Yaya DaCosta Net Worth, Relationships, Age/Birthdate & Birthday

Yaya DaCosta is an American actress and model best known for her breakout on reality-TV and a compelling transition into award-worthy performances.

Introduction

Yaya DaCosta (born November 15, 1982) emerged from the runner-up spot on a popular modeling competition to build a diverse career in television and film. Alongside her professional milestones, DaCosta has engaged publicly in personal pursuits—balancing her highly visible “birthday” milestone each November 15 with her role as a mother and advocate. Her estimated “net worth” stands at approximately $1 million, according to publicly available databases.  She has kept a discerning eye on her personal life and professional trajectory, making her journey one of transformation, resilience and purpose.

Quick Facts

Rising From Harlem to Hollywood

Born in the Harlem neighborhood of New York City, Yaya DaCosta was raised in a multicultural household and attended Brown University where she earned a bachelor’s degree in Africana Studies & International Relations. Her early ambition shaped her mindset: she entered the modeling competition show America’s Next Top Model (Cycle 3) and finished second—a launching pad rather than the finish-line. 

As she walked the fine line between modelling contracts (for brands like Oil of Olay, Garnier, Sephora) and acting auditions, she honed her craft. Films like Take the Lead and The Kids Are All Right, followed by stage and television roles, marked the transition. 

Defining moments in Yaya DaCosta’s journey include:

• Runner-up finish on America’s Next Top Model (Cycle 3)

• Securing her first major acting roles in films and consistent television work

• Landing the lead role in Lifetime’s Whitney and establishing herself as a serious dramatic actress

• Becoming a birth-worker and spokesperson for maternal health, broadening her influence beyond the screen 

From modest modelling beginnings to leading network roles, DaCosta’s narrative is one of reinvention and amplification of voice.

The Core Pillars of Yaya DaCosta’s Wealth

The core pillars of Yaya DaCosta’s wealth include:

• Model contracts & brand endorsements — early income stemmed from major campaigns in beauty and fashion. 

• Television and film earnings — starring roles on series such as Chicago Med and network films contribute significantly to her revenue base. 

• Entrepreneurship & ancillary business ventures — leveraging her public profile into initiatives outside acting, such as birth-work advocacy and product lines (as her website suggests). 

Note: These estimates are approximate and derived from publicly accessible sources; actual values may vary substantially.

Relationships & Personal Life

Though Yaya DaCosta maintains a relatively private personal life, there are publicly known details worth noting. From 2012 to 2014/2015 she was in a relationship with independent filmmaker and producer Joshua Bee Alafia. Together they have a son, Sankara (born 2013) via home-birth, a fact DaCosta has publicly shared.  They separated by late 2014; the exact legal status of any marriage has been described as “never officially married” in certain sources. 

Key insights into Yaya DaCosta’s relationships and personal life:

• She opted for a planned home birth for her son, reflecting her personal commitment to birth-work and maternal wellness. 

• Her upbringing and multicultural heritage (including Afro-Brazilian descent) inform her worldview and outreach. 

• She balances public visibility with personal boundaries—sharing advocacy work and motherhood while protecting her inner circle.

Lifestyle, Assets & Interests

Beyond career success, Yaya DaCosta leads a lifestyle that reflects both passion and purpose, including:

• Birth-work & advocacy: She has spoken openly about her home-birth and her role as a doula and birth worker, hosting online events to elevate Black maternal health. 

• Fashion & beauty: Having begun as a model, her interest in aesthetics remains apparent—from head-wrap ventures to magazine covers. 

• Philanthropy & representation: DaCosta uses her platform to highlight maternal health disparities, diversity in media, and personal healing narratives. 

• Residential lifestyle: While detailed asset reports are limited, profiles have referenced her living in a desirable Chicago residence during her tenure on Chicago Med. 

Through these facets, DaCosta’s lifestyle merges public success with personal meaning.

Net Worth Breakdown & Analysis

Analysis of Yaya DaCosta’s net worth underscores the complexity of celebrity finances and the challenge of measuring non-public assets.

Evaluation

Popular reference sites like CelebrityNetWorth place her estimated net worth at approximately $1 million.  Yet commentary from outlets such as CheatSheet suggest that given her sustained television presence, the figure may be dated and might not reflect all ongoing earnings. 

Core Drivers & Trends

• A steady acting role (six seasons on Chicago Med) likely contributed recurring income and residuals.

• Modelling contracts provided early earnings but may have tapered as acting became primary.

• Advocacy and entrepreneurial work (birth-work, product lines) suggest diversification of income beyond screen acting.

Breakdown Table (Estimated, illustrative)

While the total remains modest compared to some Hollywood peers, Yaya DaCosta’s financial picture aligns with a built-to-work-and-pivot career rather than blockbuster chart-topping earnings.

Public Image, Legacy & Influence

Yaya DaCosta’s trajectory from reality-TV contestant to credible dramatic actor has shaped her public image as both accessible and aspirational. Her representation matters: a Black woman, multilingual, educated, and versatile—in modelling, acting, advocacy.

Critics and audiences alike have responded to her portrayal of Whitney Houston in the Lifetime biopic Whitney, confirming her dramatic chops and willingness to take on challenging roles. 

In the era of social consciousness and identity, DaCosta’s engagement as a birth-worker, speaker, and wayshower (as she describes herself) positions her as more than a “celebrity hire”: she is a culture-shaper. Her openness about past experiences—such as navigating fame after America’s Next Top Model—adds to her authenticity. 

While her net worth may not make headlines, her influence is measurable: she embodies a hybrid professional identity that spans entertainment, advocacy and entrepreneurship.

Conclusion

From her Harlem roots and formative experience on America’s Next Top Model to her evolution as a screen actor, mother, birth-worker and entrepreneur, Yaya DaCosta’s story is one of reinvention, focus and purpose. Her birthdate—November 15, 1982—marks the foundation of a path that defies simple categorization. Her net worth, though modest by celebrity standards (estimated around $1 million), reflects steady work, diversification and values-driven living. Her relationships—particularly her role as a mother and her previous partnership with Joshua Bee Alafia—underscore a personal life shaped by intention and reflection. On her birthday each year, DaCosta stands not only as an actress but as a symbol of resilience in an industry that rarely accommodates transition with grace.

If you’d like a deep dive into her filmography, endorsement deals, or philanthropic endeavours, I’d be happy to pull that together too.