Photo taken by Douglas Lyle Thompson

Jessica stays connected and couldn't be without her iPhone and loves playing Backgammon - there's an app for that! You can also download the SI app to vote for your favorite model to get a spot in the 2012 Swimsuit edition AND to see who is in this year's issue!

She's always craving this guilty pleasure!

Jessica's Favorite Meal: It can be found in Brooklyn at Bahia, a Salvadorian restaurant at 690 Grand Street in Williamsburg. She loves the cheese & bean pupusas!

Jessica NEVER goes to bed without using this makeup remover it's her must! Bioderma - Crealine H2O - Ultra-Mild Non-Rinse Face and Eyes Cleanser - 250 ml $28 - Beauty Habit

Jessica's Fave Bikini: her Polka Dot one from Victoria's Secret of course! Beach Sexy® Metallic Polka-dot Triangle Top $29 - Victoria's Secret

As promised, Mingling Mondays are now focused on meeting people within the fashion industry and various influencers. You'll find out about special things they're working on and the burning questions that I love asking people when I get the chance to meet up with them for a quick chat. Each week there will always be something new so I'm super excited to kick it off with a personal favorite - Jessica Perez. In case you may have missed it, she's a Victoria's Secret and Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Model and she is currently 1 of 8 girls that's in a competition as she attempts to be included in the International Sports Illustrated 2011 Model Search where the winner is guaranteed a spot in the 2012 issue. From the beginning, she has been ahead in the votes but with the last day being this Wednesday, you can still make your vote count by clicking here as well as finding out a little bit more about this Costa Rican born beauty who lives right here in NYC (coming to the US after living in Ecuador and Honduras).

Between all the photoshoots and travel, I love knowing that sometimes the happiest things are those that are simplistic - her guilty pleasure is a coke and she's always craving it. Just like I have my favorite go to jewelry that you never see me without, she always wears her black leather ring and when she's not looking phenom in her bikinis, she loves rocking comfy skinny jeans and a button down boyfriend shirt! I remember the first time I went to the Dominican Republic and had the pleasure of staying in Punta Cana for 9 days - it felt like a completely different planet. So of course the fact that I go to DR for work in creating my line, I can definitely see how Jess loved when she had the opportunity to go for work and can't wait to go back there just to enjoy the amazing beaches there! Take some time to check out some other fun facts about Jess above from her fave meal in Brooklyn at Bahia to her love for Bioderma and more! Of course, remember to vote for her so that she can be apart of the International Sportswear Illustrated Issue in 2012!