The Sports Illustrated Swimsuit 2011 Model Search is over and the winner is Jessica Perez from Costa Rica. Perez was born in Costa Rica and grew up in Honduras and Ecuador before moving to New York. She received a national scientific grant for research in Biopsychology and she supports charities like the Heartland Alliance and Dog Habitat Rescue.

Jessica’s modeling career has included advertising spots for Victoria’s Secret, Sephora, Levi’s and American Eagle. She has appeared in countless European magazines and she’s also been featured in Cosmopolitan, Elle and Glamour.

Perez is now guaranteed a spot in next year’s Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Issue. It’s the first time that SI has ever opened up the swimsuit action to a public vote. It’s also the first time that anyone has been guaranteed a spot in the Swimsuit Issue.

You can see Jessica and all the other Model Search contestants in a series of Sports Illustrated/Nissan videos that we posted last week. Today is the last day to enter our iPad giveaway contest so take a look at the vids and enter to win!