Yaya DaCosta has an estimated net worth of $1 million. The Harlem-born star built her fortune as a runner-up on America’s Next Top Model, a face for brands like Sephora and Garnier Fructis, and an actress best known for playing Nurse April Sexton on NBC’s Chicago Med.
| Net Worth | $1 Million |
| Born | November 15, 1982 (age 43) |
| Birthplace | Harlem, New York City |
| Profession | Actress, Fashion Model |
| Height | 5 ft 8 in (1.73 m) |
| Nationality | American |
Who Is Yaya DaCosta?
Yaya DaCosta is a name that many people first heard on a modeling reality show, but she has since built a career that stretches far past the runway. Born Camara DaCosta Johnson in Harlem, New York, in 1982, she grew up in a household that valued education, activism, and creativity in equal measure.
Her path to fame started when she finished as the runner-up on Cycle 3 of America’s Next Top Model, the Tyra Banks-hosted competition that launched dozens of modeling careers. That national exposure opened doors that led her into modeling contracts, acting roles, and eventually a long-running spot on primetime television.
Today, DaCosta is best recognized for her work in film, TV, and as a longtime face of major beauty and lifestyle brands.
Early Life and Education
DaCosta was raised by parents who shaped her sense of purpose early on. Her father, Carl Awolowo Johnson, was a university professor and civil rights activist who worked with the Student Nonviolent Coordinating Committee (SNCC) during the Civil Rights Movement. Her mother, Orundun DaCosta, worked as a schoolteacher and was also active in community advocacy. DaCosta has three siblings, including a sister, Djassi, who works as a dancer.
That upbringing pushed DaCosta toward academics as much as the arts. She attended Northfield Mount Hermon, a prep school in Massachusetts, before enrolling at Brown University, an Ivy League school, where she studied Africana Studies and International Relations. She’s also known to be multilingual, speaking English along with Portuguese, French, Spanish, and Japanese.
Yaya DaCosta’s Career Breakdown
Modeling Career
DaCosta’s break came in 2004 when she competed on America’s Next Top Model Cycle 3, finishing second overall. The exposure was enough to launch a real modeling career, and she went on to land campaigns with major names, including:
- Oil of Olay
- Sephora
- RadioShack
- Garnier Fructis
- Dr. Scholl’s
She was signed to Ford Models, one of the most recognized agencies in the industry, which helped her book steady, high-profile work throughout the mid-2000s.
Transition to Acting
DaCosta didn’t stay in modeling for long before acting became her main focus. Her first credited acting role came in 2005 on an episode of the sitcom Eve. She followed that with her feature film debut in 2006, playing LaRhette in the dance drama Take the Lead alongside Antonio Banderas.
In 2008, she landed a recurring role on the long-running soap opera All My Children, appearing in 44 episodes as Cassandra Foster. From there, her resume grew quickly. She took on roles in:
- The Kids Are All Right
- Tron: Legacy
- Mother of George
- Ugly Betty
- Law & Order: Special Victims Unit
- Army Wives
- Body of Proof
- House
- Racing for Time
Chicago Med and Her Breakout TV Role
DaCosta’s biggest career milestone came in 2015, when she joined the cast of NBC’s medical drama Chicago Med as Nurse April Sexton. The role turned her into a recognizable face for mainstream TV audiences and gave her a steady, high-paying job for six seasons, running through 2021. It remains the role most fans associate with her today, and it significantly boosted both her visibility and her earning power in Hollywood.
She has also appeared in the historical drama Bolden! and the Whitney Houston biopic Whitney, adding more depth to a filmography that spans music biopics, procedurals, and streaming projects.
Music Videos
Beyond film and TV, DaCosta has made appearances in three notable music videos:
- Chingy’s “Pullin’ Me Back”
- Jay-Z’s “Roc Boys”
- Raphael Saadiq’s “Good Man”
These appearances came during the height of her modeling fame and helped keep her visible across entertainment platforms beyond acting.
Yaya DaCosta’s Personal Life
DaCosta married independent filmmaker Joshua Bee Alafia in 2012, and the two welcomed a son together. Following the marriage, she began using the name Yaya Alafia publicly for a time. The couple later separated, and DaCosta filed for divorce in November 2015. She is not publicly known to be in a relationship at this time.
How Much Is Yaya DaCosta Worth?
Yaya DaCosta’s net worth is estimated at $1 million. That figure comes from a career built on three main income streams:
- Acting salaries — particularly her six seasons on Chicago Med, which likely provided her most consistent and highest-paying work.
- Modeling contracts — campaigns with national beauty and retail brands throughout the 2000s.
- Supporting roles and appearances — a steady stream of film and TV work across two decades.
Compared to A-list actresses, a $1 million net worth might look modest. But for a working actress with a long, varied career built on recurring TV roles rather than blockbuster paychecks, it reflects steady, sustainable success rather than one-off windfalls.
Yaya DaCosta at a Glance
| Category | Details |
|---|---|
| Full Name | Camara DaCosta Johnson |
| Known For | America’s Next Top Model, Chicago Med |
| Education | Brown University (Africana Studies & International Relations) |
| Agency | Ford Models |
| Marital Status | Divorced (from Joshua Bee Alafia) |
| Children | One son |
| Languages Spoken | English, Portuguese, French, Spanish, Japanese |
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Yaya DaCosta best known for?
She’s best known for placing second on America’s Next Top Model Cycle 3 and for playing Nurse April Sexton on Chicago Med from 2015 to 2021.
Did Yaya DaCosta go to college?
Yes. She earned a bachelor’s degree from Brown University, studying Africana Studies and International Relations.
Is Yaya DaCosta married?
No. She was married to filmmaker Joshua Bee Alafia from 2012 until their divorce, which she filed for in 2015. They have one son together.
How many languages does Yaya DaCosta speak?
She speaks five languages: English, Portuguese, French, Spanish, and Japanese.
Final Thoughts
Yaya DaCosta’s story is a reminder that a lasting entertainment career doesn’t always need a headline-grabbing paycheck to count as a success. From an Ivy League classroom to a modeling runway to six seasons on a hit NBC drama, she’s built a body of work defined by range and staying power. With a $1 million net worth and a resume that keeps growing, DaCosta remains one of the more understated success stories to come out of reality TV.
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