Yaya DaCosta
DaCosta in 2011, Featureflash / Shutterstock.com
Birth Name: Camara DaCosta Johnson
Place of Birth: New York City, New York, U.S.
Date of Birth: November 15, 1982
Ethnicity: African-Brazilian, African-American, Cherokee Native American, Irish
Yaya DaCosta is an American actress and model. She was the runner-up in Cycle 3 of America’s Next Top Model, and has co-starred in the films Tron: Legacy and The Nice Guys and the series Chicago Med, among other works.
Yaya is the daughter of Orundun (DaCosta) and Carl Awolowo Johnson. She has a sister, Djassi, and two brothers, Mamadou and Djani. Yaya’s family is pictured here. YaYa has a son with her former partner, independent film producer and director Joshua Bee Alafia.
She has stated:
My mom’s dad is Brazilian, and that’s the aspect of my heritage I identify with most because I grew up around my Brazilian cousins, speaking Portuguese and going to capoeira rodas.
She has also said:
Ghanaian, Nigerian, Ethiopian… etc. Being claimed by so many makes me feel wonderfully human! DNA test pending.
Possible grandmother:
https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:VK1M-CLT
Their families are linked in some way, but I haven’t been able to verify that she is her grandmother yet.
The daughter of Orundun (DaCosta) and Carl Awolowo Johnson. She has a sister, Djassi, and two brothers, Mamadou and Djani. Yaya’s family is pictured here: https://pendulumswing.files.wordpress.com/2011/05/ddj_johnsons1.jpg
She has stated:
“My mom’s dad is Brazilian, and that’s the aspect of my heritage I identify with most because I grew up around my Brazilian cousins, speaking Portuguese and going to capoeira rodas”.
Also:
“Ghanaian, Nigerian, Ethiopian… etc. Being claimed by so many makes me feel wonderfully human! DNA test pending”.
http://www.latina.com/entertainment/tv/exclusive-yaya-dacosta-takes-emergency-ward-nbc%E2%80%99s-chicago-med
https://twitter.com/yayadacosta/status/670498997241561088