Everything To Know About Yaya DaCosta's New Show On Fox
Plenty of fans still consider Yaya DaCosta the woman who should've won Cycle 3 of "America's Next Top Model." However, despite finishing as the runner-up to Eva Marcille (née Pigford), DaCosta is among the most successful "America's Next Top Model" contestants ever (via Vulture). Similar to fellow breakout superstar Analeigh Tipton, DaCosta has earned her A-list status by diversifying her resume. In particular, the proud Ivy League graduate has focused her post-"America's Next Top Model" career on acting, rather than modeling.
IMDb lists plenty of high-profile roles over the years, from "Take the Lead" to "Lee Daniels' The Butler," "Whitney," and "Ugly Betty." DaCosta made a particular impression with a trio of Chicago-based dramas, though, namely "Chicago P.D.," "Chicago Fire," and "Chicago Med." When the fan favorite announced she was departing "Chicago Med," long-time viewers of the show were understandably left devastated. However, DaCosta was moving onto pastures new, with a lead role in a new show.
Yaya DaCosta is headlining as a determined single mother
As TVLine noted, Yaya DaCosta's April Sexton dominated "Chicago Med" for six years, so when the actress announced her departure, fans were heartbroken. Taking to Instagram to share the news, DaCosta expressed her gratitude for everything she'd learned from the talented cast and crew working on the show, and thanked everyone who believed in her. "I'm going to miss everyone dearly, and of course, all of you who watch the show religiously and have also become part of the One Chicago family," she concluded the post. She and Torrey DeVitto both opted not to renew their contracts for Season 7.
However, DaCosta's decision to leave made sense since she was given the opportunity to front Fox drama "Our Kind of People." Deadline confirmed the series reunited the "America's Next Top Model" alum with filmmaker Lee Daniels, following their 2013 collaboration. Inspired by Lawrence Otis Graham's mega-hit book of the same name, the show is set "in the aspirational world of Oak Bluffs on Martha's Vineyard, a historical stronghold where the rich and powerful black elite have come to play for more than 50 years." DaCosta plays lead Angela, a single mother looking to restore her family name by launching an innovative hair care line that honors Black women's natural beauty.
A teaser trailer gives an indication of what kind of world DaCosta's character inhabits. Morris Chestnut, Alana Bright, Joe Morton, Nadine Ellis, and Lance Gross round out the impressive ensemble cast.