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Yaya DaCosta

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Yaya DaCosta
DaCosta at Afropunk Festival in 2023
Born
Camara DaCosta Johnson

(1982-11-15) November 15, 1982 (age 41)
New York City, U.S.
Alma materBrown University
Years active2004–present
Children1
Modeling information
Height5 ft 8 in (1.73 m)
Hair colorDark brown
Eye colorBrown
AgencyFord Models

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.[1]

Early life and education

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DaCosta was born on November 15, 1982. She was raised in the Harlem neighborhood of New York City.[2][3] She is an African-American with an Afro-Brazilian grandfather. In addition to English, she speaks Portuguese, French, Spanish and conversational Japanese.[4] She attended the elite Northfield Mount Hermon School during high school before attending Brown University, where she majored in Africana studies and international relations.[5]

Career

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After being the runner-up on Cycle 3 of America's Next Top Model, DaCosta went on to have a successful career.[6] 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,[7] Hype Hair,[8] Splash and Global Modeling. In 2014, she landed a spot in Tom Ford’s Fall/Winter advertising campaign.[9] DaCosta began acting in 2005 after guest-starring in an episode of the UPN sitcom Eve.[10] She then starred opposite Rob Brown, Antonio Banderas and Alfre Woodard in the 2006 dance film Take the Lead.[11] 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).[12] 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.[13] 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.[14]

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),[15] in L'Officiel (in November 2010),[16] and in Vogue (in January 2011 by Patrick Demarchelier).[17] In 2013, she also appeared as Carol in the historical drama film The Butler, starring Forest Whitaker and Oprah Winfrey.[18]

DaCosta in 2016 at the premiere of The Nice Guys

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.[19]

Also from 2015 to 2021, DaCosta starred in the NBC medical drama Chicago Med as April Sexton, an ED nurse.[20] 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;[21][22] the new series was cancelled after 12 episodes.

Personal life

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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.[23]

Filmography

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Film

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Year Title Role Notes
2006 Take the Lead LaRhette
2007 Honeydripper China Doll
2009 The Messenger Monica Washington
2010 The Kids Are All Right Tanya
Tron: Legacy Siren
Lost and Found - Short film
2011 In Time Greta
Whole Lotta Sole Sophie [24]
The Shanghai Hotel Kendra
2013 Mother of George Sade
Big Words Annie
The Butler Carol Hammie
2014 And So It Goes Kennedy
2016 The Nice Guys Tally
2019 Peel Sarah
Bolden Nora Bolden

Television

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Year Title Role Notes
2004 America's Next Top Model Cycle 3; Contestant Runner-up
2005 Eve Ms. Jenkins Episode: "Prom Night"
2008 Racing for Time Vanessa TV movie
2008 All My Children Cassandra Foster Recurring role
2009 Ugly Betty Nico Slater Recurring role (season 4)
Law & Order: Special Victims Unit Audrina Episode: "Anchor"
2010 Mercy Brooke Sullivan Episode: "There Is No Room for You on My Ass"
Army Wives Specialist Amber Stiles Episode: "AWOL"
2011 Body of Proof Holly Bennett Episode: "Helping Hand"
2011 Weekends at Bellevue Vanessa TV movie
2011–12 House Anita 2 episodes
2012 Dark Horse Amy TV movie
2014 Unforgettable Molly McGinty Episode: "Cashing Out"
2015 The Simpsons Princess Kemi (voice) Episode: "The Princess Guide"
2015 Whitney Whitney Houston TV movie
2015–22 Chicago Med April Sexton Main cast (seasons 1–6); Recurring role (season 8)
2015–2019, 2021 Chicago Fire April Sexton 12 episodes, crossover cast
2017, 2019 Chicago P.D. April Sexton 3 episodes, crossover cast
2018 Faith Under Fire Kendra TV movie
2021–22 Our Kind of People Angela Vaughn Main cast
2023-2024 The Lincoln Lawyer Andrea "Andy" Freeman Recurring role (season 2); Main cast (season 3)

Music videos

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Year Title Artist
2005 "Gold Digger" Kanye West
2006 "Pullin' Me Back" Chingy
2007 "Beautiful Girls" Sean Kingston
"Roc Boys" Jay-Z
2011 "Good Man" Raphael Saadiq

