SELITA’S ‘SECRETS’
Former Victoria’s Secret Angel Selita Ebanks is making a splash on Freeform with her new reality show, “Grand Cayman: Secrets in Paradise,” which follows the lives of locals (like herself ) and expats as they live in a tropical paradise. Ebanks, who both stars in and produces the show, is a grounded presence in a cast that is otherwise riddled with drama — which, as we know, makes for ideal reality television.
“This isn’t my first rodeo with reality TV, but this is my first reality show that I’m starring in,” Ebanks explained during a recent Zoom conversation. “It took me a couple of years to be able to be confident enough to do something like this because I know what comes with it — the opinions and the scrutiny and the messy. But I also know that some positives can come out of it – especially the fact that it’s here in my homeland.”
The model shares the screen with 12 other personalities, including Armie Hammer’s ex-wife Elizabeth Chambers, who is establishing quite a reputation among the other locals. The BIRD Bakery founder finally showed up to her first cast event in last week’s episode, though she was two hours late. Despite being fairly absent
Former Victoria’s Secret model Selita Ebanks stars in the new Freeform reality series “Grand Cayman: Secrets in Paradise.”
from the group, she’s already managed to make an enemy out of co-star Courtney McTaggart, whom she accused of being one of Hammer’s mistresses when they were still married.
“I just wish that there could be a little bit more humanity on the topic,” Ebanks said when asked about her thoughts on the sordid allegations surrounding the couple’s demise. “Like, [Chambers] was [in] a sh-–y situation. It’s hard to live through something like that, let alone a divorce and having to deal with all of that.”
McTaggart also claims Chambers was secretly trolling her on social media. “I don’t put anything past anybody,” Ebanks said when asked for her thoughts. “I’ve watched enough ‘First 48’ to know.” And while McTaggart appears firm in her beliefs about Chambers, Ebanks told us, “I don’t know [Chambers] that well to have an opinion of her. I wish she would have been more present and a little bit more vulnerable with us. I think she could have built some really pleasant experiences on the show,” adding that Chambers “seems like a very beautiful person.”
Even though she serves as a producer on the series, Ebanks shared that she doesn’t view her role on the series as that of a reality TV puppetmaster. “I think people have a misconception that for me, as a talent and as producer, that I would have more control [over] the storylines,” she said. “I know sometimes people think reality TV is scripted and sometimes it is a bit, but Chelsea [Flynn]’s storyline is 100% her real life and I think people should appreciate that.”
“Secrets in Paradise” has certainly been living up to the promise of its title in its first season, and Ebanks wants to assure viewers that the sweet tea is going to continue to spill. “I’m gonna have to do some repenting,” she says with a laugh when asked to tease what’s ahead. “I am blushing. You guys are gonna love it. It’s spicy, it’s crazy, it’s raw, it’s vulnerable. I think the next couple of episodes you guys are in for a wild ride with us.”
“Grand Cayman: Secrets in Paradise” airs new episodes on Tuesdays at 10pm on Freeform and streams the next day on Hulu.