Selita Ebanks (born February 15, 1983) is a Caymanian supermodel. She is best known for her work with Victoria's Secret and presently, one of the Victoria's Secret Angels.
Selita Ebanks was born on February 15, 1983 in George Town, Grand Cayman, Cayman Islands. She is of Caymanian, Jamaican, Irish and Indian descent. She was raised in a large family that includes seven brothers. Influenced by her brothers, Ebanks played many sports growing up, such as basketball, football and tennis. The Ebanks family was quite poor, living in what she described as "a little blue, zinc-roof shack on Walkers Road". Oftentimes, Ebanks didn't have shoes to wear to George Town primary school. Her family, her mother in particular, encouraged her development through extracurricular programs.
Later in life, Ebanks moved to the United States, and settled in Staten Island, New York. After moving to New York City she was accepted at prestigious Spelman College, Columbia University and New York University. She had planned to study Law before she started modeling. Ebanks was a former attendee of the prestigious institution John F. Kennedy Middle School. While attending the institution she was a member of the debate team.
At 17 years old, while walking through the turnstiles at Six Flags Great Adventure, Ebanks was scouted by an agent from Elite Model Management. Ebanks had worked with some of the world's most noted photographers, including Peter Lindbergh, Bruce Weber, Steven Klein, Carter Smith and Mikael Jansson, and for some of the most quintessential American fashion campaigns, including Ralph Lauren, Abercrombie & Fitch, Levi's and Tommy Hilfiger.
Ebanks is currently working as a model for Victoria's Secret. She had previously done work for their Ipex Bra line, before being signed. She and fellow up-and-coming model Izabel Goulart made their major début in the 2005 Victoria's Secret Fashion Show. She is now officially one of the Victoria's Secret Angels. She views Tyra Banks as a mentor. In 2005, Tyra Banks said she was proud of Ebanks to be representing for black women at Victoria's Secret.
She made her first appearance on Sport's Illustrated's 2007 Swimsuit Issue.
Ebanks currently engaged to rapper, actor, and comedian Nick Cannon on May 7, 2007. Cannon proposed on bent knee in Times Square as the words, "Selita will you marry me?" flashed on the giant TV screen. Cannon then presented her with a 15-carat diamond ring that he helped design. The couple met at a Super Bowl party in Miami in February.
