


She may have just bought a house in LA, but as an in-demand model (she’s the first Filipino American to walk in the Victoria’s Secret Fashion Show and the first to appear in the pages of Sports Illustrated’s Swimsuit Issue), Kelsey Merritt’s toes are often sinking into Miami sand.
So much so that she recently landed on the cover of Ocean Drive magazine and keeps a running list of her favorite Magic City hotels (The Setai Miami Beach and 1 Hotel South Beach) and restaurants (including steakhouse Prime 112 and Italian eatery Carbone).
“I love Miami’s unique blend of cultures, lively atmosphere and the incredible weather and beaches,” Merritt, 27, tells Alexa. “The opportunity for both work and play adds to its charm.”
And the stunner — who boasts 2 million Instagram followers — takes full advantage of its perks, like checking out street art and graffiti while in town for a Tiffany & Co. pop-up during Miami Art Week last year.
Whenever Merritt alights on South Florida, here are the things she never forgets to pack.