Camara DaCosta Johnson, better 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 to star in TV series including ABC's daytime drama All My Children, Ugly Betty, and since 2015 stars in the NBC medical drama Chicago Med. DaCosta starred in the Lifetimetelevision filmWhitney as singer Whitney Houston and received praise for her performance.
After finishing second on Cycle 3 of America's Next Top Model, DaCosta went on to have a successful career. 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, Hype Hair,Splash and Global Modeling. In 2014, she landed a spot in Tom Ford’s Fall/Winter advertising campaign. DaCosta began acting in 2005 after guest-starring in an episode of the UPN sitcom 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 and The Messenger. She appeared in the ABCsoap operaAll My Children in 2008 as Cassandra Foster, the daughter of Angie Hubbard. According to an interview with All My Childrens 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 historic Negro Ensemble Company. In 2009, she had a recurring role as Nico Slater, the daughter of Wilhelmina Slater in the fourth and final season of the ABC comedy-drama series Ugly Betty. In 2010, DaCosta had supporting roles in the comedy-drama filmThe Kids Are All Right and the science fiction action-adventure film '. Later, she appeared in the magazines, including on the cover of W, in L'Officiel, and in Vogue. In 2013, she also appeared as Carol in the historical drama filmThe Butler, starring Forest Whitaker and Oprah Winfrey. 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. Also since 2015, DaCosta has starred in the NBC medical drama Chicago Med'' as April Sexton, an ED nurse.
Personal life
DaCosta was in a long term relationship with independent film producer and director Joshua Bee Alafia. 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 married.
