Yaya DaCosta's life story began in New York City, where she was born and raised alongside her two siblings, a sister, and two brothers. Her early exposure to the world of acting came at the tender age of eleven, courtesy of her junior high school drama teacher, Ann Willis Ratray, who encouraged her to audition for educational films. This initial foray into the performing arts marked the beginning of a lifelong passion for Yaya, who continued to hone her craft through various school productions throughout her high school and college years.
In 2005, Yaya's career trajectory took a significant turn when she emerged as the runner-up in Cycle 3 of America's Next Top Model. This platform helped launch her feature film debut in Take the Lead. Four years later, in 2008, she made her Off-Broadway debut in "The First Breeze of Summer" at The Signature Theater, earning rave reviews and securing the Vivian Robinson/AUDELCO Recognition Award for Excellence in Black Theater.
Throughout her career, Yaya has demonstrated her versatility by portraying a diverse range of characters. She has brought to life Danny Glover's frail teenage daughter in John Sayles' Honeydripper, as well as Mark Ruffalo's alluring lover in Lisa Cholodenko's The Kids Are All Right. Her impressive performances have garnered her widespread recognition, earning her the title of "one of Hollywood's new 'it girls'" from many notable sources, including Lynn Hirschberg, who featured her on the cover of W Magazine in September 2010.
