Yaya DaCosta Talks Hair and Heritage as Seen through ‘Our Kind of People’

Yaya DaCosta is entering into her personal highlight in her new Fox drama. 

Based on the nonfiction e-book by the identical identify, Fox’s Our Kind of People is a dramatic story of household secrets and techniques, the previous’s impact on the current, class and social divides, and Black elitism set in opposition to the backdrop of the historic Oak Bluffs neighborhood of Martha’s Vineyard, MA. 

DaCosta takes the lead as Angela Vaughn, a haircare entrepreneur with ties to Martha’s Vineyard’s Black elite that will run deeper than she realizes. After inheriting a house within the upscale enclave after her mom’s sudden passing, Angela decides to relocate to her childhood hometown together with her daughter, looking for a recent begin and solutions about her personal previous. 

For DaCosta, the position of Angela is a welcome problem. After a profitable six-season stint with an ensemble forged on NBC’s Chicago Med, she’s now carrying a present of her personal within the lead starring position. Though she says her main place on the present is loads of work (we chat together with her whereas she’s nonetheless on-set capturing extra of Season 1), she loves taking up all of her character’s complexities. 

“I like her sense of self, her dedication, her ambition, the truth that she’s flawed and has issues to work out and uncover about herself and heal from,” DaCosta stated of Angela.

 “I particularly love her obsession with hair, as a result of I’ve one and I all the time have,” she laughs.

True sufficient, ever since we have been first launched to DaCosta through America’s Next Top Model Cycle 3 in 2004, her giant, wholesome mane of 4C hair has been one of the options of her bodily magnificence that’s stood out most for followers. Her casting is spot on for a present with Black pure haircare as half of its lore. 

“To be on a present the place I can truly categorical my creativity in collaboration with my hairstylist Chioma Valcourt, it’s simply a lot enjoyable,” she says of the best way hair is featured on the present. “I put on my hair on the present, however we additionally play with extensions and items. It’s actually thrilling to have the ability to present all of these completely different seems to be being carried out whereas nonetheless sustaining the well being of my hair.” 

Viewers of final week’s premiere episode obtained a style of the treachery the prosperous Dupont and Franklin households can inflict when confronted with the presence of societal and socioeconomic outsiders. As such, with the present being loosely primarily based on the actual Black one % of the nation, it’s secure for followers to surprise if Our Kind of People is hoping to look at the problems of elitism and division within the Black group.

While these factors are touched on all through the course of Season 1, DaCosta says she doesn’t really feel there’s any agenda on the present to critique the Black and well-off. 

“I don’t suppose that there’s one thing that we’re making an attempt to say in regards to the Black elite,” DaCosta advised us. “I believe they’re saying one thing in regards to the Franklins, they’re saying one thing in regards to the Duponts particularly, and some other characters that you just may meet.” 

“There are tales, of course, in regards to the exclusivity of Jack & Jill, and many others. Yeah, it’s an unique group at instances. But it’s additionally altering and evolving with the world.” 

Episode 2 of Our Kind of People airs tonight on Fox at 9 pm. For extra from our dialog with DaCosta, watch the video above.

https://www.essence.com/leisure/yaya-dacosta-our-kind-of-people-interview/

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