Yaya DaCosta to play Whitney Houston in upcoming TV biopic

LOS ANGELES, June 9 (UPI) -- America's Next Top Model alum Yaya DaCosta has been cast to play Whitney Houston in an upcoming Lifetime biopic of the late singer.

DaCosta, 31, was the runner-up in Cycle 3 of the modeling competition. Her acting credits include TV's All My Children and Ugly Betty and films like The Kids Are All Right, In Time, Whole Lotta Sole, The Butler and more.

In May, Lifetime revealed that the biopic, which will document the singer's volatile relationship with Bobby Brown, would be directed by Angela Bassett.

Bassett, who co-starred with Houston in the 1995 drama Waiting to Exhale will make her directorial debut with the upcoming film.

"I have such regard for both Whitney's and Bobby's amazing talents and accomplishments; and I feel a responsibility in the telling of their story," she said of her role in the film. "Their humanity and bond fascinates us all. I'm beyond excited to have this opportunity to go behind the camera and into their world."

I Will Always Love You: The Whitney Houston Story is currently in pre-production and is scheduled to be released in 2015.