Awards and nominations

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Year Award Category Film Result
2006 Teen Choice Award Movies – Choice Breakout (Female) Take the Lead Nominated
2008 Black Reel Awards Best Ensemble Honeydripper Nominated
2010 Gotham Awards Best Ensemble Cast The Kids Are All Right Nominated
Phoenix Film Critics Society Awards Best Ensemble Acting Nominated
Washington DC Area Film Critics Association Awards Best Acting Ensemble Nominated
2011 Black Reel Award Best Breakthrough Performance Nominated
Critics' Choice Movie Awards Best Acting Ensemble Nominated
Central Ohio Film Critics Association Best Ensemble Nominated
2016 Black Reel Awards Outstanding Actress, TV Movie or Limited Series Whitney Nominated [25]

References

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  1. ^ "Critics express faith in lifetimes upcoming Whitney Houston biopic". Clutch. December 2014. Retrieved January 19, 2018.[dead link]
  2. ^ Yaya Dacosta at Fashion Model Directory
  3. ^ Fisher, Luchina (June 9, 2014). "5 Things About Yaya DaCosta, Star of Whitney Houston Biopic". ABC News. Retrieved October 10, 2024.
  4. ^ Magee, Nye (November 20, 2015). "Yaya DaCosta squashes Nigerian roots". eurweb.com. Retrieved October 10, 2024.
  5. ^ Salerno, Heather. "Getting Even Better". Brown Alumni Magazine. No. July/August 2016. Retrieved July 30, 2021.
  6. ^ "Top Model Contestants We Can't Forget". AOL Entertainment Canada. Archived from the original on December 18, 2008.
  7. ^ "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". fashionbombdaily.com. Retrieved September 5, 2019.[dead link]
  8. ^ "Digital Cover: Yaya DaCosta On Celebrating Her Natural Tresses On & Off The Big Screen". hypehair.com. May 9, 2019. Retrieved September 5, 2019.[dead link]
  9. ^ Mosley, Brea Camille (October 27, 2020). "Yaya DaCosta Stars in new Tom Ford Ad". Essence. Retrieved September 5, 2019.
  10. ^ "Where are the models of ANTM now?". antm411.com. Retrieved January 18, 2018.[dead link]
  11. ^ "Antonio Banderas and Katya Virshilas in 'Take the Lead'". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved January 19, 2018.[dead link]
  12. ^ "All My Children's Next Top Model". American Broadcasting Company. Retrieved April 3, 2008.[dead link]
  13. ^ Rooney, David (August 22, 2008). "The First Breeze of Summer". Variety. Retrieved January 18, 2018.
  14. ^ Ausiello, Michael (August 11, 2009). "'Ugly Betty' recast: 'Top Model' alum is Willie's daughter!". Entertainment Weekly. Retrieved January 18, 2018.
  15. ^ "Film: Young Actresses". W. September 1, 2010.[dead link]
  16. ^ Sulmers, Claire (November 30, 2010). "Snapshot: Yaya DaCosta for L'Officiel Paris November 2010". fashionbombdaily.com. Retrieved January 12, 2019.[dead link]
  17. ^ Sulmers, Claire (January 2011). "Snapshot: Yaya DaCosta by Patrick DeMarchelier for Vogue US January 2011". fashionbombdaily.com. Retrieved January 12, 2019.[dead link]
  18. ^ "Exclusive: Yaya DaCosta On 'The Butler' & Maintaining Those Gorgeous Locks". Latina. Retrieved January 18, 2018.[dead link]
  19. ^ Lee, Ashley (January 17, 2015). "Lifetime's 'Whitney': What the Critics Are Saying". Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved January 18, 2018.
  20. ^ Brown, Nikki (October 26, 2020). "Yaya DaCosta Says 'Chicago Med' Opened Her Eyes on Beauty and Western Medicine". Essence. Retrieved January 18, 2018.
  21. ^ Andreeva, Nellie (May 14, 2021). "'Chicago Med': Yaya DaCosta & Torrey DeVitto Exit NBC Drama, Remaining Original Cast Members To Return". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved May 23, 2021.
  22. ^ Andreeva, Nellie (May 14, 2021). "Yaya DaCosta To Headline 'Our Kind Of People' Fox Drama Series Following 'Chicago Med' Exit". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved May 23, 2021.
  23. ^ Yoonsoo Kim, Kristen (May 13, 2016). "Yaya DaCosta's Journey From 'America's Next Top Model' to Top Billing". Complex. Retrieved April 14, 2020.
  24. ^ "TFF 2012: Spotlight". tribecafilm.com, Inc. March 8, 2012. Archived from the original on April 10, 2012. Retrieved March 28, 2012.
  25. ^ "16th Annual Black Reel Award Nominations". Archived from the original on October 16, 2016. Retrieved December 18, 2015.
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