Yaya DaCosta

Infobox Model
name = Yaya DaCosta

---

imagesize =
birthname = Camara Yaya DaCosta Johnson
birthdate = birth date and age|1982|11|15
location = Harlem, New York, U.S.
height = height|ft=5|in=8
haircolor = Brown
eyecolor = Brown
measurements = 32-23-35 (US) [http://www.fordmodels.com/main.cfm] FORD models Website Retrieved 5 January 2006. Note: Due to the flash the portfolio can't be accessed directly.]
weight =
dress size = 2 (US)
shoesize = 9.5 (US)
agency = Ford Models
The Gersh Agency
alias =
spouse =
homepage =

Yaya DaCosta (born Camara Yaya 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".

Biography

Early life

DaCosta was born in Harlem, New York. Her mother is the director and founder of The Central Harlem Montessori school in Harlem, NYFact|date=July 2008 and her father is a scholar, healer and professor of Sociology. DaCosta comes from a multiethnic background. "My family is different. My great-grandfather was Brazilian and we have West African, Native American, Cherokee and Irish blood." [http://www.se7enmagazine.org/film/film_15.htm]

Yaya has been acting all her life and at the age of 11, was already doing plays and educational films in New York City. She was a dance student at The Harlem School of The Arts and The Alvin Ailey American Dance Center, and spent junior high school at the magnet performing arts school Manhattan East Jr. High School, where she met her current acting coach.

Career

After finishing in second place in "America's Next Top Model", where she is considered one of the most memorable contestants, DaCosta went on to a successful career. [ [http://entertainment.aol.ca/article/top-model-memorable-contestants/97152/ Top Model Contestants We Can't Forget - AOL Entertainment Canada ] ] Yaya only appeared once in the bottom two during the competition. She is currently signed to "Models 1 London" and "Ford Models". She has modeled for "Target", "Olay", "CharmaineLouise", "DJA Clothing Company", "Venus Clothing", "Isaac Mizrahi", "Kohl's", "Seven Magazine", "Interview Magazine", "Essence Magazine", "Jewel Magazine", "Elle Girl Presents Dare To Be You: Wal-Mart Meets America's Next Top Model", "Marc Bouwer Fall 2005", "Seda", "Garnier Fructis", "Lincoln Townhouse", "Radioshack", "Dr. Scholl's", "Vibe Magazine", "Venus", "Terrazine Magazine" and "Sephora".

DaCosta began acting in 2005 after having a small role in an episode of "Eve" called "Prom Night". Since then she has acted in three major motion pictures, "Take the Lead", "Honeydripper" and "The Shanghai Hotel". She also acted in a TV movie called "Racing for Time". She was recently cast on "All My Children" as Cassandra Foster, the daughter of Angie Hubbard. [cite web |url=http://abc.go.com/daytime/allmychildren/yaya.html |title=All My Children's Next Top Model |access date=2008-04-03 |work=ABC.com]

According to an interview with All My Children's new head writer, Charles Pratt, Jr., Dacosta will exit the role some time in August, less than four months after joining the show to join the cast of "The First Breeze of Summer" on broadway. According to Broadwayworld.com Yaya will be joining the cast of "The First Breeze of Summer" presented by the historic Negro Ensemble Company (Angela Bassett, Laurence Fishburne, Samuel L. Jackson, Phylicia Rashad, Esther Rolle, and Denzel Washington) for the 2008-2009 season (August 5- September 28th.)

Personal life

DaCosta is fluent in English, Portuguese, French and Spanish. Yaya attended Northfield Mount Hermon, a private boarding school in western Massachusetts. DaCosta graduated from Brown University where she studied International Relations and Africana Studies. She is 5'8, 118lbs and her measurements are 32-23-35.

Filmography

Television and film

Music videos

*"Pullin' Me Back" By: Chingy (2006)
*"Beautiful Girls" By: Sean Kingston (2007)

Awards and nominations

*"Teen Choice Awards"-Choice Female Breakout ("Take The Lead" as LaRhette)-Nominated

References

External links

*fashionmodel|id=Yaya_Dacosta|name=Yaya Dacosta
* [http://www.imdb.com/name/nm1861624 Yaya Dacosta at the Internet Movie Database]
* [http://www.tv.com/yaya-da-costa-johnson/person/316206/summary.html Yaya Dacosta on TV.com]