Yaya DaCosta
{{short description|American actress and model (born 1982)}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=October 2024}}
{{Citations broken|date=October 2024}}
{{Infobox model
| image = Yaya DaCosta, Afropunk 2023 (cropped).png
| caption = DaCosta at Afropunk Festival in 2023
| birth_name = Camara DaCosta Johnson
| birth_date = {{Birth date and age|1982|11|15|mf=y}}
| birth_place = New York City, U.S.
| alma_mater = Brown University
| partner =
| children = 1
| height = {{height|ft=5|in=8}}
| haircolor = Black
| eyecolor = Brown
| agency = Ford Models
| website =
| years_active = 2004–present
}}
Camara DaCosta Johnson (born November 15, 1982), known as Yaya DaCosta, is an American actress and model. She was the runner-up in Cycle 3 of America's Next Top Model. DaCosta eventually went on to star in ABC's daytime drama series All My Children (2008), ABC's comedy-drama Ugly Betty (2009), and NBC's medical drama Chicago Med (2015–2022).
In 2010, she appeared in Lisa Cholodenko's film The Kids Are All Right, being nominated with the cast at the Critics' Choice Movie Award and at the Gotham Award. DaCosta starred in the Lifetime television film Whitney (2015) as singer Whitney Houston and received praise for her performance being nominated at the Black Reel Award for Outstanding Actress, TV Movie or Limited Series.{{cite magazine |title=Critics express faith in lifetimes upcoming Whitney Houston biopic |magazine=Clutch |date=December 2014 |url=http://clutchmagonline.com/2014/12/critics-express-faith-lifetimes-upcoming-whitney-houston-biopic/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171217034917/http://clutchmagonline.com/2014/12/critics-express-faith-lifetimes-upcoming-whitney-houston-biopic/ |url-status=dead |archive-date=December 17, 2017 |access-date=19 January 2018}}
Early life and education
DaCosta was born on November 15, 1982. She was raised in the Harlem neighborhood of New York City.{{fashionmodel|id=Yaya_Dacosta|name=Yaya Dacosta}}{{cite news |first=Luchina |last=Fisher |title=5 Things About Yaya DaCosta, Star of Whitney Houston Biopic |work=ABC News |date=June 9, 2014 |url=https://abcnews.go.com/blogs/entertainment/2014/06/5-things-about-yaya-dacosta-star-of-whitney-houston-biopic/ |access-date=2024-10-10}} She is an African-American with an Afro-Brazilian grandfather. In addition to English, she speaks Portuguese.{{cite web |first=Nye |last=Magee |title=Yaya DaCosta squashes Nigerian roots |website=eurweb.com |date=20 November 2015 |url=http://www.eurweb.com/2015/11/yaya-dacosta-slams-antm-squashes-nigerian-roots-rumors |access-date=2024-10-10}} She attended the elite Northfield Mount Hermon School during high school before attending Brown University, where she majored in Africana studies and international relations.{{Cite magazine |first=Heather |last=Salerno |title=Getting Even Better |magazine=Brown Alumni Magazine |issue=July/August 2016 |url=https://www.brownalumnimagazine.com/articles/2016-07-07/getting-even-better |access-date=2021-07-30}}
Career
After being the runner-up on Cycle 3 of America's Next Top Model, DaCosta went on to have a successful career.{{cite web|url= http://entertainment.aol.ca/article/top-model-contestants-we-cant-forget/97152/|title= Top Model Contestants We Can't Forget|publisher= AOL Entertainment Canada|url-status= dead|archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20081218085850/http://entertainment.aol.ca/article/top-model-contestants-we-cant-forget/97152/|archive-date= 2008-12-18}} DaCosta only appeared once in the bottom two during the competition. She has appeared in advertisements for Garnier Fructis, Lincoln Townhouse, Oil of Olay, Radioshack, Seda, Sephora and Dr. Scholl's. She has graced the covers of numerous magazines, including W,{{Cite web |title=Yaya DaCosta and Zoe Kravitz Cover W Magazine's September "New It Girls" Issue – Fashion Bomb Daily Style Magazine: Celebrity Fashion, Fashion News, What To Wear, Runway Show Reviews |website=fashionbombdaily.com |url=http://fashionbombdaily.com/yaya-dacosta-and-zoe-kravitz-cover-w-magazines-september-new-it-girl-issue/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170427231514/http://fashionbombdaily.com/yaya-dacosta-and-zoe-kravitz-cover-w-magazines-september-new-it-girl-issue/ |url-status=dead |archive-date=April 27, 2017 |access-date=2019-09-05}} Hype Hair,{{Cite web |title=Digital Cover: Yaya DaCosta On Celebrating Her Natural Tresses On & Off The Big Screen |website=hypehair.com |date=9 May 2019 |url=https://www.hypehair.com/112899/digital-cover-yaya-dacosta-may-2019/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190509194547/https://www.hypehair.com/112899/digital-cover-yaya-dacosta-may-2019/ |url-status=dead |archive-date=May 9, 2019 |access-date=2019-09-05}} Splash and Global Modeling. In 2014, she landed a spot in Tom Ford’s Fall/Winter advertising campaign.{{Cite magazine |first=Brea Camille |last=Mosley |title=Yaya DaCosta Stars in new Tom Ford Ad |magazine=Essence |date=2020-10-27 |url=https://www.essence.com/news/yaya-dacosta-stars-new-tom-ford-ad/ |access-date=2019-09-05}} DaCosta began acting in 2005 after guest-starring in an episode of the UPN sitcom Eve.{{cite news |title=Where are the models of ANTM now? |website=antm411.com |url=https://antm411.com/camara-“yaya”-dacosta/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120127082411/http://antm411.com/camara-%E2%80%9Cyaya%E2%80%9D-dacosta/ |url-status=dead |archive-date=January 27, 2012 |access-date=18 January 2018}} She then starred opposite Rob Brown, Antonio Banderas and Alfre Woodard in the 2006 dance film Take the Lead.{{cite news |title=Antonio Banderas and Katya Virshilas in 'Take the Lead' |work=Los Angeles Times |url=http://www.latimes.com/zap-photo-dancefilms_takethelead-photo.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180119120458/http://www.latimes.com/zap-photo-dancefilms_takethelead-photo.html |url-status=dead |archive-date=January 19, 2018 |url-access=subscription |access-date=19 January 2018}} DaCosta had supporting roles in the independent films Honeydripper (2007) and The Messenger (2009).
She appeared in the ABC soap opera All My Children in 2008 as Cassandra Foster, the daughter of Angie Hubbard (Debbi Morgan).{{cite web |title=All My Children's Next Top Model |publisher=American Broadcasting Company |url=http://abc.go.com/daytime/allmychildren/yaya.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080407072738/http://abc.go.com/daytime/allmychildren/yaya.html |url-status=dead |archive-date=April 7, 2008 |access-date=2008-04-03}} According to an interview with All My Children's new head writer, Charles Pratt, Jr., DaCosta left the role some time in August 2008, less than four months after joining the show, to join the cast of The First Breeze of Summer on Broadway. The First Breeze of Summer was presented from 2008 to 2009 by the Negro Ensemble Company.{{cite magazine |first=David |last=Rooney |title=The First Breeze of Summer |magazine=Variety |date=22 August 2008 |url=https://variety.com/2008/legit/reviews/the-first-breeze-of-summer-1200507597/ |access-date=18 January 2018}}
In 2009, she had a recurring role as Nico Slater, the daughter of Wilhelmina Slater (Vanessa Williams) in the fourth and final season of the ABC comedy-drama series Ugly Betty.{{cite magazine |first=Michael |last=Ausiello |title='Ugly Betty' recast: 'Top Model' alum is Willie's daughter! |magazine=Entertainment Weekly |date=August 11, 2009 |url=http://ew.com/article/2009/08/11/ugly-betty-recast-top-model-alum-is-willies-daughter/ |access-date=18 January 2018}}
In 2010, DaCosta had supporting roles in the comedy-drama film The Kids Are All Right and the science fiction action-adventure film Tron: Legacy. Later, she appeared in the magazines, including on the cover of W (September 2010),{{cite magazine |title=Film: Young Actresses |magazine=W |date=1 September 2010 |url=http://www.wmagazine.com/people/celebrities/2010/09/young_actresses |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140502005039/http://www.wmagazine.com/people/celebrities/2010/09/young_actresses |url-status=dead |archive-date=May 2, 2014 |access-date=}} in L'Officiel (in November 2010),{{cite web |last=Sulmers |first=Claire |title=Snapshot: Yaya DaCosta for L'Officiel Paris November 2010 |website=fashionbombdaily.com |date=30 November 2010 |url=http://fashionbombdaily.com/snapshot-yaya-dacosta-for-lofficiel-paris-november-2010/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190113062739/http://fashionbombdaily.com/snapshot-yaya-dacosta-for-lofficiel-paris-november-2010/ |url-status=dead |archive-date=January 13, 2019 |access-date=12 January 2019}} and in Vogue (in January 2011 by Patrick Demarchelier).