At 17 years old, while walking through the turnstiles at Six Flags Great Adventure, Ebanks was scouted by an agent from Elite Model Management. Selita Ebanks 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. The contract has afforded Selita the opporunity to enhance her breasts and is the only noted VS model who has done so-although she has been noted as sometimes denying the claim. 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.
Ebanks was engaged to rapper, actor, and comedian Nick Cannon. On October 4, 2007, People magazine announced that the couple has ended their engagement. Selita also dated her ex-manager Marc Chamberlin and allegedly moved on quickly to a more strategic relationship to her career with Nick Cannon.