Yaya DaCosta
🔥 TrendingCamara DaCosta Johnson, professionally known as Yaya Alafia (formerly Yaya DaCosta), is an American actress and model. She's best known for her starring role as April Sexton on NBC's Chicago Med, as Andrea Vaughn in Our Kind of People, and as Whitney Houston in the TV movie Whitney. She was the runner-up in Cycle 3 of America's Next Top Model. She eventually went to star as Cassandra in ABC's daytime soap All My Children, as Nico Slater in ABC's comedy-drama Ugly Betty, and as April Sexton on N
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Facts about Yaya DaCosta
Did you know that before becoming a recognized actress and model, Yaya DaCosta was a serious academic, graduating from Brown University with a focus on Africana Studies?
- Yaya DaCosta is an alumna of the prestigious Stuyvesant High School in New York City.
- She earned a Bachelor of Arts degree from Brown University, majoring in Africana Studies and International Relations.
- Before her rise in modeling and acting, she was an active and recognized spoken word poet.
- She famously refused to close the gap in her front teeth despite pressure from modeling agencies, embracing her natural look.
- Her first major acting role post-America's Next Top Model was playing Cassandra Foster on the ABC soap opera All My Children.
Her portrayal of Whitney Houston in the 2015 Lifetime biopic "Whitney" stands out as a defining moment, earning her widespread critical acclaim for capturing the icon's essence. This role showcased her dramatic depth and established her as a formidable leading actress beyond her modeling origins.
Yaya DaCosta's legacy is marked by her commitment to authentic representation, both through her diverse roles and her advocacy for natural beauty, inspiring many with her talent and integrity. She has consistently challenged conventional beauty standards while building a prolific acting career.