{{cite web |last=Sulmers |first=Claire |title=Snapshot: Yaya DaCosta by Patrick DeMarchelier for Vogue US January 2011 |website=fashionbombdaily.com |date=January 2011 |url=http://fashionbombdaily.com/snapshot-yaya-dacosta-by-patrick-demarchelier-for-vogue-us-january-2011/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171031032243/http://fashionbombdaily.com/snapshot-yaya-dacosta-by-patrick-demarchelier-for-vogue-us-january-2011/ |url-status=dead |archive-date=October 31, 2017 |access-date=12 January 2019}} In 2013, she also appeared as Carol in the historical drama film The Butler, starring Forest Whitaker and Oprah Winfrey.{{cite magazine |title=Exclusive: Yaya DaCosta On 'The Butler' & Maintaining Those Gorgeous Locks |magazine=Latina |date= |url=http://www.latina.com/entertainment/buzz/yaya-dacosta-alafia-the-butler-exclusive?page=1,1 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180119120400/http://www.latina.com/entertainment/buzz/yaya-dacosta-alafia-the-butler-exclusive?page=1,1 |url-status=dead |archive-date=January 19, 2018 |access-date=18 January 2018}}
In 2015, it was announced in an interview with actress Angela Bassett on CNN that DaCosta would star as musical icon Whitney Houston in a Lifetime television film about her life, which was Bassett's directorial debut. DaCosta received high praise for her performance.{{cite magazine |first=Ashley |last=Lee |title=Lifetime's 'Whitney': What the Critics Are Saying |magazine=Hollywood Reporter |date=2015-01-17 |url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/whitney-lifetime-review-what-critics-764525 |access-date=18 January 2018}}
Also from 2015 to 2021, DaCosta starred in the NBC medical drama Chicago Med as April Sexton, an ED nurse.{{cite magazine |first=Nikki |last=Brown |title=Yaya DaCosta Says 'Chicago Med' Opened Her Eyes on Beauty and Western Medicine |magazine=Essence |date=2020-10-26 |url=https://www.essence.com/2016/09/22/yaya-dacosta-chicago-med-interview |access-date=18 January 2018}} On May 14, 2021, DaCosta announced that she was leaving Chicago Med after six seasons and that before her exit she would be joining Fox's drama series Our Kind of People in the lead role;{{cite web |url=https://deadline.com/2021/05/chicago-med-yaya-dacosta-torrey-devitto-exit-nbc-drama-april-sexton-natalie-manning-original-cast-members-s-epatha-merkerson-return-1234753741/ |title='Chicago Med': Yaya DaCosta & Torrey DeVitto Exit NBC Drama, Remaining Original Cast Members To Return |work=Deadline Hollywood |last=Andreeva |first=Nellie |date=May 14, 2021 |access-date=May 23, 2021}}{{cite web |url=https://deadline.com/2021/05/yaya-dacosta-our-kind-of-people-fox-drama-series-chicago-med-exit-1234754379/|title=Yaya DaCosta To Headline 'Our Kind Of People' Fox Drama Series Following 'Chicago Med' Exit |work=Deadline Hollywood |last=Andreeva |first=Nellie |date=May 14, 2021 |access-date=May 23, 2021}} the new series was cancelled after 12 episodes.{{cite web|title=‘Our Kind of People’ Canceled After One Season at Fox|url=https://variety.com/2022/tv/news/our-kind-of-people-canceled-fox-1235259433/|work=Variety|last=Maas|first=Jennifer|date=May 13, 2022}} DaCosta was a main character on The Lincoln Lawyer season 2 and season 3. She departed the cast ahead of season 4, which began filming in February 2025.{{cite web|title=Why Yaya DaCosta Isn't Returning As Andrea Freeman In The Lincoln Lawyer Season 4 & What Her Exit Means|url=https://screenrant.com/lincoln-lawyer-season-4-andrea-freeman-yaya-dacosta-exit-reason/|website=ScreenRant|last=Howie|first=Guy|date=January 28, 2025}}
Personal life
