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Yaya DaCosta (American Actress & Model)
Yaya DaCosta is an American actress and model who built a career that moves between the runway, the big screen, and primetime television with quiet consistency. Born Camara DaCosta Johnson in Harlem, New York, she first came to national attention as the runner-up on Cycle 3 of America’s Next Top Model — a result that opened the door to a Ford Models contract and campaigns with brands including Sephora, Oil of Olay, and the Lincoln Motor Company. What followed was not the typical reality television fade. It was a deliberate pivot toward serious acting.
A Brown University graduate with a degree in International Relations and Africana Studies, DaCosta brought both discipline and range to her craft. She made her stage debut in The First Breeze of Summer at The Signature Theater in New York, a performance that earned her the Vivian Robinson-AUDELCO Recognition Award for Excellence in Black Theater — one of the most respected honors in Black theater in the United States. Film and television roles followed steadily, from Lee Daniels’ The Butler to her portrayal of Whitney Houston in the Lifetime biopic Whitney.
Her longest and most recognized television commitment came as nurse April Sexton on NBC’s Chicago Med, a role she held across multiple seasons before transitioning to Netflix’s The Lincoln Lawyer as criminal prosecutor Andrea Freeman.
| Full Name | Camara DaCosta Johnson (birth name); Yaya DaCosta (professional name) |
| Date of Birth | November 15, 1982 |
| Place of Birth | Harlem, New York City, New York, United States |
| Nationality | American |
| Ethnicity | Brazilian and African-American |
| Profession | Actress, Model |
| Education | B.A. in International Relations and Africana Studies, Brown University (Ivy League), graduated 2004 |
| Career Start | America’s Next Top Model, Cycle 3 (2003); TV acting debut in Eve (UPN, 2005) |
| Current Role | Actress — most recently Andrea Freeman in The Lincoln Lawyer (Netflix, Seasons 2–3) |
| Notable Works | Chicago Med (NBC), The Lincoln Lawyer (Netflix), Whitney (Lifetime), Lee Daniels’ The Butler, The Kids Are All Right, Tron: Legacy, Our Kind of People (Fox) |
| Modeling Agency | Ford Models |
| Brand Endorsements | Sephora, Oil of Olay, Garnier Fructis, Lincoln Motor Company |
| Height | 5 ft 8 in (1.73 m) |
| Weight | Approximately 123 lbs / 56 kg (modeling-era records; not officially confirmed) |
| Hair Color | Black / Dark Brown |
| Eye Color | Brown |
| Languages | English, Portuguese, French, Spanish, Japanese |
| Partner | Joshua Bee Alafia (relationship 2012–2015; never officially married) |
| Children | Sankara Alafia (son; born September 2013) |
| Parents | Orundun DaCosta Johnson (mother); Carl Awolowo Johnson (father) |
| Siblings | One sister and two brothers (names not publicly available) |
| Awards | Vivian Robinson-AUDELCO Recognition Award for Excellence in Black Theater (2008); Teen Choice Award nomination — Choice Breakout Female (2006) |
| Estimated Net Worth | Approximately $1 million (estimated; not officially confirmed) |
| Salary | Not publicly disclosed |
| Residence | New York City, United States |
Who is Yaya DaCosta?
Yaya DaCosta, born Camara DaCosta Johnson on November 15, 1982, in Harlem, New York, is an American actress and model. She is best known as the runner-up on America’s Next Top Model Cycle 3, and for playing nurse April Sexton on NBC’s Chicago Med from 2015 to 2022.
Early Life and Education
Yaya DaCosta was born Camara DaCosta Johnson on November 15, 1982, in Harlem, New York City — a neighborhood that shaped her cultural identity from the start.
Childhood and Family Background
She grew up in Harlem alongside one sister and two brothers. Her parents, Orundun DaCosta Johnson and Carl Awolowo Johnson, both worked in education — a fact that placed academic discipline at the center of family life. Her heritage is Brazilian and African-American, with an Afro-Brazilian grandfather whose influence introduced her to multiple languages and traditions early on. According to IMDb’s official biography, she got her first taste of performance at age eleven, when her junior high school drama teacher, Ann Willis Ratray, encouraged her to audition for educational films. That early nudge proved to be a defining one.
