When model Selita Ebanks was 16, she gave her winter coat to a homeless man on the Staten Island Ferry. After coming home freezing -- and eventually getting sick -- her mother pulled her aside and said, "Selita, one day you'll realize you can't save the world." Ebanks, who is best known for her enviable role as one of Victoria's Secret's Angels, now understands she's can't save everyone, but she has dedicated much of her time off the runway to helping women and children overseas.

"Charity work has been basically a part of my life since I was a child," Ebanks told Black Voices. "My mother was a single parent at the time, and charities and organizations or churches basically helped support us. I grew up really appreciating and understanding the importance of having such organizations."

So Ebanks started the Stardom Youth Foundation, an after-school mentoring program in the Cayman Islands, where she was born. Then, after a trip to Sierra Leone, she was inspired to launch the Women's Coalition for Empowerment and Opportunity with Serena Williams and Eve.

"I had no idea that I was going to have this epiphany about women [on the trip]," she said. " Wherever we come from, at the end of the day, we are amazingly strong. These women, all they need is a support system to help improve their lives."

While charity work is one of her passions, modeling is her business! Ebanks sat down with Black Voices to discuss some of her style and beauty secrets. How would you describe your personal style?
I really think that, just in the last year, I've developed a sense of style. Before, I was really just kind of all over the place, and I just wanted to wear everything. Now, I really love to push the envelope as much as possible but still remain classically chic. It's all about sophistication. My age is really coming into play. I love Rihanna's style, but there's no way I can dress like her. At the same time, I'm not 30-plus yet, so I try to maintain the sexiness but in a sophisticated way.

Who is your fashion icon?
I love Kate Moss. She's just so effortlessly stylish. She can wear anything. She really doesn't care about her hair or her makeup. It's just very simple and clean -- it's all about, for her, I think, just being comfortable in her own skin. Just wearing things and not allowing them to wear her. The only difference is I love a five-inch stiletto, and I don't think I've seen her rock those as much.

Who is your favorite designer?
I just wore [a Balmain dress], which I am amazed by. I love bling. I felt so proud to wear it. I felt the sexiest ever in it. Oh man, I love Balmain! Who else? I love Alexander Wang. He's new, he's simple, he's chic. I love the cuts.

What's an item of clothing you can't live without?
I can't live without my boy blazers. I don't know -- I'm stuck in this boy world. I've always been that way; I guess it's because I have so many brothers. I've always tried to be a bit masculine in everything I do. I don't own any female watches. I own a big-faced Rolex. I have men's accessories and men's blazers and stuff like that.

What's your favorite scent?
Supermodel by Victoria's Secret. I don't want to sound cliche, but it's true. I helped create it a few years back. I didn't have anything to do with naming it! But they sent over maybe four or five different concoctions that they put together and labeled "A, B, C, D." They sent them to all the Angels, and we wrote what we liked and why we liked it. The one I liked won!

What's your favorite handbag?
There are so many! I'm addicted to shoes and bags. I feel like they're a staple of any woman's wardrobe. You have to have a fierce shoe and fierce bag. Girl, I will wear something from Target, put on some Christian Louboutins and a Louis bag, and I'm good!

What's your favorite electronic device?
My phone! The new Blackberry 8900. I'm addicted to it right now!

What style do you look for in a guy?
Non-arrogant swagger, if that makes any sense. I don't want him to be cocky, but just be confident in his own skin. If you're a thug and you have your Timberlands or whatever, that's fine. If you walk in there and give this energy that you're an adult and that's just your clothes, then that's cool. But if you have your pants pulled down to your thighs -- I go through this with my brothers all the time. Why don't we try dressing like an adult?