We first see Yaya DaCosta in Our Kind of People riding in a droptop with her curls blowing in the wind on full display. Her character, Angela Vaughn, is talking to her daughter and aunt about her budding hair care line. Theyre not just selling shampoo, her character says, theyre selling freedom.

This is the first time DaCosta is gracing our screens with main character energy for a TV series. After portraying April Sexton on Chicago Med for six seasons, the actor felt it was time to move on to bigger roles. Shortly after, she was cast as a self-starting hair care entrepreneur whos reconnected with her wealthy fathers family (and the scandal that comes with them) in the drama executive-produced by Lee Daniels.

DaCosta said this was a role that chose her.

I love Angelas drive. I love her expressiveness, DaCosta said in a phone interview. There are moments where she holds something in, but for the most part, she speaks her mind. And I love her obsession with hair, or I should say her craft. Shes a hair artist. I happen to be, as Yaya, obsessed with hair. So it was really fun for me to truly start envisioning how I could put that on display in this character.

Its funny how life works out. In 2004, DaCosta stood before five judges, four of them white, and was berated for being too Black on Americas Next Top Model , one of the most popular reality TV shows at the time. Creator and host Tyra Banks calls DaCosta, known for taking pride in her Afro-Brazilian heritage, to the front before the elimination round. The judges proceed to ridicule her for her Afrocentric look, one even telling her that her African-ness is overbearing.

DaCosta defends herself. In response to trying to prove myself as an African, thats just where I come from, its very natural to me. Her voice is cracking as she explains. Shes clearly hurt.

Banks, the only Black woman on the panel, chimes in to tell DaCosta shes being defensive and its not attractive.

Its one of many shameful moments from Americas Next Top Model that have resurfaced on social media in recent years. DaCosta, who was runner-up that season, said shes surprised whenever people express their gratitude to her for standing in her power.

But at that time, she felt utterly powerless.

I never watched that show after it aired, because I felt abused by it in a sense. And I had to distance myself from it in order to heal and grow from that girl into this woman, DaCosta said. When shes reminded of it, she remembers being confused, shaking as her voice quivered in front of those judges. In recent years, Banks has addressed some of the offensive moments that happened on ANTM.

That moment was more than 15 years ago. Now DaCosta stars in a prime-time network TV show in which Black hair and aesthetic is a main character in itself.

Its wonderful that even at that time, as that young, young woman, people still were able to see something in me that I wasnt fully seeing or owning myself, DaCosta said. That reflection humbles me every time. As a woman, I feel like I have lived a number of lifetimes in this lifetime already, and just earned my voice, and it feels good. It feels good to be free. And I need that voice everywhere I go. In my family, in my relationships, in my friendships. Because the authentic life is the only life Im really interested in.

Our Kind of People is set in Marthas Vineyards Oak Bluffs community and based on a 1999 novel of the same name by Lawrence Otis Graham. It follows the Black elite, specifically the Franklin and Dupont families who happen to stay in some bougie, scandalous, shady mess . DaCostas character, Angela, is a single mother who moves to the area after her mother, who was a housekeeper and hairdresser in Oak Bluffs, dies.

Angela hopes to carry on her mothers legacy and build her business with her hair care line, Eves Crown, but she and her daughter Nikki (Alana Bright) are met with the opposite of a warm welcome as they become entangled in rich folks problems. It also stars Hollywood heavy hitters including Nadine Ellis, Joe Morton, Morris Chestnut and Debbi Morgan.

Aside from her role portraying Whitney Houston in Lifetimes Whitney, this is DaCostas first time being on top of the call sheet.

Im really grateful for this experience, even when there are obstacles. Especially, actually, when there are obstacles. Its showing me that I have new muscles, she said. Its like our body. If youre a sprinter, youre not necessarily using the same muscles as a rower. So Ive had them all along, but I havent exercised them, so its giving me an opportunity to know myself more, to know what Im capable of, and to use my gifts on a bigger scale.