Educational Journey
She attended LaGuardia High School of Art and Music and Performing Arts before transferring to the elite Northfield Mount Hermon School. She then enrolled at Brown University, one of the United States’ Ivy League institutions, where she majored in International Relations and Africana Studies, graduating in 2004. As reported by TV Guide, she had originally planned to follow her parents into teaching. It was friends who persuaded her to audition for America’s Next Top Model instead — a decision that redirected her path entirely.
Yaya DaCosta's Career Timeline and Major Roles
Few careers in American entertainment have moved as deliberately across modeling, film, television, and stage as Yaya DaCosta’s. What began as a reality television competition evolved, through consistent work and careful choices, into a two-decade acting career spanning network drama, prestige film, and Broadway-adjacent theater.
Early Career — From Modeling to Acting
Yaya DaCosta’s public career began when she was selected to compete in Cycle 3 of America’s Next Top Model, where she finished as runner-up. The result was consequential. She signed with Ford Models and secured print campaigns with Lincoln Motor Company, Sephora, Oil of Olay, and Garnier Fructis. Her editorial work appeared in Vogue and L’Officiel, and she landed the cover of W magazine. By any measure, the modeling career was established.
But she did not stay in it long. Her television acting debut came on the UPN sitcom Eve, followed by her first film role in the dance drama Take the Lead, in which she played a character named LaRhette. She then appeared in John Sayles’ Honeydripper as China Doll before joining the cast of the long-running ABC soap opera All My Children as Cassandra Foster in a role she departed within months — not due to failure, but by choice.
That choice revealed something about her priorities. She left All My Children to pursue theater, making her stage debut in The First Breeze of Summer at The Signature Theater in New York, a production presented by the historic Negro Ensemble Company. According to IMDb’s official biography, the performance earned her the Vivian Robinson-AUDELCO Recognition Award for Excellence in Black Theater — one of the most respected honors in Black American stage performance.
Television and film work continued alongside the stage. She took a recurring role as Nico Slater in the fourth season of ABC’s Ugly Betty, then appeared in two films that would become cultural touchstones — Lisa Cholodenko’s The Kids Are All Right and Disney’s Tron: Legacy, both released in the same year. In Time, a science fiction feature, followed. Then came Lee Daniels’ The Butler, in which she appeared alongside a cast that included Forest Whitaker, Oprah Winfrey, and Cuba Gooding Jr. She also appeared in the independent drama Mother of George.
During this same period, she appeared in music videos for Kanye West, Jay-Z, and Sean Kingston — a visible presence across both entertainment and pop culture, even when she was not the headline name.
Recent and Current Roles
The most sustained chapter of her television career began when she was cast as nurse April Sexton on NBC’s Chicago Med, part of producer Dick Wolf’s long-running Chicago franchise. She held the role across multiple seasons as a main cast member, with crossover appearances on both Chicago Fire and Chicago P.D. — making her one of the few performers to appear across all three shows in the franchise. According to Wikipedia’s verified filmography, her run on the series concluded with a recurring appearance in a later season after her main cast tenure ended.
Before her Chicago Med run began, she took on one of her most high-profile individual roles — portraying Whitney Houston in the Lifetime television biopic Whitney. The casting drew significant public attention, and the performance remains among her most discussed work.
She later appeared in the theatrical film The Nice Guys, a critically praised crime comedy featuring Ryan Gosling and Russell Crowe. Then came Our Kind of People on Fox, where she served as a main cast member playing Angela Vaughn in a drama centered on Black elite society in Martha’s Vineyard.
Her most recent major television role came on Netflix’s The Lincoln Lawyer. She entered as a recurring character in season two, playing criminal prosecutor Andrea “Andy” Freeman — a character not found in Michael Connelly’s original novels but created specifically for the series. Her performance led to a promotion to main cast for season three. She departed ahead of season four.
