A chat with Selita Ebanks

Selita Ebanks wants women to recognise their value, create boundaries and practise being present.

Last month, the former Victoria’s Secret Angel sat down for a "fireside chat" with Provenance Properties broker Jackie Doak at an event hosted on 9 December by the Cayman Islands chapter of the global 100 Women in Finance organisation as part of its 20th anniversary "Break the Mould" series.

“Commit and Proceed” was the theme of the al fresco affair, held on the rooftop of the 62 Forum Lane building in Camana Bay.

Sponsored by Provenance Properties — the exclusive Christie’s International Real Estate affiliate in the Cayman Islands — the event provided the mostly female audience an opportunity to hear Ebanks speak firsthand about her rise to stardom and facing her fears.

Doak guided the conversation with Ebanks, striking a balance of levity and gravitas while creating a sense of inspiration and entertainment throughout the discussion.

“Selita regaled us with behind-the-scenes stories about the life of a supermodel and she inspired us with her sincerity," says Doak.
Ebanks shared her journey from a carefree childhood in the Cayman Islands to the experience of being scouted by a major modelling agency at the age of 17, to her skyrocketing career as the supermodel who inherited Tyra Banks’ Victoria’s Secret Angel wings.

One of the goals of the event was to motivate the audience members to commit to their truth and to their own goals — even in the face of adversity.

Ebanks shed light on the fiercely competitive nature of the modelling industry and the exploitation of many models by talent agencies.

“It’s a tedious and draining career,” she says. “It can really break you down. The horror stories you hear are probably true.”

Ebanks also shared her own struggles with social anxiety and how she faced the challenge by learning to control only what she can control.

She described the anxiety she felt during her first Victoria’s Secret runway show, which involved her modelling lingerie for the first time in a room filled with thousands of people and broadcast to millions of viewers. Nevertheless, she faced her fears and owned the stage with poise and flair.

“I’ve learned how to manage [the anxiety],” says Ebanks. “I learned how to control it within myself and tell myself I am good enough and I am worthy and that I deserve to be here.”

Ebanks says she feels "blessed and thankful" to be Caymanian and loves the time she spends on Grand Cayman.

"It makes my heart pitter-patter," she says. “I’m always inviting my friends overseas to come down."

Ebanks is an advocate for bringing art to Cayman’s youth and is working on bringing a children’s summer art programme to life. She’s also writing a sci-fi screenplay and is launching a social platform dedicated to women as a safe space to share their personal stories.

At the end of the evening, Ebanks reminded the audience of the importance of caring for their mental health as much as their physical and financial health, and to practise self-love by prioritising their needs and creating boundaries.

This article was originally published in the January 2022 print edition of Camana Bay Times.

About the author

Andrea Lumsden has worked with Dart since 2013 and has been writing professionally since 2003. Graduating from university with a BA in Communication, Andrea has worked with clients across a range of industries, including financial services, hospitality and real estate. Raised in the Cayman Islands, she’s a bookworm at heart who enjoys cooking and travelling with her husband and three children.