On October 2, 2008, she was appointed as the new official candidate of the Philippines to Miss World following the resignation of the original winner, Janina San Miguel. Danielle place in the top 10 beach beauty finalists and placed among the top 32 Top Model competition during Miss World 2008.
Castaño grew up in glendale, but later moved to marikina city when she was 8yrs old.left the philippines to continue her studies in the US when she was 12 yrs old. after high school she went back to the philippines.She finished her secondary education in Herbert Hoover High School in California, United States where she was also part of the track and field and cross country varsity team.