public ActionResult Index() { AddressModel MyAddressModel = new AddressModel(); MyAddressModel.AvailableCountries.Add(new SelectListItem { Text = "Select a Country", Value = "Select item" }); var countries = _myRepo.GetAllCountries(); foreach (var country in countries) { MyAddressModel.AvailableCountries.Add(new SelectListItem() { Text = country.Name, Value = country.Id.ToString() }); } return(View(MyAddressModel)); }