In a published interview with TV Insider, DaCosta addressed the exit directly: “Andrea’s absence was not expected or explained to the audience.” Showrunner Ted Humphrey, speaking to the same outlet, left the door open: “Andrea is a great tool in our toolbox that we would love to find another way to use.”
Major Achievements and Recognition
Across her career, Yaya DaCosta has accumulated a record that is more awards-adjacent than awards-heavy — which is to say, her recognition has come from industry insiders and critics rather than from major televised ceremonies.
The most formally documented honor is the Vivian Robinson-AUDELCO Recognition Award for Excellence in Black Theater, received for her stage work in The First Breeze of Summer. As reported by TV Guide, the award is among the most prestigious in Black American theater. She also received a Teen Choice Award nomination for Movies: Choice Breakout Female for her performance in Take the Lead, according to Wikipedia’s verified awards record.
Her elevation from recurring to main cast on The Lincoln Lawyer — based entirely on audience and producer response to her season two performance — is itself a form of professional recognition. Showrunner Ted Humphrey told TV Insider: “Yaya’s performance is fantastic as Andrea… we so enjoyed the chemistry between the two characters that we just felt this was one of those ways that we expand the books.” The character of Andrea Freeman did not exist in the source novels. She was created for the screen, expanded because of the performance, and then promoted to series regular. That trajectory is uncommon and speaks directly to how her work was received by the creative team behind one of Netflix’s established drama properties.
Yaya DaCosta Height, Weight, and Physical Profile
For anyone searching for verified physical details about Yaya DaCosta, this section compiles what is publicly documented — alongside important context about where those figures come from and what they do and do not confirm.
Yaya DaCosta stands at 5 feet 8 inches tall, or 1.73 meters. Her weight, as recorded in modeling-era documentation, is approximately 123 lbs, or 56 kilograms. She has a slim build, dark brown to black hair, and brown eyes. During her professional modeling career, she was represented by Ford Models, one of the most established modeling agencies in the United States.
Her height was a direct asset in the modeling industry. At 5’8″, she met the standard threshold expected by major fashion agencies and editorial clients — a factor that contributed to her competitive standing on America’s Next Top Model and her subsequent work in print campaigns for brands including Sephora, Lincoln Motor Company, and Garnier Fructis. According to Wikipedia and FamousFix, the figures above reflect records from her active modeling years.
It is important to note that these measurements originate from professional modeling records and have not been officially confirmed or updated by DaCosta herself in recent public statements. They should be treated as documented historical data, not necessarily current figures.
Net Worth and Salary Estimate
Yaya DaCosta’s net worth is estimated at approximately $1 million, based on figures cited across multiple entertainment databases including Net Worth List and Urban Splatter. This estimate reflects income accumulated across two primary professional streams — acting and modeling — as well as brand endorsements.
These figures are estimates based on publicly available information and third-party entertainment databases. They do not represent officially verified financial disclosures.
Her modeling career generated early income through campaigns with Oil of Olay, Sephora, Garnier Fructis, and the Lincoln Motor Company, in addition to editorial appearances in major fashion publications. Her acting career then became the more sustained income source, with the longest and most consistent contribution coming from her role as nurse April Sexton on NBC’s Chicago Med, a main cast position she held across multiple seasons on one of the network’s flagship drama franchises.
Some third-party estimates place her net worth between $5 million and $7 million. However, as reported by Urban Splatter and corroborated by Net Worth List, the more conservatively sourced and widely cited figure remains in the region of $1 million. The higher projections appear to factor in speculative elements — potential real estate holdings, endorsement projections, and residual income estimates — none of which have been confirmed through any official or primary source.
No salary figures per role or per season have ever been publicly confirmed by DaCosta or her representatives.
Personal Life and Family
Yaya DaCosta has kept much of her personal life away from public attention. What is documented, however, comes from credible sources and, in one notable case, required public correction after years of misinformation circulated in entertainment media.
