Yaya DaCosta Biography: Height, Ethnicity, Age, Net Worth, Siblings, Parents, Child, Husband, Films

Camara DaCosta Johnson, professionally known as Yaya DaCosta, is an American actress and model who gained prominence in 2004 as the runner-up on Cycle 3 of America’s Next Top Model.

She has since built a successful career in television and film, starring in NBC’s Chicago Med as nurse April Sexton and portraying Whitney Houston in the 2015 biopic Whitney.

Profile

• Full Name: Camara DaCosta Johnson
• Stage Name: Yaya DaCosta
• Born: 15, November 1982
• Age: 42 years old
• Birthplace: New York City, USA
• Nationality: American
• Occupation: Actress and Model
• Height: 1.73 m
• Parents: Orundun DaCosta Johnson, and Carl Awolowo Johnson
• Siblings: Djassi DaCosta Johnson
• Spouse: Joshua Bee Alafia (2012–2015)
• Children: Sankara
• Relationship: Divorced
• Net Worth: $1 million

Early Life And Education

Yaya DaCosta was born in New York City on November 15, 1982. Her mother, Carl Awolowo Johnson, is of Brazilian descent, while her father, Orundun DaCosta Johnson, is of Nigerian heritage. She has one sister, Djassi DaCosta Johnson, and two brothers whose names are not widely known.

DaCosta attended the Northfield Mount Hermon School, an elite boarding school in Massachusetts, where she honed her academic and extracurricular skills.

She later attended Brown University, earning an Africana Studies and International Relations degree. She is of mixed ethnicity, and the media does not know her religious affiliation.

Career

Yaya DaCosta began her career in entertainment as a child actor, securing her first role at age 11. Her breakthrough came in 2004 when she was the runner-up on America’s Next Top Model, which led to modeling contracts with major brands like Garnier Fructis, Olay, and Dr. Scholl’s.

Transitioning into acting, she appeared in films such as Take the Lead (2006) and The Kids Are All Right (2010) and had roles in television series including All My Children (2008) and Ugly Betty (2009).

From 2015 to 2021, DaCosta portrayed nurse April Sexton on NBC’s Chicago Med, a role that garnered her significant recognition. In 2015, she starred as Whitney Houston in the Lifetime biopic Whitney, receiving critical acclaim for her performance. In addition to her acting career, DaCosta is a trained doula and maternal health advocate.

Since 2010, she has worked to raise awareness about Black maternal health issues, emphasizing the importance of positive birthing experiences. She has hosted the Black Maternal Health Festival and continues to promote education and support for expectant mothers.

DaCosta’s recent projects include starring in the Netflix series The Lincoln Lawyer and leading the Fox drama Our Kind of People, where she portrayed Angela Vaughn, a woman navigating the complexities of Black elite society.

Social Media

• Instagram handle: @yayadacosta
• Twitter handle: @yayadacosta

Personal Life

Yaya DaCosta was in a relationship with film producer Joshua Bee Alafia from 2012 to 2015. The couple has one child together, a son named Sankara, born in 2013.

DaCosta has been open about motherhood experiences and works as a doula, advocating for better maternal health care and positive birthing experiences.

Filmography

• Take the Lead (2006) — Dance Student
• The Kids Are All Right (2010) — Tori
• Tron: Legacy (2010) — Jarvis’ Assistant
• The Butler (2013) — Carol
• Whitney (2015) — Whitney Houston
• The Nice Guys (2016) — Tally
• Our Kind of People (2021) — Angela Vaughn
• The Lincoln Lawyer (2022–2023)

Net Worth

Yaya DaCosta’s estimated net Worth is $1 million. Her income sources include acting roles in television and film, modeling contracts, and her work as a doula and maternal health advocate.