pageant, you've got to work as well, but in the same day it's very difficult. There are certain ways that you can present yourself, but you've got to be yourself too. A lot of tastes are different, but the way I understand it — representing your country, you've already achieved kind of like the number one spot. Now it's just a matter of representing yourself, having fun, because you can't forget to have fun as well. All this package — dedication, work hard — I guarantee you will achieve the success that you want.

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