Yaya DaCosta
| Yaya DaCosta | |
|---|---|
DaCosta in September 2010
|
|
| Born | Camara DaCosta Johnson November 15, 1982 Harlem, New York, U.S. |
| Alma mater | Brown University |
| Spouse(s) | Joshua Bee Alafia (m. 2012; separated 2015) |
| Children | 1 |
| Modeling information | |
| Height | 5 ft 8 in (1.73 m) |
| Hair color | Black |
| Eye color | Brown |
| Measurements | 32-23-35 (US) |
| Dress size | 2 (US), 32 (EU) |
| Manager | Ford Models |
Yaya DaCosta (born Camara DaCosta Johnson; November 15, 1982) is an American actress and fashion model. She was the runner-up in Cycle 3 of America's Next Top Model.
Contents
Personal life
DaCosta was born on November 15, 1982, in Harlem, New York, and is of Brazilian and Nigerian descent.[1] In addition to English, she can speak Portuguese, French, Spanish, and conversational Japanese.[2] She attended the elite Northfield Mount Hermon School during her high school years before attending college where she majored in Africana Studies and International Relations at Brown University.[2]
On June 26, 2012, DaCosta married independent movie producer and director Joshua Bee Alafia. In September 2013, she gave birth to their son, Sankara. As of November 12, 2015, DaCosta has filed for divorce from Alafia.[3]
Career
After finishing second on Cycle 3 of America's Next Top Model, DaCosta went on to have a successful career.[4] 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.
DaCosta began acting in 2005 after having a guest role on an episode of the television show Eve. She then starred opposite Rob Brown, Antonio Banderas and Alfre Woodard in the 2006 dance film Take the Lead. DaCosta had supporting roles in the independent films Honeydripper (2007) and The Messenger (2009).
She appeared on All My Children in 2008 as Cassandra Foster, the daughter of Angie Hubbard.[5] According to an interview with All My Children's new head writer, Charles Pratt, Jr., DaCosta exited 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 2008–2009 by the historic Negro Ensemble Company.
In 2009, she portrayed Nico Slater, the daughter of Wilhelmina Slater on the 4th season of the ABC series, Ugly Betty.
In 2010 DaCosta had supporting roles in the films The Kids Are All Right and Tron: Legacy. During the same year she appeared in American Vogue,[volume & issue needed] L'Officiel[volume & issue needed] and on the cover of W.[6]
In 2013, she also appeared as Carol in the film The Butler, starring Forest Whitaker and Oprah Winfrey.
It was announced in an interview with actress Angela Bassett on CNN that DaCosta will portray musical icon Whitney Houston in a Lifetime television film about her life, which will be the directorial debut of Angela Bassett.
Filmography
| 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 | Premiered at 2010 Sundance Film Festival |
| 2010 | Tron: Legacy | Siren | |
| 2011 | In Time | Greta | |
| 2011 | Whole Lotta Sole | Sophie | Shown at Tribeca Film Festival 2012, Spotlight series (world premiere)[7] |
| 2013 | Mother of George | Sade | |
| 2013 | The Butler | Carol Hammie | |
| 2013 | Big Words | Annie | |
| 2014 | And So It Goes | Kennedy | |
| 2015 | Whitney | Whitney Houston | Lifetime biopic |
| 2015 | Bolden! | Post-production |
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2005 | Eve | Ms. Jenkins | 1 episode |
| 2008 | All My Children | Cassandra Foster | Recurring; 44 episodes |
| 2008 | Racing for Time | Vanessa | Lifetime Television Movie |
| 2009 | Ugly Betty | Nico Slater[8] | Recurring; Season 4; 7 episodes |
| 2009 | Law & Order: Special Victims Unit | Audrina | 1 episode |
| 2010 | Mercy | Brooke Sullivan | 1 episode |
| 2010 | Army Wives | Amber | 1 episode |
| 2011 | Body of Proof | Holly Bennett | 1 episode |
| 2011–2012 | House | Anita | 2 episodes |
| 2012 | Dark Horse | Amy | TV Movie |
| 2015 | The Simpsons | Princess Kemi of Nigeria | Episode "The Princess Guide" |
| 2015 | Chicago Fire | April Sexton | Recurring, 4 episodes |
| 2015–present | Chicago Med | April Sexton | Main role |
| Year | Title | Artist |
|---|---|---|
| 2006 | "Pullin' Me Back" | Chingy |
| 2007 | "Roc Boys" | Jay-Z |
| 2011 | "Good Man" | Raphael Saadiq |
Awards and nominations
| Year | Award | Category | Film | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006 | Teen Choice Award | Movies – Choice Breakout (Female) | Take the Lead | Nominated |
| 2008 | Black Reel Award | Best Ensemble | Honeydripper | Nominated |
| 2010 | Gotham Awards | Best Ensemble Cast | The Kids are All Right | Nominated |
| 2010 | Phoenix Film Critics Society Awards | Best Ensemble Acting | The Kids are All Right | Nominated |
| 2010 | Washington DC Area Film Critics Association Awards | Best Acting Ensemble | The Kids are All Right | Nominated |
| 2011 | Black Reel Award | Best Breakthrough Performance | The Kids are All Right | Nominated |
| 2011 | Broadcast Film Critics Association Awards | Best Acting Ensemble | The Kids are All Right | Nominated |
| 2011 | Central Ohio Film Critics Association | Best Ensemble | The Kids are All Right | Nominated |
References
- ↑ Yaya Dacosta at the Fashion Model Directory
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
- ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
- ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
- ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
- ↑ http://www.wmagazine.com/people/celebrities/2010/09/young_actresses
- ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
- ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
External links
- Yaya Dacosta at the Fashion Model Directory
- Yaya DaCosta at the Internet Movie DatabaseLua error in Module:EditAtWikidata at line 29: attempt to index field 'wikibase' (a nil value).
Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
- Pages using duplicate arguments in template calls
- Articles with hCards
- Articles with unsourced statements from August 2013
- 1982 births
- Living people
- American people of Nigerian descent
- American people of Brazilian descent
- African-American female models
- American female models
- America's Next Top Model contestants
- African-American actresses
- American television actresses
- American film actresses
- Actresses from New York City
- 21st-century American actresses
- People from Harlem
- Brown University alumni
- Top Model contestants