Relationship and Partner
Yaya DaCosta was in a relationship with Joshua Bee Alafia, an independent film producer and director, beginning in the summer of 2012. For years, numerous entertainment outlets reported the two had married. That reporting was inaccurate.
According to Wikipedia — which cross-references multiple sourced reports — DaCosta and Alafia were never officially married, despite the widespread claim. The couple separated in November 2015. Following their separation, both parties maintained a cooperative co-parenting arrangement focused on the wellbeing of their son.
As documented by the Chicago Med Fandom Wiki and corroborated by Wikipedia, the relationship lasted approximately three years before ending. No further details about the circumstances of the separation have been made public by either party.
Yaya DaCosta’s current relationship status is not publicly available. She has not made any confirmed announcements regarding a partner in credible public sources.
Children
Yaya DaCosta has one child — a son named Sankara Alafia, born in September 2013. She was 30 years old at the time of his birth. According to IMDb’s official biography, Sankara’s father is Joshua Bee Alafia.
As reported by Mabumbe and confirmed through multiple entertainment sources, Sankara remains a central presence in DaCosta’s life. She has referenced motherhood in interviews and public appearances, though she has generally kept specific details about her son’s life private and away from media coverage — a boundary she has maintained consistently.
Sankara is her only child. No other children have been reported or confirmed through any credible public source.
FAQ: Everything You Need to Know About Yaya DaCosta
Key questions answered about the American actress, model, and ANTM runner-up
Born Camara DaCosta Johnson on November 15, 1982, in Harlem, New York, she first gained national attention as the runner-up on Cycle 3 of America's Next Top Model. A Brown University graduate with a degree in International Relations and Africana Studies, she went on to build a two-decade career across film, television, and stage. She is also a recipient of the Vivian Robinson-AUDELCO Recognition Award for Excellence in Black Theater.
These figures originate from her professional modeling career, during which she was represented by Ford Models. She has a slim build, dark brown to black hair, and brown eyes. It should be noted that these measurements have not been officially updated or confirmed by DaCosta in recent public statements and should be treated as historical modeling data rather than current figures.
She was in a relationship with independent film producer and director Joshua Bee Alafia from 2012 to 2015. According to Wikipedia and multiple verified sources, the two were never legally married. They separated in November 2015 and have since maintained a co-parenting relationship for their son, Sankara. Her current relationship status is not publicly available.
Sankara's father is Joshua Bee Alafia, with whom DaCosta was in a relationship from 2012 to 2015. DaCosta was 30 years old at the time of Sankara's birth. She has referenced motherhood in interviews and public appearances but has generally kept specific details about her son's life private. Sankara is her only child.
Her wealth comes from a combination of her acting career — most notably her multi-season run on NBC's Chicago Med — professional modeling contracts, and brand endorsements with companies including Sephora, Oil of Olay, Garnier Fructis, and Lincoln Motor Company. Some third-party sources project figures as high as $5–7 million, but these are speculative estimates and have not been confirmed through any official or primary source. No salary figures have ever been publicly disclosed by DaCosta herself.
She was elevated from a recurring role in season 2 to a main cast member in season 3, based on audience and producer response to her performance. She departed the show ahead of season 4, which began filming in February 2025. Her next confirmed project has not yet been publicly announced. She remains an active figure in the American entertainment industry.
Before Brown, she attended LaGuardia High School of Art and Music and Performing Arts in New York City, followed by the elite Northfield Mount Hermon School. As reported by TV Guide, she had originally planned to pursue a career in teaching — following in the footsteps of her parents, both of whom worked in education — before friends encouraged her to audition for America's Next Top Model.
The AUDELCO Award is one of the most respected honors in Black American theater. She also received a Teen Choice Award nomination for Movies: Choice Breakout Female for her role in Take the Lead (2006). Her elevation from recurring to main cast on The Lincoln Lawyer — driven by critical and producer recognition of her performance — is also widely noted as a professional milestone in her career.
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