‘Grand Cayman: Secrets In Paradise’ Star Selita Ebanks Wishes Elizabeth Chambers Was “More Present” And “More Vulnerable” With Co-Stars [EXCLUSIVE]

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 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.

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 last week, though she was two hours late. Despite being fairly absent from the group, she’s already managed to make an enemy out of co-star Courtney McTaggart, whom she allegedly accused of being one of Hammer’s mistresses when they were still married. McTaggart also claims Chambers was secretly trolling her on social media —  and confronts the television personality about it in tonight’s episode.

While McTaggart appears firm in her beliefs about Chambers, Ebanks told DECIDER, “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, at least, pleasant experiences on the show,” adding that Chambers “seems like a very beautiful person.”

Ebanks, who has also been the voice of reason when it comes to Chelsea Flynn’s tumultuous relationship, further teased tonight’s new episode, telling DECIDER, “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.”

Keep reading for our full interview with Ebanks.

DECIDER: I absolutely love the show. But I have to know – what made you decide to try your hand at reality TV? And how has your experience been so far?

SELITA EBANKS: Well, this isn’t my first rodeo with reality TV. I’ve done a few other shows. This is my first reality show that I’m starring in. I was a little hesitant, but 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. I know 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. Being able to work and live here is such a blessing and I just really wanted to show Cayman from a different side and give people a glimpse.

Are there any misconceptions about reality TV you had before that have been cleared up since you joined the show?

I think people have a misconception that for me – as a talent and as producer – that I would have more control [over] the storylines. I tell people all the time – my storyline is my storyline. I’m in control of my storyline because if I don’t say you can use it, you won’t see it. So I think people need to just appreciate everyone’s individual storyline because they have their own story to tell. I think that’s what’s so beautiful about reality TV if it’s done in a tasteful way, and I think we’ve done that, like, Chelsea’s storyline – that is organic, that is completely not scripted. I know sometimes people think reality TV is scripted and sometimes it is a bit – you’re pushed in a certain direction. But Chelsea’s storyline is 100% her real life and I think people should appreciate that. And myself. 

There’s a lot of drama so far, so we’re going to jump into that. I want to start with Elizabeth. It seems like a handful of your castmates are put off by her. What do you think of her?

I don’t know her 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, at least, pleasant experiences on the show. But yeah, I only know her from seeing her around, but I can’t speak on her in that way which is sad. She seems like a very beautiful person. I just don’t know her.

In this week’s episode, she showed up two hours late to her own event and (unlike you) she did not greet everyone when she got there. Do you think Elizabeth is doing a poor job of representing Caribbean culture?

I don’t think she represents Caribbean culture because she’s not a Caribbean woman. She didn’t have the same upbringing. How I was raised as a Caribbean woman is when you enter a room, you must say hello to everybody. But knowledge is power. Maybe she just doesn’t know that and maybe she’s feeling the energy. Maybe she’s just not having a good day and that’s why she’s late. We’re all human. But in the Caribbean, just so you know, when you walk into a room you must greet everybody. 

Even if you see a stranger, you say, “Good morning.” Even just walking down the street, you just have to acknowledge. I think there’s a certain type of love when that happens. It allows another person to know that you see them, that they are present, they are worthy. We could go down a rabbit hole by talking about mental health and how important that is. But that’s how we are – and if not, you get cussed out. 

Courtney is very convinced that Elizabeth was trolling her on social media and accusing her of partaking in BDSM with her ex-husband as we see in the preview for this week. Do you think that’s something Elizabeth is capable of doing?

I don’t put anything past anybody. I’ve watched enough First 48 to know. I watch the crime shows. Yes, I am a geek. I like to watch crime and forensic. You just never know what anyone’s capable of, especially when their back is against the wall and they’re between a hard place. You just don’t know. And I just wish that there could be a little bit more humanity on the topic. Like, she was [in] a shitty situation. That is hard. It’s hard to live through something like that, let alone a divorce and having to deal with all of that. So I don’t know. To answer your question, I have no idea. I’m just trying to stay away from it. 

Moving on to Chelsea. I think she is so lucky to have a friend like you to tell it how it is and give the tough love when needed. You mentioned that you’ve been Chelsea in relationships before. When you see what she’s going through with Tyson, does that ever bring you back to your own experiences?

It doesn’t bring me back because honey, I’ve built walls – Fort Knox – to keep my mental peace. But I definitely take lessons away from hardships and experiences like that. I hate to see someone who is so full of love fighting for something that isn’t reciprocated, and especially when you have children involved because then it becomes toxic on the children as well. And that’s just a whole other sad story. So I just want her to feel and know that she’s loved and that she deserves all of it. And I think she does. If you follow her social media now – the glow up is real. 

Chelsea’s situation with Tyson is heartbreaking. Why do you think she has such a hard time leaving him?

She’ll probably say the same. She already suffered a failed marriage and she was trying something different. This was her bad boy. He made her feel … Stella got her groove back! But when reality hits – when you move so fast in a relationship, not only were you just dating him and he was unfaithful, but you also have a child with him. And then there’s the lack of communication and understanding and love and I think she just really was fighting for this happy ending that we all deserve. Unfortunately, it just is not with him and that’s hard. That’s a hard pill to swallow, you know?

We saw Tyson apologize to Chelsea and her mom for his actions – and they both seemed to buy it. Did you?

No. Apology is nothing without changed behavior. So you don’t need to apologize. Show me. I think that’s what Chelsea’s gonna realize. 

Craig Jervis was also called into question for his DMs with a woman who was not his girlfriend – but he denied doing anything inappropriate and said he just has an “exciting way of conversing.” Do you think his hands are as clean as he claims?

I don’t know because I was not there and I did not see them interacting or anything like that. So I have no idea. But in Craigy boo’s defense, Caribbean men are very, very over the top – specifically Jamaican men. The poetry – we call it lyrics – the wit, the humor, it’s a lot and that’s a part of their charm. So you have to take it with a grain of salt. It’s all fun. That’s what makes them ladies men.

Is there anything else you can tease about the rest of the season?

Girl, [this] week. I am blushing. I’m blushing because it is – my grandmother, I’m gonna have to do some repenting [laughs]. It was a lot of fun. I think you guys are gonna love it. It is spicy. 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. 

This interview has been edited for clarity and length.

Grand Cayman: Secrets in Paradise airs ever Tuesday at 9:30 p.m. ET on Freeform. New episodes are available to stream the next day on Hulu.