DaCosta was in a relationship with independent film producer and director Joshua Bee Alafia from 2012 to 2015. In September 2013, she gave birth to their son, Sankara. In November 2015, it was reported that DaCosta and Alafia broke up. Contrary to popular reports, DaCosta and Alafia were never officially married.{{cite news |last1=Yoonsoo Kim |first1=Kristen |title=Yaya DaCosta's Journey From 'America's Next Top Model' to Top Billing |url=https://www.complex.com/pop-culture/2016/05/yaya-dacosta-americas-next-top-model-nice-guys-chicago-med |access-date=14 April 2020 |publisher=Complex |date=2016-05-13}}
Filmography
=Film=
| class="wikitable sortable" |
| Year
! Title ! Role ! class="unsortable" | Notes |
|---|
| 2006
| LaRhette | |
| 2007
| China Doll | |
| 2009
| {{sortname|The|Messenger|The Messenger (2009 film)}} | Monica Washington | |
| rowspan=3| 2010
| {{sortname|The|Kids Are All Right|The Kids Are All Right (film)}} | Tanya | |
| Tron: Legacy
| Siren | |
| Lost and Found
| - |
| rowspan=3| 2011
| In Time | Greta | |
| Whole Lotta Sole
| Sophie |
| The Shanghai Hotel
| Kendra | |
| rowspan=3| 2013
| Sade | |
| Big Words
| Annie | |
| The Butler
| Carol Hammie | |
| 2014
| Kennedy | |
| 2016
| Tally | |
| rowspan=2| 2019
| Peel | Sarah | |
| Bolden
| Nora Bolden | |
| 2025
|Not My Family: The Monique Smith Story |Monique Smith |Lifetime movie |
=Television=
| class="wikitable sortable" |
| Year
! Title ! Role ! class="unsortable" | Notes |
|---|
| 2004
| Cycle 3; Contestant | Runner-up |
| 2005
| Eve | Ms. Jenkins | Episode: "Prom Night" |
| rowspan=2| 2008
| Vanessa | TV movie |
| All My Children
| Recurring role |
| rowspan=2| 2009
| Nico Slater | Recurring role (season 4) |
| Law & Order: Special Victims Unit
| Audrina | Episode: "Anchor" |
| rowspan=2| 2010
| Mercy | Brooke Sullivan | Episode: "There Is No Room for You on My Ass" |
| Army Wives
| Specialist Amber Stiles | Episode: "AWOL" |
| rowspan=2| 2011
| Holly Bennett | Episode: "Helping Hand" |
| Weekends at Bellevue
| Vanessa | TV movie |
| 2011–2012
| House | Anita | 2 episodes |
| 2012
| Dark Horse | Amy | TV movie |
| 2014
| Molly McGinty | Episode: "Cashing Out" |
| rowspan=2| 2015
| Princess Kemi (voice) | Episode: "The Princess Guide" |
| Whitney
| TV movie |
| 2015–2021
| rowspan=3| April Sexton | 12 episodes, crossover cast |
| 2015–2022
| Main cast (seasons 1–6); Recurring role (season 8) |
| 2017, 2019
| 3 episodes, crossover cast |
| 2018
| Faith Under Fire | Kendra | TV movie |
| 2021–2022
| Angela Vaughn | Main cast |
| 2023–2024
| Andrea "Andy" Freeman | Recurring role (season 2); Main cast (season 3) |
=Music videos=
| class="wikitable sortable" |
| Year
! Title ! Artist |
|---|
| 2005
| "Gold Digger" |
| 2006
| "Pullin' Me Back" | Chingy |
| rowspan=2| 2007
| "Beautiful Girls" |
| "Roc Boys"
| Jay-Z |
| 2011
| "Good Man" |
Awards and nominations
| class="wikitable" |
| Year
! Award ! Category ! Film ! Result |
|---|
| 2006
| Movies – Choice Breakout (Female) | {{nom}} |
| 2008
| Best Ensemble | {{nom}} |
| rowspan="3" | 2010
| rowspan="6" | The Kids Are All Right | {{nom}} |
| Phoenix Film Critics Society Awards
| Best Ensemble Acting | {{nom}} |
| Washington DC Area Film Critics Association Awards
| Best Acting Ensemble | {{nom}} |
| rowspan="3" | 2011
| Best Breakthrough Performance | {{nom}} |
| Critics' Choice Movie Awards
| {{nom}} |
| Central Ohio Film Critics Association
| Best Ensemble | {{nom}} |
| 2016
| Outstanding Actress, TV Movie or Limited Series | Whitney | {{nom}} |
References
{{Reflist
| refs =
}}
External links
- {{Fashionmodel|name=Yaya Dacosta}}
- {{IMDb name|1861624}}
{{America's Next Top Model}}
{{Authority control}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Dacosta, Yaya}}
Category:African-American female models
Category:Female models from New York (state)
Category:America's Next Top Model contestants
Category:American television actresses
Category:American film actresses
Category:Actresses from Manhattan
Category:21st-century African-American actresses
Category:21st-century American actresses
Category:Northfield Mount Hermon School alumni
Category:Brown University alumni